Skip to content

A copy of Advent Hymnals. Open this page on adventhymnals.org →

Advent Hymnals

Hymns and Tunes 1886 203

God's perfect law converts the soul

Words: Anon120, 70, 114

Studio

1God's perfect law converts the soul,
Reclaims from false desires;
With sacred wisdom his sure word
The ignorant inspires.

2The statutes of the Lord are just,
And bring sincere delight;
His pure commands of living truth
Assist the feeblest sight.

3His perfect worship here is fixed,
On sure foundations laid;
His equal laws are in the scales
Of truth and justice weighed;

4Of more esteem than golden mines,
Or gold refined with skill;
More sweet than honey, or the drops
That from the comb distill.

5My trusty counselors they are,
And friendly warnings give;
Divine rewards attend on those
Who by thy precepts live.

Words
Anon
Meter
120, 70, 114
Scripture
Psalm 19

Public Domain

The verse

Meter
8.7.8.6 · the hymnal prints 120, 70, 114
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 70% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABCB
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

God's perfect law converts the soul,/˘///˘˘/8A
Reclaims from false desires;˘/˘/˘/˘7B
With sacred wisdom his sure word˘/˘/˘˘//8C
The ignorant inspires.˘/˘˘//6D

Verse 2

The statutes of the Lord are just,˘/˘˘˘/˘/8A
And bring sincere delight;˘/˘/˘/6B
His pure commands of living truth˘/˘/˘/˘/8C
Assist the feeblest sight.˘/˘/˘˘/7B

Verse 3

His perfect worship here is fixed,˘˘//˘/˘/8A
On sure foundations laid;˘/˘/˘/6B
His equal laws are in the scales˘/˘/˘˘˘/8C
Of truth and justice weighed;˘/˘/˘/6B

Verse 4

Of more esteem than golden mines,˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
Or gold refined with skill;˘/˘/˘/6B
More sweet than honey, or the drops//˘/˘˘˘/8C
That from the comb distill.˘˘˘/˘/6B

Verse 5

My trusty counselors they are,˘/˘/˘˘˘˘8A
And friendly warnings give;˘/˘/˘/6B
Divine rewards attend on those˘/˘/˘/˘˘8C
Who by thy precepts live.˘˘////6D

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.