When You Read the Bible Through

I supposed I knew my Bible,
   Reading piecemeal, hit or miss,
Now a bit of John or Matthew,
   Now a snatch of Genesis,
Certain chapter 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
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