Psalm XXIII

Christopher Smart 1722 (Shipbourne) – 1771 (King's Bench Prison)



The shepherd Christ from heav'n arriv'd,
My flesh and spirit feeds;
I shall not therefore be depriv'd
Of all my nature needs.

As slop'd against the glist'ning beam
The velvet verdure swells,
He keeps, and leads me by the stream
Where consolation dwells.

My soul He shall from sin restore,
And her free pow'rs awake,
In paths of heav'nly truth to soar,
For love and mercy's sake.

Yea, tho' I walk death's gloomy vale,
The dread I shall disdain;
For Thou art with me, lest I fail,
To check me and sustain.

Thou shalt my plenteous board appoint
Before the braving foe;
Thine oil and wine my head anoint,
And make my goblet flow.

But great still Thy love and grace
Shall all my life attend;
And in Thine hallow'd dwelling place
My knees shall ever bend.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 09, 2023

44 sec read
52

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ KLKL
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 757
Words 139
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Christopher Smart

Christopher Smart, also known as "Kit Smart", "Kitty Smart", and "Jack Smart", was an English poet. more…

All Christopher Smart poems | Christopher Smart Books

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