Lord, I Was Blind

Lord, I was blind: I could not see
In Thy marred visage any grace;
But now the beauty of Thy face
In radiant vision dawns on me.

Lord, I was deaf: I could not hear
The thrilling music of Thy voice;
But now I hear Thee and rejoice,
And all Thine uttered words are dear.

Lord, I was dumb: I could not speak
The grace and glory of Thy Name;
But now, as touched with living flame,
My lips Thine eager praises wake.

Lord, I was dead: I could not stir
My lifeless soul to come to Thee;
But now, since Thou hast quickened me,
I rise from sin’s dark sepulcher.

Lord, Thou hast made the blind to see,
The deaf to hear, the dumb to speak,
The dead to live; and lo, I break
The chains of my captivity.

Author: William T. Matson

Year: 1862

The hymn is also known as 'Lord, I Was Blind, I Could Not See'. It first appeared in Matson's 'The Inner Life' (1862) and is sometimes attributed in hymnals to 'W. T. Matson' or simply 'Matson'. No strong alternate attributions found.