The Way and End of the Righteous and the Wicked

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My God, the steps of pious men

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: ARMENIA
Published in 79 hymnals

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Representative Text

17 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.

18 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.

19 The heav’nly heritage is theirs,
Their portion and their home,
He feasts them now, and makes them heirs
Of blessings long to come.

20 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.

21 The haughty sinners have I seen,
Nor fearing man nor God,
Like a tall Bay-tree fair and green,
Spreading his arms abroad.

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

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

Source: Church Hymn Book: consisting of newly composed hymns with the addition of hymns and psalms, from other authors, carefully adapted for the use of public worship, and many other occasions (1st ed.) #P.XXXVII.III

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Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

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First Line:	My God, the steps of pious men
Title:	The Way and End of the Righteous and the Wicked
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain