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1993-04-29
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«READ IT THROUGH»
I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piecemeal, 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.
You who like to play at Bible,
Dip and dabble here and there,
Just before you kneel aweary
And yawn out a hurried prayer;
You who treat the Crown of Writing
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. Wells
«HOW READEST THOU?»
It is one thing to read the Bible through,
Yet another to learn and do;
With no desire to learn, do some read,
To their subject pay but little heed;
Some read it as their duty every week,
But no instruction from the Bible seek;
While others read it with but little care,
With no regard to how they read or where;
Some read it as a History, to know
How people lived two thousand years ago;
Some read it to bring themselves into repute,
By showing others how they can dispute;
While others read because their neighbors do,
To see how long it takes to read it through.
Some read it for the wonders that are there,
How David killed a lion and a bear;
While others read it with uncommon care,
Hoping to find some contradictions there.
Some read as though it did not speak to them,
But to the people at Jerusalem.
One reads it as a book of mysteries,
And won't believe the very thing he sees;
One reads with father's specs upon his head,
And sees the thing just as his father said;
Some read to prove a pre-adopted creed,
Hence understanding but little as they read,
For every passage in the book they bend,
To make it suit that all-important end.
Some people read, as I have often thought,
To teach the Book, instead of being taught;
And some there are who read it out of spite,
I fear there are but few who read it right.
One thing I find, and you may find it too,
The more you read, the more you find it true;
But this to find, an open eye is needful,
With often prayer, and humble heart all heedful;
The man who reads with pride of inattention,
Will only find full causes of dissension;
The man who reads with modest penetration,
Will find the joy of comfort and salvation.