Great God, i ask thee for no meaner pelf by Henry David Thoreau

Great God, I ask for no meaner pelfThan that I may not disappoint myself,That in my action I may soar as highAs I can now discern with this clear eye.

And next in value, which thy kindness lends, That I may greatly disappoint my friends,Howe'er they think or hope that it may be,They may not dream how thou'st distinguished me.

That my weak hand may equal my firm faithAnd my life practice what my tongue saithThat my low conduct may not showNor my relenting linesThat I thy purpose did not knowOr overrated thy designs.

Basically I think the poet is saying that all he values is God's view of him, not what his friends think. That he hopes he may not fall short of what God wants, and that he manages to practice what he preaches during his life time.