Analysis of Psalm 145

Isaac Watts 1674 (Southampton, Hampshire) – 1748 (Stoke Newington, Middlesex)



The greatness of God.

My God, my King, thy various praise
Shall fill the remnant of my days;
Thy grace employ my humble tongue
Till death and glory raise the song.

The wings of every hour shall bear
Some thankful tribute to thine ear;
And every setting sun shall see
New works of duty done for thee.

Thy truth and justice I'll proclaim;
Thy bounty flows an endless stream;
Thy mercy swift, thine anger slow,
But dreadful to the stubborn foe.

Thy works with sovereign glory shine,
And speak thy majesty divine;
Let Britain round her shores proclaim
The sound and honor of thy name.

Let distant times and nations raise
The long succession of thy praise,
And unborn ages make my song
The joy and labor of their tongue.

But who can speak thy wondrous deeds?
Thy greatness all our thoughts exceeds?
Vast and unsearchable thy ways,
Vast and immortal be thy praise!


Scheme X AABC XXDD EXFF GGEE AACB HHAA
Poetic Form Tetractys  (20%)
Metre 01011 111111001 11010111 11011101 11010101 0111001011 11010111 010010111 11110111 11010101 11011101 11011101 11010101 11110101 01110001 11010101 01010111 11010101 01010111 01110111 01010111 11111101 110110101 10111 10010111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 842
Words 156
Sentences 10
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 25
Letters per line (avg) 27
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 98
Words per stanza (avg) 22
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

47 sec read
35

Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was an English Christian minister (Congregational), hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. He is recognized as the "Godfather of English Hymnody"; many of his hymns remain in use today and have been translated into numerous languages. more…

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