Poems (Rossetti, 1901)/"For Thine own Sake, O my God"

by Christina Georgina Rossetti

"FOR THINE OWN SAKE, O MY GOD."

WEARIED of sinning, wearied of repentance,
 Wearied of self, I turn, my God, to Thee;
To Thee, my Judge, on Whose all-righteous sentence
  Hangs mine eternity:
I turn to Thee, I plead Thyself with Thee,—
  Be pitiful to me.

Wearied I loathe myself, I loathe my sinning,
 My stains, my festering sores, my misery:
Thou the Beginning, Thou ere my beginning
  Didst see and didst foresee
Me miserable, me sinful, ruined me,—
  I plead Thyself with Thee.

I plead Thyself with Thee Who art my Maker,
 Regard Thy handiwork that cries to Thee;
I plead Thyself with Thee Who wast partaker
  Of mine infirmity,
Love made Thee what Thou art, the love of me,—
  I plead Thyself with Thee.