Religion

Psalm 101: A Psalm for a master of a family

by Isaac Watts 1674–1748

From The Psalms of David Imitated (1719)

Religion

Of justice and of grace I sing,
And pay my God my vows;
Thy grace and justice, heav'nly King,
Teach me to rule my house.

Now to my tent, O God, repair,
And make thy servant wise;
I'll suffer nothing near me there
That shall offend thine eyes.

The man that doth his neighbor wrong
By falsehood or by force,
The scornful eye, the sland'rous tongue
I'll thrust them from my doors.

I'll seek the faithful and the just,
And will their help enjoy;
These are the friends that I shall trust,
The servants I'll employ.

The wretch that deals in sly deceit
I'll not endure a night:
The liar's tongue I ever hate,
And banish from my sight.

I'll purge my family around,
And make the wicked flee;
So shall my house be ever found
A dwelling fit for thee.

MLA

Watts, Isaac. “Psalm 101: A Psalm for a master of a family.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/219/.

Chicago

Watts, Isaac. “Psalm 101: A Psalm for a master of a family.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/219/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Isaac Watts