f 3 This man is like the wide-spread tree,
That strikes its root by river's side;
His leaves, all green, no frost shall see,
His fruit and honors shall abide.
4 Th' ungodly are not so, but like
The thresher's chaff or stubble light,
Which strong winds in their fury strike,
And bear off quickly out of sight.
5 They cannot meet the Judge's eye:-
In heav'n above they have no home,
But, while the righteous dwell on high,
In dark abyss they find their doom.
THIRD VERSION.-C. M. Dedham, Winter.
End of the Righteous and the Wicked.
1 BLEST is the man, that shuns the place,
Where sinners love to meet,
Who fears to tread their wicked ways,
And hates the scoffer's seat.
2 But in the statutes of the Lord
Has plac'd his chief delight;
By day he reads or hears the word,
And meditates by night.
mf 3 He, like a plant of gen'rous kind,
By living waters' side,
Safe from the storms and blasting wind,
Shall spread his branches wide.
4 Green as the leaf, and fair and clear
Shall his profession shine,
While fruits of holiness appear,
Like clusters on the vine.
mp 5 Not so the impious and unjust ;—
What vain designs they form?
Their hopes are blown away like dust,
Or chaff, before the storm.
6 Sinners in judgment shall not stand
Among the sons of grace,
mf When Christ, the Judge, at his right hand
Appoints his saints a place.
7 His eye beholds the path, they tread,
His heart approves it well;
But crooked ways of sinners lead
Down to the gates of hell.
FOURTH VER.-S. M. Bladensburg. Olmutz.
The Saint happy, the Sinner miserable.
1 THE man is ever blest,
Who shuns the sinners' ways,
Who in their counsels doth not rest,
Nor takes the scorner's place:
2 But doth God's law survey
And study with delight,
Amidst the labors of the day,
And watches of the night.
mf 3 He, like a tree, shall thrive,
With waters near the root:
Fresh as the leaf his name shall live,
His works are heav'nly fruit.
4 Not so th' ungodly race;
They no such blessings find:
Their hopes, like chaff from threshing-place,
Shall fly before the wind.
FIFTH VERSION.-S. M. Boylston, Dover.
Blessedness of the Holy Man.
1 THAT man is blest alway,
Who shuns advice unmeet,
Who stands not in the sinner's way,
Nor sits in scorners' seat.
2 He reads God's word with awe,
And yet with pure delight;
Each day he meditates the law,
And ponders it at night.
mf 3 He's like the wide-branch'd tree,
That grows by river's side;
His green leaf fadeless you may see,
His fruit comes in its tide.
mp 4 But sinners' doom deplore:-
In the great judgment day
They'll be like chaff of threshing floor,
By tempest borne away!
SIXTH VERSION.-78. Enfield. Wilson.
God's Servants blessed.
1 BLEST is he, whose prudent feet Sinners' by-paths ne'er have known, Blest, who in the scorner's seat Ne'er with blasphemy sits down. 2 But who eagerly doth look, With a pure and sweet delight, Into God's most holy book, Pond'ring truth both day and night. mf 3 He is like a spreading tree, Planted by the river's side; Ever green his leaf shall be,
And his fruit comes in its tide.
4 But God's foes shall feel his power:-
They are fruitless, fire-doom'd trees,
Or like chaff of threshing floor,
Borne away by swift-wing'd breeze.
p 5 When the sleepers in the ground
Rise to judgment from the dust,
Sinners then shall not be found
Glad companions of the just.
2. FIRST VERSION.-L.M. Sherburne. Rockingham.
Christ triumphing over his Enemies.
1 WHY do God's enemies arise,
His holy kingdom to depress?
Why take proud counsel, and devise
Malignant plots of foolishness?
2 They say,-"Come, let us break his bands,
And his anointed Son oppose;"-
But He, who heav'n and earth commands,
Holds in derision all his foes.
3 The King on Zion's holy hill,
Unless they bow, will smite them down;
Their souls with anguish He will fill,
And meet them with terrific frown.
f 4 Jesus shall reign, till all the world
Shall feel his blest and righteous sway,
Till tyrants from their seats are hurl'd,
And pagans cast their gods away.
p 5 Be wise now, therefore, O ye Kings;Ye Chiefs and Judges, serve the Lord, Lest, when the judgment-trumpet rings, "Depart!" shall be your dooming word! ALLEN. SECOND VERSION.-C. M. Marlow. Lutzen. Christ exalted.
1 WHY did the nations join to slay
The Lord's anointed Son?
Why did they cast his laws away
And tread his gospel down?
2 The Lord, who sits above the skies,
Derides their rage below;
He speaks with vengeance in his eyes,
And strikes their spirits through.
3 "I call Him my eternal Son,
And raise Him from the dead;
I make my holy hill his throne,
And wide his kingdom spread."
4 Be wise, ye Rulers of the earth,
Obey th' anointed Lord;
Adore the King of heav'nly birth,
And tremble at his word.
5 With humble love address his throne,
For, if He frown, ye die ;-
Those are secure, and those alone,
Who on his grace rely.
THIRD VERSION.-7s. Palmer. Rutland.
Vain Resistance to Christ.
1 LO, what tumult rises high!
Why do foolish nations rage?
Why do kings God's wrath defy?
Vain the contest, which they wage:-
"Quick his bands we'll break," they say,
"Quick his fetters cast away!"
2 God doth smile, as He looks down;
God their projects doth deride:
Soon their forces are o'erthrown,
By his wrath they're scatter'd wide:-
"Lo, my King a crown doth wear
On my hill of Zion fair!"
3 "This is my divine decree:-
Thee, my Son, at my right hand
I have plac'd in majesty!
Ask of Me; at my command
Thou shalt have for heritage
All earth's tribes from
4 Kings below! submit, be wise ;-
Judges of the earth! attend
;-
Him, who came down from the skies,
Rev'rence now ; before Him bend;
Lest He soon his wrath display,
And ye perish from the way!
FOURTH VERSION.-8 & 4. Palestine.
Christ's universal Kingdom.
1 UPRAIS'D on Zion's holy hill,
Jesus is high enthron'd in light;
His Kingdom all the earth shall fill,
His beams on heathen lands shine bright,
From Mercy's throne.
2 Be wise now, therefore, O ye Kings!
Be warn'd, ye Judges of the earth!
To God present pure offerings,
Extol his name with rev'rent mirth,
With songs bow down.
3 The Gospel of his Son obey,
Lest soon his flaming wrath arise,
And so ye perish from the way,
And lose the honors of the wise,-
A heav'nly Crown!
FIFTH VERSION.-H. M. Mandell. Stow.
Jesus the King of Zion.
1 ON Zion's holy hill
Jesus now reigneth King ;
His truth the earth shall fill,
His praise through earth shall ring;
For such is God's unchang'd decree,
And what He says will surely be!
2 Why then do foes combine
His rightful bands to burst?
Though Kings and Judges join,
These foes shall die accurst ;-
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