O How I Love Thy Holy Word

O how I love Thy ho­ly Word

Thy gra­cious co­ve­nant

O Lord!

It guides me in the peace­ful way

I think up­on it all the day.

What are the mines of shin­ing wealth

The strength of youth

the bloom of health!

What are all joys com­pared with those

Thine ev­er­last­ing Word be­stows!

Long un­af­flict­ed

un­dis­mayed

In plea­sure’s path se­cure I strayed;

Thou mad’st me feel Thy chas­ten­ing rod

And strait I turned un­to my God.

What tho’ it pierced my faint­ing heart

I bless Thine hand that caused the smart;

It taught my tears awhile to flow

But saved me from eter­nal woe.

O! hadst Thou left me un­chas­tised

Thy pre­cept I had still des­pised;

And still the snare in sec­ret laid

Had my un­wa­ry feet be­trayed.

I love Thee there­fore

O my God

And breathe to­wards Thy dear abode;

Where in Thy pre­sence ful­ly blest

Thy chos­en saints for­ev­er rest.