O God, My God! Be Thou Not Far From Me, For

Sources: Prayers And Meditations

O God, my God! Be Thou not far from me, for tribulation upon tribulation

hath gathered about me. O God, my God! Leave me not to myself, for the

extreme of adversity hath come upon me. Out of the pure milk, drawn from

the breasts of Thy loving-kindness, give me to drink, for my thirst hath

utterly consumed me. Beneath the shadow of the wings of Thy mercy shelter

me, for all mine adversaries with one consent have fallen upon me. Keep me

near to the throne of Thy majesty, face to face with the revelation of the

signs of Thy glory, for wretchedness hath grievously touched me. With the

fruits of the Tree of Thine Eternity nourish me, for uttermost weakness

hath overtaken me. From the cups of joy, proffered by the hands of Thy

tender mercies, feed me, for manifold sorrows have laid mighty hold upon

me. With the broidered robe of Thine omnipotent sovereignty attire me, for

poverty hath altogether despoiled me. Lulled by the cooing of the Dove of

Thine Eternity, suffer me to sleep, for woes at their blackest have

befallen me. Before the throne of Thy oneness, amid the blaze of the

beauty of Thy countenance, cause me to abide, for fear and trembling have

violently crushed me. Beneath the ocean of Thy forgiveness, faced with the

restlessness of the leviathan of glory, immerse me, for my sins have

utterly doomed me.