Olney Hymns · Chapter
67: Jehovah Our Righteousness explained
The poem reflects on the pervasive nature of sin, even in the believer's best efforts, and declares that true righteousness is found only in the Lord, not in any human merit.
What happens
The poem reflects on the pervasive nature of sin, even in the believer's best efforts, and declares that true righteousness is found only in the Lord, not in any human merit.
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
- Human Sinfulness and Depravity
The poem vividly describes how sin contaminates every aspect of the believer's life, including praise and prayer.
- Grace and Unmerited Favor
The believer's righteousness is not from self but from the Lord, a gift of grace.
Characters to notice
- The Lord
Declared as the believer's righteousness and eternal possession.
- The Narrator
The speaker who laments personal sinfulness and finds hope in the Lord.
- Sin
Personified as an entangling force that pollutes praise and prayer.
- Grace
Credited with creating holy desires in the believer, though these are marred by impatience.
Key passages
“Sin twines itself about my praise, And slides into my prayer.”
Sin is so pervasive that it corrupts even my worship and my prayers.
Highlights the inescapable presence of sin in the believer's life.
“The Lord shall be my righteousness, The Lord for ever mine.”
My only righteousness is the Lord Himself, and He is my eternal possession.
Declares the central theme of the hymn: Christ is our righteousness.
