The Lord will happiness divine

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General information

This is an hymn by William Cowper, from Olney Hymns, 1779, Hymn 64 of Book 1, entitled The Contrite Heart.

Settings by composers (automated)

Kathryn Rose — The Contrite Heart English SATB
Thurlow Weed — The Lord will happiness divine English SATB

Text and translations

English text

The Lord will happiness divine
On contrite hearts bestow;
Then tell me, gracious God, is mine
A contrite heart or no?

I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
Insensible as steel;
If aught is felt, ’tis only pain,
To find I cannot feel.

I sometimes think myself inclined
To love Thee if I could;
But often feel another's mind,
Averse to all that’s good.

My best desires are faint and few,
I fain would strive for more;
But when I cry, “My strength renew!”
Seem weaker than before.

Thy saints are comforted, I know,
And love Thy house of prayer;
I therefore go where others go,
But find no comfort there.

Oh make this heart rejoice, or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;
And if it be not broken, break,
And heal it, if it be.