Poem by Isaac Watts

Against Idleness and Mischief

How doth the little busy Bee
Improve each shining Hour,
And gather Honey all the day
From every opening Flower!

How skilfully she builds her Cell!
How neat she spreads the Wax!
And labours hard to store it well
With the sweet Food she makes.

In Works of Labour or of Skill
I would be busy too:
For Satan finds some Mischief still
For idle Hands to do.

In Books, or Work, or healthful Play
Let my first Years be past,
That I may give for every Day
Some good Account at last. 

1. Psalm 144. Part 1 (For ever blessed be the Lord)
2. I Love the Volumes of Thy Word
3. Psalm 112 (Happy is he that fears the Lord)
4. Psalm 34. Part 1 (Lord, I will bless thee all my days)
5. Hymn 39 (Now shall my inward joys arise)

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