Our hands, O God, are stained with blood

Which comes from family trees

Or flows from nations and the gods

They seek with fire to please.

Sometimes, O God, that blood was spilt

With hate’s avenging eye

That punished foes and nature’s life

And left the weak to die.

 

O who can cleanse these blood-stained hands,

Who purify our hearts?

Our thought world is the only place

Where true forgiveness starts.

Compassion gives us all the grace

To sense what others feel

Through sharing all our storied wealth

Within life’s common meal.

 

As our stout castle walls fall down

We join the life of Earth

And move beyond dividing ways

To daily gift love’s mirth.

We all are interwoven parts

Of God’s great cosmic ways.

O help us care for them, O God,

With thankfulness and praise.

 

Alternative tune: VOX DILECTI or as six verses to St Magnus

Text and Music © William Livingstone Wallace.

Click here to see the score:  Wallace.Our Hands, O God

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