Analysis of Psalm 73

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



v.22,3,6,17-20
L. M.
The prosperity of sinners cursed.

Lord, what a thoughtless wretch was I,
To mourn, and murmur, and repine,
To see the wicked placed on high,
In pride and robes of honor shine!

But O their end, their dreadful end!
Thy sanctuary taught me so;
On slipp'ry rocks I see them stand,
And fiery billows roll below.

Now let them boast how tall they rise,
I'll never envy them again;
There they may stand with haughty eyes,
Till they plunge deep in endless pain.

Their fancied joys, how fast they flee!
Just like a dream when man awakes;
Their songs of softest harmony
Are but a preface to their plagues.

Now I esteem their mirth and wine
Too dear to purchase with my blood;
Lord, 'tis enough that thou art mine,
My life, my portion, and my God.


Scheme AXX BCBC XDXD ECEC ADAX CXCX
Poetic Form
Metre 1 11 001001101 11010111 1101001 11010111 01011101 11111101 1100111 1111111 010010101 11111111 11010101 11111101 11110101 11011111 1101111 11110100 11010111 11011101 11110111 11011111 11110011
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 743
Words 146
Sentences 12
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 23
Letters per line (avg) 25
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 97
Words per stanza (avg) 23
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

44 sec read
21

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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