1 Jesu, sin-atoning Lamb,
Thine utmost pity show;
All the virtue of Thy name
O let Thy rebels know!
Us, by God and man abhorred,
Into Thy kind protection take;
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

2 Worst of all th’apostate race,
Yet listen to our cry;
Most unworthy of Thy grace,
But without grace we die;
Tophet is our just reward,
Yet snatch us from the burning lake,
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

3 Scandal of the Christian name,
Which still we vainly bear,
Sodom-like, our sin and shame
We openly declare,
Trample on Thy sacred Word,
And cast Thy laws behind our back;
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

4 Though Thy judgments are abroad,
Let us Thy goodness prove,
Save us, O all-gracious God,
In honor of Thy love;
Though Thy righteous wrath is stirred,
Arising slow, the earth to shake,
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

5 In our forty days reprieve
Warn the rebellious race;
Bid us turn, repent, and live
To glorify Thy grace;
O reverse the threatening word,
And do not, do not vengeance take;
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.

6 O alarm the sleeping crowd
And fill their souls with dread;
Then avert the lowering cloud,
Approaching o’er our head;
Turn aside th’invading sword,
And drive the alien armies back,
Spare the guilty nation, Lord,
For Thy own mercy’s sake.