O God, unblessing and unblest

O God

unblessing and unblest

A withered plant

but not at rest

A useless cumberer I’m found

Upon Thy field

Thy purchased ground;

And yet I pray—“Do not forsake me

But in Thy hand

O Savior

take me.

As women take unbroken flax

As molders take unshapen wax

As smith

the iron

rough and cold

A useful instrument to mold

So in Thy skillful hands

O take me

And never let Thy love forsake me.

Like rock uncrushed

the stubborn will

Though bearing gold is barren still;

Like marble in the quarry rough

The natural heart is useless stuff;

And so

I pray—“Do not forsake me

But with Thy hand

O Savior

break me.

As mortars crush the hardest rock

As hammers break the stony block

As millstones bruise the finest wheat

As nuts are broken for their meat

So with Thy mighty hand

O break me

And never let Thy love forsake me.

Though crushed and broken

yet I’m nought

But fragments to the furnace brought;

Though bruised

I have no worth to feed

The multitudes that die in need;

And so

I pray—“Do not forsake me

But meet for service

Savior

make me.

As into useful forms the ore

From molten scraps the molders’ pour;

As fire doth make the bruised wheat

When mixed and molded

fit to eat;

So

fit for use by fire

O make me

And never let Thy love forsake me.”