Eyes Opened but Deprived of Sight 

O LORD God, our salvation and our hope!

Save us from the gloom wherein we grope,

Acquainted with turmoil like a billowy sea.

Let Your countenance shine upon our dust;

Enlighten our tents that our eyes may see.

You, O LORD God, You only are our trust!

Right from the womb our hearts strut the stage,

Prancing as we stride the slippery slope.

From Your resplendent glory, alas, we are thrust!

How we are ruined, utterly swallowed up!

Covering our heads is the somber veil—our wage. 

Treason we have sown and reaped the bitter cup!

How we have traded the Light for darkness,

Raising ourselves against the LORD Most High!

Woe to us! For we are deprived of sight.

We are doomed, in our tents there is no light!

Our weary souls stride wantonly in the night.

Have mercy, O LORD, and save by Your might.

Shine forth the healing rays of Your brightness,

Give health to our eyes and assuage our misery,

Take away the scales that we may see Your glory.

Give us life again by Your mighty breath,

For our souls, O God, are entrapped in death.

The night of our hopelessness lengthens,

The languishing of our hearts deepens.

How we are undone, utterly stricken!

Into the deepest darkness we have sunken, 

For the light of Your face we have forsaken.

Give ear, O God, and save us from perdition; 

Break darkness’ sway and end the confusion. 

You alone, O LORD, can restore our vision! 

At dawn, man dwelled in peace in Your bosom;

Your goodness and love, O God, was his blossom, 

And fullness of joy his portion day and night.

But he believed a lie, by the Serpent employed,

His soul to estrange from the river of Your joy.

Man heeded not Your Word—the eternal Light—

But clothed his heart with pride and deathly alloy. 

His eyes were opened, but deprived of sight;

His dust he severed from the glory of Your might.

Once nestled in the shelter of Your loving-kindness, 

The man of earth was at peace and knew no strife; 

His spirit, enlightened by the Truth, abode in life.

Before Your majesty he walked in righteousness 

And basked in the sea of Your blessings unalloyed.

Sweet fellowship with You, O Holy One, he enjoyed

And gloried greatly in Your magnificent beauty,

For his soul was vested with innocence and purity,

And his heart beautifully arrayed with fullness of joy.

But he sought to be like You, O God Most High,

And traded blissfulness for wretchedness.

How we have forfeited sublimity for vileness,

Seeking “enlightenment” apart from the Light!

What a tragedy we have brought to our souls!

Once of the day, we have become slaves of the night;

For we foolishly deferred to the devil’s lie.

Alas, we have plunged into deadly blindness!

None but You, O Holy One, can quell man’s plight!

By Your might You can bring deep darkness to light.

Be gracious, O God, and help us recover our sight.

Have mercy, O LORD, and fill us with insight!

Restore us in Your grace to the river of Your delight.

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Bible References: Genesis 3:4-7; Isaiah 5:20; Genesis 1:31; John 3:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Genesis 3:23–24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 5:12; Romans 3:10-18; Isaiah 42:7.