O God, Our Words Cannot Express

O God, our words cannot express
The pain we feel this day.
Enraged, uncertain, we confess
Our need to bow and pray.

We grieve for all who lost their lives…
And for each injured one.
We pray for children, husbands, wives
Whose grief has just begun.

O Lord, we’re called to offer prayer
For all our leaders, too.
May they, amid such great despair,
Be wise in all they do.

We trust your mercy and your grace;
In you we will not fear!
May peace and justice now embrace!
Be with your people here!


Author: Unknown

Year: 2001

This hymn was written in direct response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. While the text appears in many hymnals and church websites, no individual author is credited in the large majority of sources; it is treated as an anonymous or collectively contributed piece from that period.