Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

The First Psalm

Robert Burns

“The First Psalm” as printed in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887).

Robert Burns: Collected Lyrics Text 380 1887 · historical text
Public domainScottish songSong lyrics
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from The Poetical Works of Robert Burns, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

The man, in life wherever plac'd,

Hath happiness in store,

Who walks not in the wicked's way,

Nor learns their guilty lore:

Verse 2

Nor from the seat of scornful pride

Casts forth his eyes abroad,

But with humility and awe

Still walks before his God.

Verse 3

That man shall flourish like the trees

Which by the streamlets grow;

The fruitful top is spread on high,

And firm the root below.

Verse 4

But he whose blossom buds in guilt

Shall to the ground be cast,

And like the rootless stubble tost,

Before the sweeping blast.

Verse 5

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.

Credits

Written by Robert Burns

Words by Robert Burns. Historical text published in The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

The Poetical Works of Robert Burns (1887), “The First Psalm”

Every text in this 1887 collected edition is by Robert Burns (1759-1796), who died more than 230 years ago, so the text is in the public domain worldwide; the edition carries a Wikisource PD-old determination and a pre-1931 United States publication.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-25. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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