Translation by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
Paraphrase of the First Psalm
Language: Scottish (Scots)  after the Latin
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. For why? that God the good adore, Hath giv'n them peace and rest, But hath decreed that wicked men Shall ne'er be truly blest.
Authorship:
- by Robert Burns (1759 - 1796), "Paraphrase of the First Psalm" [an adaptation] [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts , "Psalmus 1"
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by John Linton Gardner (1917 - 2011), "Paraphrase of the First Psalm", op. 213 no. 8, published 1993 [ mixed chorus and orchestra ], from A Burns Sequence, no. 8, London : Oxford University Press [sung text not yet checked]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Thomas Sternhold (d. 1549) , appears in The Scottish Psalter of 1635 ; composed by Gary Bachlund.
- Also set in English, a translation by Matthew Parker, Archbishop (1504 - 1575) [an adaptation] ; composed by Thomas Tallis.
- Also set in French (Français), a translation by Bible or other Sacred Texts [an adaptation] ; composed by Jean de Maletty.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) , "Psalm 1" ; composed by Robert Radecke, Heinrich Schütz.
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by L. G. Silbergleit , "Der erste Psalm" ; composed by Eyvind Alnæs.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2011-01-07
Line count: 20
Word count: 115