Because I Knew Not When My Life Was Good

Because I knew not when my life was good,

And when there was a light upon my path,

But turned my soul perversely to the dark,

O Lord, I do repent.

Because I held upon my selfish road,

And left my brother wounded by the way,

And called ambition duty, and pressed on,

O Lord, I do repent.

Because I spent the strength Thou gavest me

In struggle which Thou never didst ordain,

And have imperfect life to offer Thee,

O Lord, I do repent.

Because I was impatient, would not wait,

And thrust my willful hand across Thy threads,

And marred the pattern drawn out for my life,

O Lord, I do repent.