In Genesis the world was made by God's creative hand;
In Exodus the Hebrews marched to gain the promised land.
Leviticus contains the, law, holy and just and good.
Numbers records the tribes enrolled, all sons of Abraham's blood.
Moses in Deuteronomy records God's mighty deeds.
Then Joshua into Canaan's land the host of Israel leads.
In Judges their rebellion oft provokes the Lord to smite,
But Ruth records the faith of one well pleasing in His sight.
In First and Second Samuel, of Jesse's son we read.
Ten tribes in First and Second Kings revolted from his seed.
The First and Second Chronicles see Judah captive made.
But Ezra leads a remnant back by princely Cyrus' aid.
The city walls of Zion, Nehemiah builds again,
While Esther saves her people from plot of wicked man.
In Job we read how faith will live beneath affliction's rod,
And David's Psalms are precious songs to every child of God.
The Proverbs like a goodly string of choicest pearls appear.
Ecclesiastes teaches man how vain all things are here.
The mystic Song of Solomon exalts sweet Sharon's rose;
While Christ, the Savior and the King, the rapt Isaiah shows.
The warning Jeremiah apostate Israel scorns;
His plaintive Lamentations then their awful downfall mourns.
Ezekiel tells in wondrous words of dazzling mysteries,
While kings and empires yet to come, Daniel in vision sees.
Of judgment and of mercy, Hosea loves to tell;
Joel describes the blessed days when God with men shall dwell.
Among Tekoa's herdsmen Amos received his call,
While Obadiah prophesies of Edom's final fall.
Jonah enshrines a wondrous type of Christ, our risen Lord.
Micah pronounces Israel lost, but again restored.
Nahum declares on Nineveh just judgment shall be poured.
A view of Chaldea's coming doom Habakkuk's visions give;
Next, Zephaniah warns the Jews to turn, repent, and live.
Haggai wrote to those who saw the temple built again,
And Zechariah prophesied of Christ's triumphant reign.
Malachi was the last who touched the high prophetic chord;
Its final notes sublimely show the coming of the Lord.
Matthew and Mark and Luke and John the holy gospel wrote,
Describing how the Savior died, His life, and all He taught.
Acts proved how God the apostles owned with signs in every place.
St. Paul in Romans teaches us how man is saved by grace.
The Apostle in Corinthians instructs, exhorts, reproves.
Galatians shows that faith in Christ alone the Father loves.
Ephesians and Philippians tell what Christians ought to be;
Colossians bids us live to God and for eternity.
In Thessalonians we are taught the Lord will come from heaven.
In Timothy and Titus a bishop's rule is given.
Philemon marks a Christian's love, which only Christians know.
Hebrews reveals the gospel prefigured by the law.
James teaches, without holiness faith is but vain and dead;
St. Peter points the narrow way in which the saints are led;
John in his three epistles, on love delights to dwell.
St. Jude gives awful warning of judgment, wrath, and hell.
The Revelation prophesies of that tremendous day
When Christ—and Christ alone—shall be the trembling sinner's stay.