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, just and good;
Numbers records the tribes enrolled, all sons of Abraham’s blood.
Moses, in Deutronomy, records God’s mighty deeds;
Brave 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.
First and Second Chronicles see Judah captive made,
But Ezra leads a remnant back with princely Cyrus’ aid.
The city walls of Zion, Nehemiah builds again,
Whilst Esther saves her people from plots of wicked men.
In Job we read how faith will live beneath affliction’s rod,
And David’s Psalms are precious to every child of God.
Proverbs like a goodly string of choicest pearls appear;
Ecclesiastes teaches men how vain are all things here.
The mystic Song of Solomon exalts sweet Sharon’s Rose.
Whilst Christ, our Savior and our King, the “rapt Isaiah” shows.
The warning Jeremiah apostate Israel scorns;
His plaintive Lamentations their awful downfall mourns.
Ezekiel tells in wondrous words of dazzling mysteries,
Whilst 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,
Whilst Obadiah prophesies of Edom’s final fall.
Jonah enshrines a wondrous type of Christ, our risen Lord;
Micah pronounces Judah lost – lost, but again restored.
Nahum declares on Ninevah just judgment shall be poured.
A view of Chaldea’s coming down Habakuk’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 prophesies 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, Mark, Luke and John the holy Gospels wrought,
Describing how the Savior died, His life and all He taught.
Acts prove how God the Apostles owned, with signs in every place.
Saint Paul, in Romans, teaches us how man is saved by grace.
The apostle in First and Second 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 love to God and for eternity.
In First and Second Thessalonians we are taught that the Lord will come from heaven;
In First and Second 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;
First and Second Saint Peter, points the narrow way in which the saints are led.
John, in his three epistles, on love delights to dwell;
Saint Jude gives awful warnings of judgment, wrath and hell.
The Revelation prophesies of that tremendous day
When Christ, and Christ alone, shall be the sinner’s stay.
…Author Unknown …written in the 1950’s