Words: Par­a­phrase of Psalm 50; au­thor un­known.

Music: Adoro Te, , 1872.


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.