Analysis of Psalm 68 part 1

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



v.1-6,32-35
L. M.
The vengeance and compassion of God.

Let God arise in all his might,
And put the troops of hell to flight,
As smoke that sought to cloud the skies
Before the rising tempest flies.

[He comes arrayed in burning flames
Justice and Vengeance are his names:
Behold his fainting foes expire,
Like melting wax before the fire.]

He rides and thunders through the sky;
His name, Jehovah, sounds on high
Sing to his name, ye sons of grace;
Ye saints, rejoice before his face.

The widow and the fatherless
Fly to his aid in sharp distress;
In him the poor and helpless find
A Judge that's just, a Father kind.

He breaks the captive's heavy chain,
And prisoners see the light again;
But rebels that dispute his will
Shall dwell in chains and darkness still.

Kingdoms and thrones to God belong;
Crown him, ye nations, in your song:
His wondrous names and powers rehearse;
His honors shall enrich your verse.

He shakes the heav'ns with loud alarms;
How terrible is God in arms!
In Isr'el are his mercies known,
Isr'el is his peculiar throne.

Proclaim him King, pronounce him blest;
He's your defence, your joy, your rest:
When terrors rise and nations faint,
God is the strength of every saint.


Scheme XXX AABB CCXX DDEE XXFF XXGG HHII JJKK LLMM
Poetic Form Tetractys  (26%)
Metre 1 11 010001011 11010111 01011111 11111101 01010101 11010101 10010111 01110101 110101010 11010101 11010111 11111111 11010111 01000100 11110101 01010101 01110101 1101101 010010101 11010111 11010101 10011101 11110011 110101001 11010111 11011101 11001101 0111101 1110101 01110111 11011111 11010101 110111001
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,179
Words 219
Sentences 15
Stanzas 9
Stanza Lengths 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 35
Letters per line (avg) 27
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 104
Words per stanza (avg) 24
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 26, 2023

1:07 min read
71

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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