Virtue Its Own Reward Poem by John Bowring

In Thy bright tabernacle, God!
Who shall learn and teach Thy will?
And who shall make his blest abode,
Almighty! in Thy holy hill?


'Tis he who treads in virtue's ways,
'Tis he who does what's just and right,
'Tis he whom falsehood ne'er betrays-
Truth his devotion and delight.


He wills no harm, he does no wrong;
His neighbour's interest is his own;
In honesty and honour strong:
These are his guides, and these alone.


He with the godless never walks,
For God is ever in his view;
His tongue of truth and virtue talks-
His heart is truth and virtue too.


Generous and kind, disposed to lend-
Ready to give and to forgive;
The poor man's hope-the poor man's friend
He lives, and he shall ever live.