From the German of Gellert.
Gott, deine Gute reicht so weit,
So weit die Wolken gehen; &c.
O GOD, thy goodness doth extend
Far as the lofty sky;
Thy loving-kindness knows no end,
And thou art ever nigh.
My Rock, my Fortress, and my Tower!
Great is thy Mercy as thy Power:
Then hear me, O most High!
I ask not for the heaps of gold
The worldling may enjoy:
A little may I humbly hold
And usefully employ.
But grant me wisdom, Lord, to know
Thee and the gift thou dost bestow
On sinners such as I.
I ask nor honour nor renown,
All-glorious tho’ they seem:
A spotless character’s fair crown
Of higher price I deem.
To gain thy praise, to do thy will –
Be these my chief ambition still,
And a true friend’s esteem.
Nor do I ask for length of days.
If wealth my lot should be,
O make me humble, God of Grace!
Patient, if poverty.
And as my times are in thy power,
O grant, in Death’s decisive hour,
Thy mercy, Lord, to me!
(John Dunmore Lang)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Death & Dying Poems, Gold Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Power Poems, Charity Poems, Praise Poems, Forgiveness Poems, Medicine & Medical Poems, Humility Poems, Poverty PoemsBased on Keywords: worldling, deine, all-glorious, loving-kindness, weit, usefully, wolken, gehen, gellert, gute