Children in Years and Knowledge Young

Children in years and know­ledge young

Your par­ents’ hope

your par­ents’ joy

Attend the coun­sels of my tongue

Let pi­ous thoughts your minds em­ploy.

If you de­sire a length of days

And peace to crown your mor­tal state

Restrain your feet from im­pi­ous ways

Your lips from slan­der and de­ceit.

The eyes of God re­gard His saints

His ears are op­en to their cries;

He sets His frown­ing face against

The sons of vio­lence and lies.

To hum­ble souls and brok­en hearts

God with His grace is ev­er nigh;

Pardon and hope His love im­parts

When men in deep con­tri­tion lie.

He tells their tears

He counts their groans

His Son re­deems their souls from death;

His Spir­it heals their brok­en bones

They in His praise em­ploy their breath.