1 The past we never can undo,
Tho’ with thrice bitter tears,
And deepest gloom we it review,—
‘Tis sealed up with the years.
Refrain:
O Lord, forgive, O Lord, receive,
And bless thy erring child;
I do repent and now believe
That thou art reconciled.
2 Could we but live it o’er again,
How different it should be;
We would not have this awful pain
Which gnaws so constantly. [Refrain]
3 But it is gone beyond our reach,
With all its weight of sin;
And tho’ we mourn too deep for speech,
‘Twill never come again. [Refrain]
4 But God has given us the now,—
The past himself will take;
And if to him in faith we go
He’ll save, for Jesus’ sake. [Refrain]
5 No matter what thy past may be,
Just leave that all with Christ;
He knows it all, yet calleth thee,
And bids thee dare to trust. [Refrain]
Source: Joyful Sound: a collection of new hymns and music with familiar selections #80