Analysis of Psalm 37 part 1

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



v.1-15
C. M.
The cure of envy, fretfulness, and unbelief.

Why should I vex my soul, and fret
To see the wicked rise?
Or envy sinners waxing great
By violence and lies?

As flowery grass, cut down at noon,
Before the ev'ning fades,
So shall their glories vanish soon
In everlasting shades.

Then let me make the Lord my trust,
And practise all that's good;
So shall I dwell among the just,
And he'll provide me food.

I to my God my ways commit,
And cheerful wait his will;
Thy hand, which guides my doubtful feet,
Shall my desires fulfil.

Mine innocence shalt thou display,
And make thy judgments known,
Fair as the light of dawning day,
And glorious as the noon.

The meek at last the earth possess,
And are the heirs of heav'n;
True riches, with abundant peace,
To humble souls are giv'n.

Rest in the Lord, and keep his way,
Nor let your anger rise,
Though Providence should long delay
To punish haughty vice.

Let sinners join to break your peace,
And plot, and rage, and foam;
The Lord derides them, for he sees
Their day of vengeance come.

They have drawn out the threat'ning sword,
Have bent the murd'rous bow,
To slay the men that fear the Lord,
And bring the righteous low.

My God shall break their bows, and burn
Their persecuting darts,
Shall their own swords against them turn,
And pain surprise their hearts.


Scheme AXA XBXB CDCD EXEX XFXF GXGC XCHC GBGX HXXX IXIX JKJK
Poetic Form
Metre 1 11 01110101 11111101 110101 11010101 110001 110011111 010111 11110101 00101 11110111 01111 11110101 010111 11111101 010111 11111101 110101 11001101 011101 11011101 0100101 01110101 010111 11010101 110111 10010111 111101 11001101 110101 11011111 010101 01011111 111101 11110111 11011 11011101 010101 11111101 11001 11110111 010111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,288
Words 244
Sentences 17
Stanzas 11
Stanza Lengths 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 43
Letters per line (avg) 24
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 93
Words per stanza (avg) 22
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:15 min read
81

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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