Blest's the man, whose upright walking

Representative Text

I. Blest's the Man, whose upright Walking
Contradicts ill Counselors;
Nor gives Ear to Sinners Talking,
But their wicked Ways abhors;
Who removes with Care his Feet
From the Place where Scoffers meet;
And whose Heart is wholly given
To obey the Laws of Heaven.

II. Blessed, who with constant Pleasure
Studies God's revealed Will;
Seeing there for Heav'nly Treasure,
Day and Night, his Soul to fill.
He is like a living Tree,
Which by gentle Streams we see,
Stretching forth its fruitful Branches
Till the gath'ring Time advances.

III. Thus shall he put forth and flourish,
Who reveres the sacred Word;
All the Seasons him shall nourish
With sweet Blessings from the Lord:
Tho' through Age he may be grey,
Yet his Leaf shall ne'er decay;
All his Actions God so blesses,
That they'r crowned with Successes.

IV. Not so fares th' ungodly Faction,
Who the Law of Life disown:
They, like Chaff, in Wild Distraction,
Shall be driven up and down.
Where God tries his pious Race,
Sinners can't abide the Place.
All the Righteous, God doth cherish;
But the Wicked all shall perish.

Source: Psalmodia Germanica: or, The German Psalmody: translated from the high Dutch together with their proper tunes and thorough bass (2nd ed., corr. and enl.) #70

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Author: Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >

Translator: Johann Christian Jacobi

Jacobi, John Christian, a native of Germany, was born in 1670, and appointed Keeper of the Royal German Chapel, St. James's Palace, London, about 1708. He held that post for 42 years, and died Dec. 14, 1750. He was buried in the Church of St. Paul's, Covent Garden. His publications included :— (1) A Collection of Divine Hymns, Translated from the High Dutch. Together with their Proper Tunes and Thorough Bass. London: Printed and Sold by J. Young, in St. Paul’s Churchyard; . . . 1720. This edition contains 15 hymns. Two years later this collection, with a few changes in the text and much enlarged, was republished as (2) Psalmodia Germanica; or a Specimen of Divine Hymns. Translated from the High Dutch. Together with their Proper Tunes… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Blest's the man, whose upright walking
German Title:	Wohl dem Menschen der nicht wandelt
Author:	Paul Gerhardt
Translator:	Johann Christian Jacobi
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain