The tears leave a stain
Upon my filthy cheeks;
My head hung low with pain,
Drives my knees to the earth.
I’ve squandered all You gave,
Your riches and my worth;
With Your gold, I did pave
My very path into the mire.
Everything You gave, I let blow away
Like dark ashes on the wind
For with it I did pay
The bitter wages of my sin.
A slave in an empire of swine,
I’ve lost possession even of myself;
My soul, broken and groaning, does pine
To be filled with the super-substantial bread.
All my hands have made, will condemn me in the end
Every fleshly pleasure but a fading kingdom of sand,
Which no worldly power can preserve or mend,
Time has a final hour, a coming last day.
I’ve nothing which to give,
I’ve wasted everything;
Yet I desire to live,
Only take me as a slave.
I’ve done evil in Your sight,
And sinned against the heavens;
Show me mercy in Your might,
Cast me not from the gates of Paradise.