Penitential Stanzas (Tone 3)
Gerald Largent
We offer You our evening hymn, O Christ, with incense and spiritual song. Have mercy on us, O Savior!
Save me, Lord my God: You are the Salvation of all! The storm of my passions troubles me; the yoke of my sins weighs me down! Stretch out Your hand to help me; lead me to the light of repentance, for You alone are the Compassionate Lover of Mankind!
Lord, gather my scattered mind and cleanse my barren heart. Grant me repentance as You gave to Peter, groans as You gave the publican and tears as the harlot, so that I may cry to You with a loud voice: save me, O God, as You alone are tender-hearted and the Lover of Mankind!
Often when I stand to sing the hymns, I am found to be committing sins! With my tongue I am singing praises, but with my soul, I am considering inappropriate things! But correct both through repentance, Christ God, and save me!