Against Lying

O 'tis a lovely thing for youth

To early walk in wisdom's way;

To fear a lie, to speak the truth,

That we may trust to all they say!

But liars we can never trust,

Even when they say what is true.

And he who does one fault at first

And lies to hide it, makes it two.

Have we not known, nor heard, nor read

How God does hate deceit and wrong?

How Ananias was struck dead,

Caught with a lie upon his tongue?

So did his wife Sapphira die,

When she came in, and grew so bold

As to confirm that wicked lie,

Which just before her husband told.

The Lord delights in them that speak

The words of truth; but every liar

Must have his portion in the lake

That burns with brimstone and with fire.