How Shall the Young Direct Their Way?

Representative Text

1 How shall the young direct their way?
What light shall be their perfect guide?
Thy word, O LORD, will safely lead,
if in its wisdom they confide.

2 Sincerely I have sought thee, Lord,
O let me not from Thee depart;
to know Thy will and keep from sin
Thy word I cherish in my heart.

3 O blessed LORD, teach me Thy law,
Thy righteous judgments I declare;
Thy testimonies make me glad,
for they are wealth beyond compare.

4 Upon Thy precepts and Thy ways
my heart will meditate with awe;
Thy word shall be my chief delight,
and I will not forget Thy law.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #119B

Text Information

First Line: How shall the young direct their way
Title: How Shall the Young Direct Their Way?
Meter: 8.8.8.8 D
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Ps. 119:9
st. 2 = Ps. 119:10-11
st. 3 = Ps. 119:12-14
st. 4 = Ps. 119:15-16

This text from the 1912 Psalter is a paraphrase of the "Beth" (second letter of the Hebrew alphabet) stanza of Psalm 119. In these verses of the psalm (9-16), directed specifically at the young, the psalmist professes delight in God's word (or law) as a guide for living. But that word also calls for obedience from all God's creatures, young and old alike. (See 119 and 276 for other settings of Psalm 119.)

Liturgical Use:
Before or after the reading of the Decalogue or another law text (consider using just st. 3-4 at this time); the entire hymn is appropriate for services that emphasize youth or Christian education.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988

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Instances

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Moravian Book of Worship #510

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #119B

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Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #584

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The Cyber Hymnal #2690

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Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #148

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Trinity Psalter Hymnal #119B

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