Mendelssohn, Felix: Hear my prayer
Hear my prayer (1844)
Hear my prayer, O God, incline thine ear!
Thyself from my petition do not hide!
Take heed to me! Hear how in prayer I mourn to Thee!
Without Thee all is dark, I have no guide.
The enemy shouteth, the godless come fast!
Iniquity, hatred, upon me they cast!
The wicked oppress me, Ah, where shall I fly?
Perplex’d and bewilder’d, O God, hear my cry!
My heart is sorely pain’d within my breast,
My soul with deathly terror is oppress’d,
Trembling and fearfulness upon me fall,
With horror overwhelm’d, Lord, hear me call!
O for the wings, for the wings of a dove!
Far away, far away would I rove!
In the wilderness build me a nest,
And remain there for ever at rest.