When Pomp Will Perish

“Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness… he will guide his affairs with discretion… The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish” (Psalm 112:4-10).  “Discretion shall preserve thee… for the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.  But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth” (Proverbs 2:11-22).  “When Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp… Paul was brought forth” (Acts 25:23). 

The upright lives before the Lord,

So in the darkness, he has light. 

His Savior’s joy is his reward;

Discretion guides his steps aright. 

The days of pomp and circumstance

And all the things the wicked cherish

Shall melt with all their arrogance,

And their desire then shall perish. 

O may we early learn this lesson

That we may value things of worth

And thus be guided by discretion

And not the passing things of earth. 

When king Agrippa and Bernice

Came forth with pomp before them all,

They did not have God’s perfect peace

And robes of righteousness, like Paul!

O Lord, receive our thanks today

That we are saved from endless loss,  

Enriched because You found a way

To ransom us upon Your cross! 

We thank You, Lord, for Your salvation

With robes of righteousness we wear, 

Replacing all our condemnation

With pomp that ends in great despair.