Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#74a

74a. The Way and End of the Righteous and the Wicked

1 My God, the steps of pious men
Are order'd by thy will:
Though they should fall, they rise again,
Thy Hand supports them still.

2 The Lord delights to see their ways,
Their virtue he approves:
He'll ne'er deprive them of his grace,
Nor leave the men he loves.

3 The heavenly heritage is theirs,
Their portion and their home;
He feasts them now, and makes them heirs
Of blessings long to come.

4 Wait on the Lord, ye sons of men,
Nor fear when tyrants frown;
Ye shall confess their pride was vain,
When justice casts them down.

Pause.

5 The haughty sinner have I seen
Nor fearing man nor God,
Like a tall bay-tree, fair and green,
Spreading his arms abroad:

6 And lo, he vanish'd from the ground,
Destroy'd by hands unseen;
Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf was found
Where all that pride had been.

7 But mark the man of righteousness,
His several steps attend;
True pleasure runs thro' all his ways,
And peaceful is his end.

Text Information

• First Line: My God, the steps of pious men
• Title: The Way and End of the Righteous and the Wicked
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1787
• Scripture:
  Psalm 37:23-37
• Topic: Charity: to the poor; Death: of saints and sinners; End of Righteous and Wicked; Envy and Unbelief cured; Fretfulness discouraged; Patience: under Persecution; Poor: charity to them; Portion of saints and sinners; Prosperous sinners cursed; Punishment of Sinners; Religion: in Words and Deed; Reproach: reproved; Saints: patience and world's hatred; Unbelief: and envy cured; World's Hatred and Saints Patience
• Notes: Third part

Tune Information

(No tune information)