“JUDGE NOT.”

Judge not of others’ lives by yours, Unless your own is pure. You know not what the others bear Or what they may endure. Temptations may have been too strong, And they, alas! too weak To cope with all the sins in life, And purity aye seek. Heredity is oft the cause; And e’en the strongest mind May find it hard to overcome; For it, to sin may bind. And yet there is a power within To overcome all ill. By cultivating this high power All thought of sin we kill. Yet “do not judge lest you be judged.” Look deep in your own heart, And you may find some secret sin That of your life is part. If you are sinless, then you may The first stone throw at them; If it recoils and falls on you, Yourself you must condemn. There are so many pitfalls deep At every turn of road; And all life’s paths so devious, So heavy is life’s load That man must carry up life’s hill, Too oft he falls by way; But he has strength to bear the load If he God’s laws obey.