Poetry and Praise #5

Christ is Coming

Christ is coming! let creation

Bid her groans and travail cease;

Let the glorious proclamation

Hope restore and faith increase;

Christ is coming! Christ is coming!

Come, Thou blessed Prince of Peace!

Come, Thou blessed Prince of Peace!

Earth can now but tell the story

Of Thy bitter cross and pain;

She shall yet behold Thy glory

When Thou comest back to reign;

Christ is coming! Christ is coming!

Let each heart repeat the strain.

Let each heart repeat the strain.

With that "blessed hope" before us,

Let no harp remain unstrung;

Let the mighty advent chorus

Onward roll from tongue to tongue:

Christ is coming! Christ is soling!

Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come!

Christian Poetry by John Ross Macduff

Public Domain

Poetry and Praise #4

The Dear Old Bible

Give me the dear old Bible as my guide each day,
Be it my help and comfort on my pilgrim way,
Until the gates of glory I at last shall see,
The dear old Bible is good enough for me.

Refrain
Good enough for me, good enough for me,
The dear old Bible is good enough for me.
Good enough for me, good enough for me,
The dear old Bible is good enough for me.

Give me the dear old Bible as my teacher true,
Precious the words of promise, old, yet ever new;
On every page the love of God I plainly see,
The dear old Bible is good enough for me.

Give me the dear old Bible as a shining light,
That will illumine me and guide my steps aright,
Be it my sword to drive away the enemy,
The dear old Bible is good enough for me.

Give me the dear old Bible when my life shall end,
When in the vale of shadow it will comfort lend;
It shall endure for time and all eternity,
The dear old Bible is good enough for me.
               —Haldor Lillenas


How Precious Is the Book Divine

How precious is the Book Divine,
By inspiration giv'n;
Bright as a lamp its pages shine
To guide our souls to Heav'n.

Its light descending from above,
Our gloomy world to cheer,
Displays a Saviour's boundless love,
And brings His glories near.

Refrain
Oh precious Book of light and life
Thou source of truth and love,
In Thee we view God's matchless grace,
And all His goodness prove.

Oh precious Book whose light e'er shines
With bright and cheering ray,
To guide our souls until the dawn
Of the eternal day.

It shows to man his wand'ring ways,
And where his feet have trod;
And brings to view the matchless grace
Of a forgiving God.

O'er all the straight and narrow way
Its radiant beams are cast;
A light whose never weary ray
Grows brightest at the last.

It sweetly cheers our fainting hearts
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light and joy it still imparts,
And quells our rising fears.

This lamp, through all the tedious night
Of life, shall guide our way,
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.
     —John Fawcett

Compiled by Stephen Ross for WholesomeWords.org. See TheBibleStands.com for more poems and songs/hymns about the Bible.

O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name;
for thou hast done wonderful things... Isaiah 25:1

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, THE FATHER OF MERCIES, AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT;
WHO COMFORTETH US in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Poetry and Praise #3

Bible, Book Divine

Holy Bible, book Divine,

Precious treasure, thou art mine;

Mine to tell me whence I came;

Mine to teach me what I am.

Mine to chide me when I rove,

Mine to shew a Saviour's love;

Mine art thou to guide my feet;

Mine to judge, condemn, acquit.

Mine to comfort in distress,

If the Holy Spirit bless;

Mine to shew by living faith,

Man can triumph over death.

Mine to tell of joys to come,

And the rebel sinner's doom;

Holy Bible, book Divine,

Precious treasure, thou art mine.

  —John Burton, Sr. (original lyrics)

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Psalm 119:11

Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.  Psalm 119:140

My Mother's Bible

This book is all that's left me now,

   Tears will unbidden start—

With faltering lip and throbbing brow

   I press it to my heart.

For many generations past,

   Here is our family tree;

My mother's hand this Bible clasped;

   She, dying, gave it me.

Ah! well do I remember those

   Whose names these records bear,

Who 'round the hearthstone used to close

   After the evening prayer,

And speak of what these pages said,

   In tones my heart would thrill!

Though they are with the silent dead

  Here are they living still!

My father read this holy book

   To brothers, sisters, dear;

How calm was my poor mother's look,

   Who loved God's word to hear

Her angel face—I see it yet!

   What thronging memories come!

Again that little group is met

   Within the halls of home!

Thou truest friend man ever knew,

   Thy constancy I've tried;

Where all were false, I found thee true,

   My counselor and guide.

The mines of earth no treasure give

   That could this volume buy;

In teaching me the way to live,

   It taught me how to die.

         —George P. Morris

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  1 Peter 1:23

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17

The Best of All

Blessed Bible, sacred treasure,

   Precious book, of all the best,

There is comfort never failing,

   And a calm abiding rest.

Read with reverence, and commit it,

   Verse by verse, and day by day;

'Tis the word that God has spoken,

   And it cannot pass away.

                 —Fanny Crosby

My Old Bible

Though the cover is worn,

And the pages are torn,

   And though places bear traces of tears,

Yet more precious than gold

Is this Book worn and old,

   That can shatter and scatter my fears.

This old Book is my guide,

'Tis a friend by my side,

   It will lighten and brighten my way;

And each promise I find

Soothes and gladdens the mind,

   As I read it and heed it each day.

To this Book I will cling,

Of its worth I will sing,

   Though great losses and crosses be mine;

For I cannot despair,

Though surrounded by care,

   While possessing this blessing Divine.

               —Anonymous

Poetry and Praise #2

My Bible and I
We've traveled together through life's rugged way
O'er land and o'er water, by night and by day:
To travel without it I never would try;
We keep close together, my Bible and I.

In sorrow I've proved it my comfort and joy,
When weak my strong tower which nought can
     destroy;
When death comes so near me 'tis thought I
     would die,
We still are together, my Bible and I.

If powers of evil against me would come,
And threaten to rob me of heaven and home,
God's Word then directs me to Him in the sky;
And nothing can part us, my Bible and I.

When evil temptations are brought to my view,
And I in my weakness know not what to do,
On Christ as my strength I am taught to rely;
And so we keep company, my Bible and I.

When life's path is ended; if Jesus should come
And take all his blood-purchased brethren home;
Or if, in long suffering, He waits till I die.
We'll never be parted, my Bible and I.

And when in the glory my Lord I behold,
With all His redeemed gathered safe in the fold,
My Bible and I close companions will be,
For God's Word abides for all eternity.
     —Author Unknown

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.   2 Timothy 3:15-16
The Unchanging Word
Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God—
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!
     —Attributed to Martin Luther

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12
The Word of God
The Word of God is like a light
that shines serenely thro' the night;
Its rays will light my weary way
To the realms of a fair, unending day.

Refrain
The Word of God is strong and sure,
Forevermore it shall endure,
When oceans cease to kiss the shore,
When suns shall set to rise no more;
'Mid crash of worlds it shall remain
Unshaken midst the starry rain,
Upon its firm foundation strong,
I will plant my feet thro' the ages long.

The Word of God is like a sword
That pierces hearts, thus saith the Lord;
And like a hammar, weighty, strong,
That can break up the rocks of sin and wrong.

The Word of God is like the bread
On which the hosts of old were fed;
From Heav'n it came to fill our need,
Hungry hearts it will satisfy indeed.

The Word of God is like a fire,
It kindles in our hearts desire
To see its Author face to face
And to know all the fullness of His grace.
     —Haldor Lillenas

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.  Psalm 119:130
Reading Through the Bible
I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piece-meal, hit or miss;
Now a bit of "John" or "Matthew,"
Now a snatch of "Genesis."
Certain chapters of "Isaiah,"
Certain "Psalms,"—the twenty-third,
Twelfth of "Romans," first of "Proverbs."
Yes, I thought I knew the Word.
But I found a thorough reading
Was a different thing to do,
And the way was unfamiliar
When I read the Bible through.
Ye who treat the Crown of Writings
As you treat no other book—
Just a paragraph disjointed,
Just a crude, impatient look—
Try a worthier procedure,
Try a broad and steady view;
You will kneel in very rapture
When you read the Bible THROUGH.
     —Amos R. Well

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalm 119:105
The Bible
Where childhood needs a standard
  Or youth a beacon light,
Where sorrow sighs for comfort
  Or weakness longs for might,
Bring forth the Holy Bible—
  The Bible! There it stands!
Resolving all life's problems
  And meeting its demands.

Though sophistry conceal it,
  The Bible! There it Stands!
Though Pharisees profane it,
  Its influence expands.
It fills the world with fragrance
   Whose sweetness never cloys;
It lifts our eyes to Heaven,
  It heightens human joys.

Despised and torn in pieces,
  By infidels decried,
With thunderbolts of hatred
  The haughty cynics pride—
All these have railed against it
  In this and other lands;
Yet dynasties have fallen,
  And still the Bible stands!

To Paradise a highway,
  The Bible! There it stands!
Its promises unfailing,
  Nor grievous its commands.
It points man to his Saviour,
  The Lover of his soul;
Salvation is its watchword,
  Eternity its goal!
     —James M. Gray

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.  Psalm 119:160

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  Proverbs 30:5

Poetry and Praise #1

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The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.  Isaiah 40:8

The Bible Stands

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
'Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

Refrain
The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

The Bible stands like a mountain towering
Far above the works of men;
Its truth by none ever was refuted,
And destroy it they never can.

The Bible stands, and it will forever
When the world has passed away;
By inspiration it has been given,
All its precepts I will obey.

The Bible stands every test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And to prove and to make it mine.
     —Haldor Lillenas

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Hebrews 4:12

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.   Matthew 24:35


The Anvil of God's Word

Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith's door,
   And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then looking in, I saw upon the floor,
   Old hammers worn with beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I,
   "To wear and batter all these hammers so?"
"Just one," said he, and then with twinkling eye,
   "The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

"And so," I thought, "The Anvil of God's Word
   For ages skeptic blows have beat upon,
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
   The Anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone."
                        —John Clifford, D.D.

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever...  1 Peter 1:25

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.   Psalms 138:2