Paraphrase of the First Psalm by Robert Burns
Robert Burns’s “Paraphrase of the First Psalm” contrasts the blessed life of the humble and righteous man with the fate of the wicked. A happy person refuses to follow sinful teachings or join the proud and scornful, instead living before God with reverence. Such a person prospers like a deeply rooted, fruitful tree growing beside streams. Those whose lives grow from guilt, however, will fall and be scattered like rootless stubble in a strong wind. God grants peace and rest to the good, while wicked people cannot receive true blessing.
By Robert Burns · First published 1786 · Genre: Religious Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Biblical Paraphrase · 181 words
First lines
The man, in life wherever plac'd, / Hath happiness in store, / Who walks not in the wicked's way, / Nor learns their guilty lore!
Nor from the seat of scornful pride / Casts forth his eyes abroad, / But with humility and awe / Still walks before his God.
That man shall flourish like the trees, / Which by the streamlets grow; / The fruitful top is spread on high, / And firm the root below.
But he whose blossom buds in guilt / Shall to the ground be cast, / And, like the rootless stubble, tost / Before the sweeping blast.
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Genres
- Religious Poetry — A verse paraphrase of Psalm 1 centered on God, righteousness, wickedness, divine judgment, and spiritual blessing.
- Devotional Poetry — The poem encourages humble, reverent conduct before God and presents moral reflection intended to support religious contemplation.
- Biblical Paraphrase — It closely recasts the ideas, structure, imagery, and ethical contrast of the first biblical Psalm in English verse.
- Christian Literature — Its theology and moral framework reflect Christian scriptural tradition, emphasizing obedience to God and the fate of the righteous and wicked.
Tags
Psalm paraphrase · religious poetry · Christian devotion · biblical adaptation · righteousness · wickedness · humility · pride · scorn · sin · moral instruction · divine judgment
What this Textopian page supports
Paraphrase of the First Psalm is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Burns, dated 1786 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Burns
- Date: 1786 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Religious Poetry, Devotional Poetry, Biblical Paraphrase, Christian Literature, Moral Poetry
- Length: 181 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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