Yes I thought I knew my Bible

Reading piecemeal, hit or miss

Now a part of John or Matthew

Then a bit of Genesis

Certain chapters of Isaiah

Certain Psalms, the twenty-third

First of Proverbs, twelfth of Romans

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 my Bible through

You who like to play at Bible

Dip and dabble here there

Just before you kneel all weary

Yawning through a hurried prayer.

You who treat this 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 awesome wonder

When you read the Bible through.

-anonymous