Psalm 15

Words: Isaac Watts

Note: there is also a Long Metre version on this page

Common Metre
   Characters of a saint.
   1  Who shall inhabit in thy hill,
         O God of holiness?
      Whom will the Lord admit to dwell
         So near his throne of grace?
   2  The man that walks in pious ways,
         And works with righteous hands;
      That trusts his Maker's promises,
         And follows his commands.
   3  He speaks the meaning of his heart,
         Nor slanders with his tongue;
      Will scarce believe an ill report,
         Or do his neighbor wrong.
   4  The wealthy sinner he contemns,
         Loves all that fear the Lord;
      And though to his own hurt he swears,
         Still he performs his word.
   5  His hands disdain a golden bribe,
         And never gripe the poor:
      This man shall dwell with God on earth,
         And find his heath secure.
L.M.
   Religion and justice, goodness and truth.
   1  Who shall ascend thy heav'nly place,
      Great God, and dwell before thy face?
      The man that minds religion now,
      And humbly walks with God below;
   2  Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean,
      Whose lips still speak the thing they mean;
      No slanders dwell upon his tongue;
      He hates to do his neighbor wrong.
   3  Scarce will he trust an ill report,
      Nor vents it to his neighbor's hurt:
      Sinners of state he can despise,
      But saints are honored in his eyes.
   4  Firm to his word he ever stood,
      And always makes his promise good;
      Nor dares to change the thing he swears,
      Whatever pain or loss he bears.
   5  He never deals in bribing gold,
      And mourns that justice should be sold;
      While others gripe and grind the poor,
      Sweet charity attends his door.
   6  He loves his enemies, and prays
      For those that curse him to his face;
      And doth to all men still the same
      That he would hope or wish from them.
   7  Yet, when his holiest works are done,
      His soul depends on grace alone:
      This is the man thy face shall see,
      And dwell forever, Lord, with thee.


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