A Repentant's Prayer Poem by Yehoshua Shim'onai

In Your presence, Lord,
I can't lift my heart,
and my soul's humble
before Your glory;
In worship, I could only raise
my hands
but all I am is bowed down
before You!

For it is Your great love
that brought me here
and Your great mercy
that made me worship;
Your goodness is the reason
why I sing
and it's all because of You
that I praise.

As I praise, I remember how
I'm saved,
as I sing, I remember how
I'm freed,
For my lifted hands shows
Your great mercy,
my bowed down head
shows Your loving-kindness!

Great were my sins
that hid Your face from me
and those that separated me
from You,
For the cravings of my heart
were 'gainst You
and my thoughts
have despised Your
holy word.

But all for love, O God
You made a way
and by Your mercy
You have gone so far,
And from being God,
You've humbled Yourself,
from King of kings
to a poor son of man.

Did You really have
to become so poor
and to empty Yourself
from being God?
Did You really have
to receive punishment
that that I may receive
justification?

For I am demerit-ted
of Your love
and should be denied
of Your mercy;
I am so undeserving
of Your grace
and unworthy of Your
lovingkindness!

So here is my heart
broken before You
and my spirit contrite
for You, O God;
All that I am I lay down
before You
and wholly humbled down
before my King!

And thankfully, I praise
Your Holy Name,
knowing that Your
great mercies never end,
So gratefully worshiping
You, O Lord
knowing that Your
steadfast love never fails!