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.