Pure Heart And Heavenly Wisdom - T. á Kempis Series - 7

orchidee



Tune: Thaxted

('Jerusalem the golden')

********

For pure heart, heavenly wisdom

I pray, I to you come

Strengthen me, Lord, by the grace

Of your Spirit, efface

All vanities, profitless

Things that shall never bless

Grant me inward strength, power

To follow you each hour

 

O keep my heart in your way

That through each night and day

I be not drawn far from you

By temptations old, new

Help me see all is passing

Only you, Lord and King

Remain eternal, living

Of all life the well-spring

 

Grant me Lord, wisdom heavenly

That above all I see

You, learn, search, and discover

Turn from all false allure

To know you and love you more

Seeing all things for sure

As they really are, truly

As you order, they be

 

May I avoid prudently

Those who with flattery

Seek to deceive, confuse me

Hinder my liberty

And too help me deal patient

Who oppose, obstinant*  (*obstinate)

Towards me be, yet wisely

May my responses be

 

True wisdom cannot be swayed

By arguments displayed

Not by many words spoken

Nor by flattering men

Who seek to me keep earth-bound

When treasures I have found

Of you, and onwards desire

Your wisdom, best by far

  • Author: orchidee (Offline Offline)
  • Published: November 25th, 2017 09:17
  • Comment from author about the poem: A hymn-poem in 7676 7676 metre. The original hymn is by St Bernard of Cluny, also a monk of the 12th Century. Earlier than Thomas á Kempis of the 15th century. I'm very old. I met them both in person, you know! They advised I be somewhat abstaining from me sherry and porkies!
  • Category: Spiritual
  • Views: 97
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Comments +

Comments3

  • orchidee

    And here be today's new word - non existent? - 'obstinant'. I made it up to rhyme with 'patient'. A similar saint of around the same time is St Bernard of Clairvaux.

  • w c

    Thanks orchidee for your uplifting poem.

    • orchidee

      Thanks wc.

    • Goldfinch60

      Good write Orchi.

      • orchidee

        Thanks Gold. Should I abstain from sherry? Give it up for Lent? I got about 3 months or so to go then, before Lent again! You meet Bernard and Thomas in person too?



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