Lord Take Delight

 

 

Take delight in me, dear Lord.

How can one so foul give You pleasure?

I can not please You as I am in my aloneness.

Unite me then to Your Mercy.

 

Employ Your Justice in the measure of my want,

For I am of the dust,

And have been given no goodness apart from You.

Deem to come to my aid.

 

In anticipation of Your visitation

Send Your advance guard,

Saints and angels to clothe me

For the presence of a King.

 

Strip me of my un-loveliness.

Set me free from dalliance and despair.

You Who are fire

Purify by Love and True Life.

 

Laugh at the enemy at my gate,

Disarm the Foe by the wonder of Your Holiness.

See me here in my blood-guilt,

And do not despise my wretchedness,

But embrace me as the child of holy consummation

 

Born of Your Passion.

Delight in me, O Ancient of Days,

Creative Word , seal my fate,

Speak that I might stand forth,

The image of Your Being.

 

Laugh and delight at the work of Your hands.

As a newborn gives joy to mother and father,

Take pleasure in Your pains on my behalf,

The labor of Your Love.