Not thou from us, O Lord, but we - Richard Chenevix Trench

Not Thou from us, O Lord, but we
Withdraw ourselves from Thee.

When we are dark and dead,
And Thou art covered with a cloud
Hanging before Thee, like a shroud,
So that our prayer can find no way,
Oh! teach us that we do not say,
“Where is Thy brightness fled?”

But that we search and try
What in ourselves has wrought this blame,
For thou remainest still the same,
But earth’s own vapours earth may fill
With darkness and thick clouds, while still
The sun is in the sky.

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Richard Chenevix Trench (1807 – 1886) Ireland