Heal us, Immanuel! Hear our prayer;
We wait to feel thy touch;
Deep-wounded souls to thee repair,
And, Saviour, we are such.

Our faith is feeble, we confess;
We faintly trust thy word;
But wilt thou pity us the less?
Be that far from thee, Lord!

Remember him who once applied
With trembling for relief:
'Lord, I believe!' with tears he cried,
'O help my unbelief!'

She, too, who touched thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,
Was answered: 'Daughter, go in peace,
Thy faith has made thee whole.'

Concealed amid the gathering throng,
She would have shunned thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.

Like her, with hopes and fears we come
To touch thee, if we may;
O send us not despairing home,
Send none unhealed away!


William Cowper (1731-1800)