Hymns from the Greek Office Books Part 6

For Thou, O Lord, dost will That all should seek Thy face, That Thou mayest well fulfil The promise of Thy grace.

Who ever sought Thy love in vain, Or failed Thy pardon to obtain?

{pyripnoon dexasthe pneumatos droson}

I

Thy love hath sweetened me,-- Thy love, O Christ, divine, And by Thy favour Thou hast changed This wilful heart of mine.

II

Now by Thy Spirit's fire, Consume my sins, I pray, And in my heart a love instil, That shall abide for aye.

III

Then shall my heart rejoice, Because Thou dost abide, For ever, O Thou Blessed One, Close to Thy servant's side.

IV

And love and joy shall be My strength while here I stay; And love, the spring of all my joy, Shall live and love alway.

{sarki hypnosas hos thnetos}

I

Lo! He gave Himself to die, Christ, our G.o.d, Who came to save us; In the mortal grave to lie, That death might no more enslave us.

II

On the day appointed, lo!

From the grave the Saviour rises, Blessings endless to bestow,-- Life and all its great surprises.

III

Hail the manger where He lay While the angel hosts adore Him; Hail the Cross, for man that day Raised, that Jesu might restore him.

IV

Hail the Resurrection morn; Hail the Christ from death restored, Be our praises heavenward borne, To our G.o.d by all adored.

{pater oiktirmon}

I

Have pity, Lord, for Thou are great, And greatness pity knows; I mourn my poor and worthless state, And all its wants and woes.

II

Have pity, Lord, for Thou art great;-- I would from sin be free, And seek Thy face, 'though coming late, For Thou wilt welcome me.

III

Have pity, Lord, for Thou art great, And give me strength to win; That I may gain the heavenly gate And freely enter in.

IV

Have pity, Lord, for Thou art love, And by Thy grace alone, I hope in Thy pure house above To serve before Thy throne.

{o plastes mou kyrios}

I

Formed in Thine image bright, With glory on my head, I lived within Thy light, And on Thy bounty fed.

II

But ah! that evil day!

The tempter's silvery tone Lured me from G.o.d away, To seek for bliss alone.

III

Dark came the night of sin, I mourned my woeful plight, For all was dark within, And all around was night.

IV

Shorn of Thy beauty fair, Gift at my wondrous birth, Hope fled before despair, Gone was the joy of earth.

V

Yea, though the prayer be vain, Now will I lift mine eyes, Call me, G.o.d, back again, Back to Thy paradise.

VI