You who like to play at Bible

[Calvin Robinson]

YOU WHO LIKE TO PLAY AT BIBLE.

WHEN YOU READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH

I supposed I knew my Bible,
Reading piecemeal,hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Mathew,
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 that 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 through a hurried prayer;
You 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. Wells