Metrical ‘New Version’ (Tate/Brady)
English text
That man is bless’d, who stands in awe
Of God, and loves his sacred law:
His seed on earth shall be renown’d,
And with successive honours crown’d.
His house, the seat of wealth, shall be
An inexhausted treasury;
His justice, free from all decay,
Shall blessings to his heirs convey.
The soul that’s fill’d with virtue’s light
Shines brightest in affliction’s night:
To pity the distress’d inclin’d,
As well as just to all mankind.
His lib’ral favours he extends,
To some he gives, to others lends;
Yet what his charity impairs,
He saves by prudence in affairs.
Beset with threat’ning dangers round,
Unmov’d shall he maintain his ground;
The sweet remembrance of the just
Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust.
Ill tidings never can surprise
His heart, that fix’d on God relies:
On safety’s rock he sits, and sees
The shipwreck of his enemies.
His hands, while they his alms bestow’d,
His glory’s future harvest sow’d;
Whence he shall reap wealth, fame, renown,
A temp’ral and eternal crown.
The wicked shall his triumph see,
And gnash their teeth in agony:
While their unrighteous hopes decay,
And vanish with themselves away.
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Metrical Paraphrase by Isaac Watts, 1719
English text
PART 1 (88. 88. 88)
That man is blest who stands in awe
Of God, and loves his sacred law:
His seed on earth shall be renowned;
His house the seat of wealth shall be,
An inexhausted treasury,
And with successive honors crowned.
His liberal favors he extends,
To some he gives, to others lends;
A generous pity fills his mind:
Yet what his charity impairs,
He saves by prudence in affairs
And thus he’s just to all mankind.
His hands, while they his alms bestowed,
His glory’s future harvest sowed;
The sweet remembrance of the just,
Like a green root, revives and bears
A train of blessings for his heirs,
When dying nature sleeps in dust.
Beset with threatening dangers round,
Unmoved shall he maintain his ground;
His conscience holds his courage up:
The soul that’s filled with virtue’s light,
Shines brightest in affliction’s night,
And sees in darkness beams of hope.
Ill tidings never can surprise
His heart that fixed on God relies,
Though waves and tempests roar around:
Safe on the rock he sits, and sees
The shipwreck of his enemies,
And all their hope and glory drowned.
The wicked shall his triumph see,
And gnash their teeth in agony,
To find their expectations crossed;
They and their envy, pride, and spite,
Sink down to everlasting night,
And all their names in darkness lost.
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PART 2 (L. M.)
Thrice happy man who fears the Lord,
Loves his commands, and trusts his word;
Honor and peace his days attend,
And blessings to his seed descend.
Compassion dwells upon his mind,
To works of mercy still inclined;
He lends the poor some present aid,
Or gives them, not to be repaid.
When times grow dark, and tidings spread
That fill his neighbors round with dread,
His heart is armed against the fear,
For God with all his power is there.
His soul, well fixed upon the Lord,
Draws heavenly courage from his word;
Amidst the darkness light shall rise,
To cheer his heart and bless his eyes.
He hath dispersed his alms abroad;
His works are still before his God;
His name on earth shall long remain,
While envious sinners fret in vain.
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