How painfully pleasing the fond recollection

Of youthful connections and innocent joy,

When blessed with parental advice and affection,

Surrounded with mercies—with peace from on high!

I still view the chairs of my father and mother,

The seats of their offspring as ranged on each hand;

And that richest of books which excelled every other,

The family Bible that lay on the stand:

The old-fashioned Bible, the dear blesséd Bible,

The family Bible that lay on the stand.

2 That Bible, the volume of God’s inspiration,

At morn and at evening could yield us delight;

And the prayer of our sire was a sweet invocation

For mercy by day and for safety through night;

Our hymn of thanksgiving with harmony swelling,

All warm from the heart of the family band,

Has raised us from earth to that rapturous dwelling

Described in the Bible that lay on the stand:

The old-fashioned Bible, the dear, blesséd Bible,

The family Bible that lay on the stand.

3 Ye scenes of tranquillity, long have we parted,

My hopes almost gone, and my parents no more:

In sorrow and sadness I live broken-hearted,

And wander unknown on a far distant shore;

Yet how can I doubt a dear Saviour’s protection,

Forgetful of gifts from his bountiful hand!

O let me with patience receive his correction,

And think of the Bible that lay on the stand:

The old-fashioned Bible, the dear, blesséd Bible,

The family Bible that lay on the stand.