Religion
Psalm 119, Part 11: Breathing after holiness
From The Psalms of David Imitated (1719)
O that the Lord would guide my ways
To keep his statutes still!
O that my God would grant me grace
To know and do his will!
O send thy Spirit down to write
Thy law upon my heart!
Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,
Nor act the liar's part.
From vanity turn off my eyes;
Let no corrupt design,
Nor covetous desires, arise
Within this soul of mine.
Order my footsteps by thy word,
And make my heart sincere;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.
My soul hath gone too far astray,
My feet too often slip;
Yet since I've not forgot thy way,
Restore thy wand'ring sheep.
Make me to walk in thy commands,
'Tis a delightful road;
Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,
Offend against my God.
Cite this poem
MLA
Watts, Isaac. “Psalm 119, Part 11: Breathing after holiness.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/273/.
Chicago
Watts, Isaac. “Psalm 119, Part 11: Breathing after holiness.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/273/.
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More by Isaac Watts
- Psalm 2: Translated according to the Divine pattern, Acts 4:24, etc. Christ dying, rising, interceding, and reigning
- Psalm 73, Part 2: God our portion here and hereafter
- Psalm 139, Part 2: The wonderful formation of man
- Hymn I.113: Abraham's blessing on the Gentiles
- Hymn II.117: Living and dying with God present