You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

19. A Clean Heart

1 One thing I of the Lord desire,
For all my paths have miry been,
Be it by water or by fire,
O make me clean, O make me clean.

Refrain:
So wash me thou, without, within,
Or purge with fire, If that must be,
No matter how, if only sin die out in me,
die out in me.

2 If clearer vision thou impart,
Grateful and glad my soul shall be;
But yet to have a purer heart,
Is more to me, Is more to me. [Refrain]

3 Yea, only as this heart is clean
May larger vision yet be mine,
For mirrored in Thy life are seen
The things divine, The things divine. [Refrain]

4 I watch to shun the miry way,
And stanch the springs of guilty thought,
But watch and struggle as I may,
Pure I am not, Pure I am not. [Refrain]

Text Information
First Line: One thing I of the Lord desire
Title: A Clean Heart
Author: Rev. Walter C. Smith
Refrain First Line: So wash me Thou, without, within
Language: English
Publication Date: 1908
Topic: Invitation and Repentance; Special Selections: Solos
Notes: Public Domain.
Tune Information
Name: [One thing I of the Lord desire]
Composer: Fred H. Byshe
Key: B♭ Major
Notes: Public Domain.



Media
More media are available on the text authority and tune authority pages.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.