---
title: "Prayer, in the Prospect of Death"
author: "Robert Burns"
form: "Poem"
year: "1781"
location: "Lochlea"
source: "Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns"
source_url: "https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt"
canonical_url: "https://robert-burns.com/poems/prayer-in-the-prospect-of-death/"
---

# Prayer, in the Prospect of Death

## Poem
O Thou unknown, Almighty Cause  
Of all my hope and fear!  
In whose dread presence, ere an hour,  
Perhaps I must appear!

If I have wander’d in those paths  
Of life I ought to shun,  
As something, loudly, in my breast,  
Remonstrates I have done;

Thou know’st that Thou hast formed me  
With passions wild and strong;  
And list’ning to their witching voice  
Has often led me wrong.

Where human weakness has come short,  
Or frailty stept aside,  
Do Thou, All-Good—for such Thou art—  
In shades of darkness hide.

Where with intention I have err’d,  
No other plea I have,  
But, Thou art good; and Goodness still  
Delighteth to forgive.

---

Source: [Project Gutenberg #1279 — Poems and Songs of Robert Burns](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1279/pg1279.txt)  
Canonical HTML: https://robert-burns.com/poems/prayer-in-the-prospect-of-death/