Religion

Song 19: Against cursing, swearing, and taking God's name in vain

by Isaac Watts 1674–1748

From Divine and Moral Songs for Children (1715)

Religion

Angels, that high in glory dwell,
Adore thy Name, Almighty God!
And devils tremble down in hell,
Beneath the terrors of thy rod.

And yet how wicked children dare
Abuse thy dreadful, glorious Name!
And when they're angry, how they swear,
And curse their fellows, and blaspheme!

How will they stand before thy face,
Who treated thee with such disdain,
While thou shalt doom them to the place
Of everlasting fire and pain?

Then never shall one cooling drop
To quench their burning tongues be given;
But I will praise thee here, and hope
Thus to employ my tongue in heaven.

My heart shall be in pain to hear
Wretches affront the Lord above:
'Tis that great God whose power I fear,
That heavenly Father whom I love.

If my companions grow profane,
I'll leave their friendship when I hear
Young sinners take thy Name in vain,
And learn to curse, and learn to swear.

MLA

Watts, Isaac. “Song 19: Against cursing, swearing, and taking God's name in vain.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/740/.

Chicago

Watts, Isaac. “Song 19: Against cursing, swearing, and taking God's name in vain.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/watts/740/.

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