HAVE MERCY, LORD Lyrics

That man a godly life might live

God did these Ten Commandments give

By His true servant Moses, high

Upon the Mount Sinai

I am thy God and Lord alone

No other God before Me own

Put thy whole confidence in Me

And love Me e'er cordially

By idle word and speech profane

Take not My holy name in vain

And praise but that as good and true

Which I Myself say and do

Hallow the day which God hath blest

That thou and all thy house may rest

Keep hand and heart from labor free

That God may so work in thee

Give to thy parents honor due

Be dutiful, and loving, too

And help them when their strength decays

So shalt thou have length of days

Have mercy, Lord

Kill thou not out of evil will

Nor hate, nor render ill for ill

Be patient and of gentle mood

And to thy foe do thou good

Be faithful to thy marriage vows

Thy heart give only to thy spouse

Thy life keep pure, and lest thou sin

Use temperance and discipline

Steal not; oppressive acts abhor

Nor wring their life blood from the poor

But open wide thy loving hand

To all the poor in the land

Have mercy, Lord

Bear not false witness nor belie

Thy neighbor by foul calumny

Defend his innocence from blame

With charity hide his shame

Thy neighbor's house desire thou not

His wife, nor aught that he hath got

But wish that his such good may be

As thy heart doth wish for thee

God these commandments gave therein

To show thee, child of man, thy sin

And make thee also well perceive

How man unto God should live

Help us, Lord Jesus Christ, for we

A mediator have in Thee

Our works cannot salvation gain

They merit but endless pain

Have mercy, Lord