Kyrie, eleison

KYRIE, EILEISON

The crippled and the destitute,
the poorest of the poor,
the shunned, the multitude
no one will pray for anymore,
who people hurry past
with loathing and aversion,
You give a home to all these outcasts,
in Your commiseration.

With such a band, so dirty, sallow,
I knew myself one inwardly,
regarded as their fellow
for all my misery.
I joined them in their crowding
to You and in their cries.
You’ve seen our need compelling;
You’ve cast on us Your eyes.

And you know whom to look upon in grace,
since you’ve forgiven him.
And now he turns his whole life and his face
to Who has turned to Him.
The richest man ‘s the least in affluence and health.
You’ve pledged Yourself to feed him from Your hand,
God, are to him the wealth
of bread and home and fatherland.

Now, this we know: our eyes,
which leered, become sincere.
And all our body tries
to work the right indeed.
The hearts have now been cured;
‘t Will all be right, since more
can no one have than find You,
always possess You, Lord.