Scripture Verse

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 1:1

Introduction

portrait
Alexander R. Reinagle
1799–1877

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. The way and end of the right­eous and the wick­ed.

Music: Be­a­ti Im­ma­cu­la­ti Al­ex­an­der R. Rein­a­gle, Psalm Tunes for the Voice and Pi­a­no­for­te, cir­ca 1836 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Isaac Watts
1674–1748

Anecdote

In the par­ish church of Fet­ter­cairn a cus­tom ex­ist­ed of the pre­cen­tor, on com­mun­ion Sab­baths, read­ing out each sin­gle line of the psalm be­fore it was sung by the con­gre­ga­tion. This prac­tice gave rise to a some­what un­luc­ky in­tro­duc­tion of a line from the first Psalm.

In most church­es in Scot­land, the com­mun­ion ta­bles are placed in the centre of the church. Af­ter ser­mon and pray­er, the seats round these ta­bles are oc­cu­pied by the com­mu­ni­cants, while a psalm is be­ing sung.

On one com­mun­ion Sun­day, the pre­cen­tor ob­served the no­ble fa­mi­ly of Eg­la­ntine ap­proach­ing the ta­bles, and like­ly to be kept out by those who pressed in be­fore them. Be­ing very zea­lous for their ac­com­mo­da­tion, he called out to an in­di­vi­du­al whom he con­sid­ered to be the prin­ci­pal ob­sta­cle in clear­ing the pas­sage, Come back Jock, and let in the no­ble family of Eg­lan­tine; and then, turn­ing to his psalm-book, he took up his du­ty, and went on to read the line,

Nor stand in the sin­ners’ way.

Long, p. 229

Lyrics

Blest is the man who shuns the place
Where sinners love to meet;
Who fears to tread their wicked ways,
And hates the scoffer’s seat.

But in the statutes of the Lord
Has placed his chief delight;
By day he reads or hears the Word,
And meditates by night.

He, like a plant of generous kind,
By living waters set,
Safe from the storms and blasting wind,
Enjoys a peaceful state.

Green as the leaf, and ever fair,
Shall his profession shine;
While fruits of holiness appear
Like clusters on the vine.

Not so the impious and unjust;
What vain designs they form!
Their hopes are blown away like dust,
Or chaff before the storm.

Sinners in judgment shall not stand
Amongst the sons of grace,
When Christ the Judge at His right hand
Appoints His saints a place.

His eye beholds the path they tread,
His heart approves it well;
But crooked ways of sinners lead
Down to the gates of hell.