Godly Sorrow

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow produces death." 2 Corinthians 7:10

Do you know, O human, even a little, Have you felt within your heart the pain, And grasped with mind's most cutting spittle, What godly sorrow means to gain?

For she, the sorrow born of God, Produces in the soul repentance true, Heals and makes the spirit less flawed, And tempers it like steel anew!

Of God's most saving, sacred sorrow These most important words we read, Not once or twice—we'll find tomorrow Their truth in every heart's true need.

From her begins the path's ascent, From great sorrow for the Lord, A compass when the storms are sent, In spirit's measure—a record!

As Moses grieved with heavy sighs For stubborn people, stiff of neck, So David dwelt 'neath tearful skies, And Elisha felt the same check.

What living zeal would then ignite, What sorrow wrought in faithful hearts, How serpents fled from such a sight When mercy played its saving parts!

But worldly sorrow, dark and fell, Leads not to life but unto death, Slams shut like doors of deepest hell, Or lashes with a scorpion's breath.

We grieve so often for the wrong, We suffer, weep without true cause, We mourn that things don't last so long— For fleeting earthly goods and flaws.

Like fools at some mad concert's call, We waste our time and money too, Worldly sorrow consumes us all, Leading not to life, but through to death's dark due!

So Ahab lay in bed and would not eat, When Naboth's vineyard was denied, His heart was conquered by deceit, His gaze on earthly things had tied.

And worldly sorrow like an arrow— It pierced the envious man's own heart, Where could such bitterness then narrow, When sorrow plays its deadly part?

And Saul lay sorrowful in gloom, When maidens danced in joyful ring, And sang of David's martial boom— Their words his royal heart did sting.

But sorrow for the Lord—how holy! For sins, for kinfolk, for the lost, A breaking in contrition lowly, Where souls find freedom at what cost!

God wishes from His faithful seed, That they stand guard throughout the night, And those who faint He'll surely feed, Through godly sorrow for their plight.

Let then this sorrow for the Lord Become the rule throughout my days— For those I love—this is my word, For those who cannot find their ways!