Analysis of Psalm 21

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



Our king is the care of Heaven.

The king, O Lord, with songs of praise,
Shall in thy strength rejoice;
And, blest with thy salvation, raise
To heav'n his cheerful voice.

Thy sure defence through nations round
Has spread his glorious name;
And his successful actions crowned
With majesty and fame.

Then let the king on God alone
For timely aid rely;
His mercy shall support the throne,
And all our wants supply.

But, righteous Lord, his stubborn foes
Shall feel thy dreadful hand;
Thy vengeful arm shall find out those
That hate his mild command.

When thou against them dost engage,
Thy just but dreadful doom
Shall, like a fiery oven's rage,
Their hopes and them consume.

Thus, Lord, thy wondrous power declare,
And thus exalt thy fame;
Whilst we glad songs of praise prepare
For thine almighty name.


Scheme X ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ KDKD
Poetic Form
Metre 101101110 01111111 101101 01110101 111101 11011101 1111001 01010101 110001 11011101 110101 11010101 0110101 11011101 111101 11011111 111101 11011101 111101 11010011 110101 111101001 010111 11111101 110101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 784
Words 142
Sentences 8
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 25
Letters per line (avg) 25
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 90
Words per stanza (avg) 20
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

43 sec read
61

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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