Scripture Verse

Unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, or that thou shouldest take My covenant in thy mouth? Psalm 50:16

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­ter­i­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 138.

Music: Ado­ro Te (Barn­by) Jo­seph Barn­by, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Joseph Barnby
1838–1896

Lyrics

Thus speaks the Lord to wicked men:
My statutes why do you declare?
Why take My covenant in your mouth,
Since ye for wisdom do not care?
For ye My holy words profane
And cast them from you in disdain.

Ye have consented with the thief,
Ye have partaken with the vile,
Your mouths to evil words ye give,
Your tongues proclaim deceit and guile,
Ye glory in your brother’s shame,
Your mother’s son do you defame.

Thus have ye done; I silence kept,
And this has been your secret thought,
That I was wholly as yourselves,
To take your evil deeds as naught;
I will reprove you and array
Your deeds before your eyes this day.

Consider this, who God forget
Lest I destroy with none to free;
Who offers sacrifice of thanks,
He glorifies and honors Me;
To him who orders well his way
Salvation free I will display.