Traditional: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Delight in the Law of the Lord

Traditional

“Delight in the Law of the Lord” as printed in The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920).

Traditional: Collected Lyrics Text 376 1920 · historical text
Public domainHymnSacred song
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Army and Navy Hymnal, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

BLESSED is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor standeth in the way of shiners, nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers:

But his delight is in the law of the Lord;

And on his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water,

That bringeth forth its fruit in its season.

Whose leaf also doth not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

Verse 2

Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners

in the congregation of the righteous.

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.

Verse 3

THE law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul:

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart:

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever:

The ordinances of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the droppings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is thy servant warned: in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors? Clear thou me from hidden faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me:

Then shall I be upright, and I shall be clear from great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in thy sight, Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.

Credits

Written by Traditional

Traditional words. Historical text published in The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920), “Delight in the Law of the Lord”

The 1920 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; traditional and anonymous entries are public domain. Pages whose scan quality is below the proofread threshold are held for review.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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