# The Trust of the Wicked and the Righteous Compared explained — Olney Hymns

> Chapter companion for Olney Hymns by John Newton.

## 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.

## Themes 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters/66-the-trust-of-the-wicked-and-the-righteous-compared
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/olney_hymns_se/chapters