A Prayer in the Prospect of Death

Portrait of Robert Burns
Robert Burns 1759–1796
19Poems and Songs. The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

O THOU unknown, Almighty Cause Of all my hope and fear! In whose dread presence, ere an hour, Perhaps I must appear!

If I have wander’d in those paths Of life I ought to shun, As something, loudly, in my breast, Remonstrates I have done;

Thou know’st that Thou hast formed me With passions wild and strong; And list’ning to their witching voice Has often led me wrong.

Where human weakness has come short, Or frailty stept aside, Do Thou, All-Good-for such Thou art— In shades of darkness hide.

Where with intention I have err’d, No other plea I have, But, Thou art good; and Goodness still Delighteth to forgive.

Keep reading

Discover more of Robert Burns’s poetry.

Explore all poems

Readers

Reader discussion

Your turn

Shown with your comment.

Never published. Only so we can reach you.

Comments are read before they appear. See our terms.