How long O Lord?
How long before we learn?
How long before your word seeps deep
into our minds?
our thoughts?
our hearts?
How long before your word curbs
our greed and grab for more and more?
our lust for power and prestige?
our selfish schemes?
our plans? our games?
our deadly foolishness?
How long before we learn, at last,
that forgetting our history
does, indeed, condemn us to repeat it?
How many times, Lord,
will we rehearse, restage, replay,
revile and repent
these tragedies, these horrors,
this senseless, needless loss of human life
and our dignity as men and women
fashioned in the image and the likeness
of our God?
I pray for wisdom, Lord,
for your wisdom to guide us all
along a path that breaks forever
the hellish circle traced by war…
I pray, Lord, for the wisdom we need
to learn from history, all of us,
and to break the chains that hold us fast
to our past, our pride and our foolish ways…
I pray for the wisdom
to follow you, Lord,
to follow your word and your path
and to make of our world
the world you made it to be…
Save your world, O Lord!
And protect us while we’re awake
and watch over us while we sleep
that awake, we might keep watch with you
and asleep, rest in your peace…
O Lord, our God, to You we come
Will You still hide Your face?
We cry before You
and on our knees we pray
How long, O Lord, how long?
Our sorrows leave us weak and worn
Surrounded by our fears
We look to heaven
through feeble faith and tears
How long, O Lord, how long?
Till Your glory fills our eyes
And our faith is turned to sight
Till our thirsty souls are satisfied
How long, O Lord, how long?
Our foes and enemies rejoice
Injustice seems to reign
Lord, we are shaken
and we are losing strength
How long, O Lord, how long?
But we will trust Your steadfast love
Your grace will be our song
You bring new mercies
with ev’ry rising sun
How long, O Lord, how long?