Religion

Contentment

by Christopher Smart 1722–1771

From Hymns for the Amusement of Children (1771)

ReligionLiving

God's all my portion, all my good,
From his rich mercy flows;
And his good Providence secures
The blessings he bestows.

I envy not the great man's state,
Nor pine to see his store;
With what I have I'm pleased much,
With what I hope for more.

Then let me make the Lord my trust,
And practise all that's good;
So shall I dwell among the just,
And he'll provide me food.

I charge my thoughts, Be humble still,
And all thy carriage mild,
Content, my Father, with thy will,
And quiet as a child.

The meek, at last, the earth possess,
They are the Heirs of Heaven;
True riches, with abundant peace,
To humble souls are given.

✦ ✦ ✦

A hymn on trusting God and not envying the great man's state.

MLA

Smart, Christopher. “Contentment.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/smart/5/.

Chicago

Smart, Christopher. “Contentment.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/smart/5/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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