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One thing I of the Lord desire,

by Walter C. Smith

Representative text

As printed in The Church Hymnal (1941), no. 634 — the newest hymnal carrying it.

Verse 1

One thing I of the Lord desire, For all my paths have miry been, Be it by water or by fire, O make me clean, O make me clean.

Refrain

So wash me Thou, without, within, Or purge with fire, if that must be, No matter how, if only sin Die out in me, die out in me.

Verse 2

If clearer vision Thou impart, Grateful and glad my soul shall be; But yet to have a purer heart, Is more to me, Is more to me.

Verse 3

Yea, only as this heart is clean May larger vision yet be mine, For mirrored in Thy life are seen The things divine, The things divine.

Verse 4

I watch to shun the miry way, And stanch the springs of guilty thought, But watch and struggle as I may, Pure I am not, Pure I am not.

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