Behold how kind and merciful

Our heavenly Father was,

To bear so long with sinful men,

Who had transgressed His laws.

The hearts of men wax'd worse and worse,

They disobeyed the Lord;

They followed their own thoughts, nor walked

According to His word.

And men were multiplied on earth,

They spread both far and wide;

And there were giants in those days,

Who did God's law deride.

The Lord look'd down from Heaven to see

If there were any good;

Behold they all were turn'd aside,

Sin tainted all their blood.

Yet still the Lord was good to them—

He gave them sun and rain,

And every blessing, yet their hearts

Were foolish, wicked, vain.

There is no sin so base as that

We call ingratitude,

To use those ill, with wicked hearts,

Who seek to do us good.

And when the Great and Holy One

With kindness stoop'd to bless

The sorrows of a sinful world,

And pity their distress;—

'Twas vile ingratitude in them

To act so wickedly,

And spurn the mercy of the Lord,

The great, the good, the high.

God's goodness leads us to repent,

And give our folly o'er;—

And if we use His kindness right,

We'll go and sin no more.