Olney Hymns · Chapter
The Trust of the Wicked and the Righteous Compared explained
This chapter contrasts the fate of the wicked, who trust in worldly things and wither like a parched bramble, with the blessed state of the righteous, who trust in the Lord and flourish like a tree planted by streams of water.
What happens
This chapter contrasts the fate of the wicked, who trust in worldly things and wither like a parched bramble, with the blessed state of the righteous, who trust in the Lord and flourish like a tree planted by streams of water. The wicked live without hope and die under a secret curse, while the righteous remain secure and fruitful despite drought and adversity.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs in stanza V, where the speaker’s hope is violently extinguished as Satan obscures ev…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- The Vanity of Worldly Things
The wicked trust in the world, which is described as vanity and dust, leading to a cursed and fruitless existence.
- Faith and Trust in Christ
The righteous are blessed because their hope and trust are in the Lord alone, resulting in stability and fruitfulness.
Characters to notice
- The Lord
The object of the righteous's trust; the one who provides unfailing supply and stability.
- The Narrator
The poetic voice that contrasts the state of the wicked and the righteous.
Key passages
“As parched in the barren sands, Beneath a burning sky, The worthless bramble with’ring stands, And only grows to die;”
Like a dry bush in a desert under a scorching sun, the wicked person withers and is destined for death.
The imagery of a bramble in barren sands illustrates the hopeless condition of those who trust in the world.
“But happy he whose hopes depend Upon the Lord alone; The soul that trusts in such a Friend Can ne’er be overthrown.”
Blessed is the person who puts all their hope in the Lord; such a soul is secure and cannot be defeated.
This contrasts the security of the righteous with the instability of the wicked.
“So thrives and blooms the tree whose roots By constant streams are fed; Array’d in green, and rich in fruits, It rears its branching head.”
A tree planted by a flowing river grows strong, stays green, and produces abundant fruit.
The tree symbolizes the righteous person who is nourished by God's grace and remains fruitful even in difficult times.
