This little poem is a perfect melody. It would be impossible to express a pure, unmixed emotion—the feeling of joy in the Divine Goodness—more simply, with a more penetrating lyrical charm. The “valley of the death-shadow,” the “enemies” in whose presence the table is spread, are but dimly suggested in the background. The atmosphere of the psalm is clear and bright. The singing shepherd walks in light. The whole world is the House of the Lord, and life is altogether gladness. How different is the tone, the quality, of the One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm! This is not a melody, but a harmony; not a song, but an ode. The ode has been defined as “a strain of exalted and enthusiastic lyrical verse, directed to a fixed purpose and dealing progressively with one dignified theme.”[7] This definition precisely fits the One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm. Its theme is _The Eternal Word_. Every verse in the poem, except one, contains some name or description of the law, commandments, testimonies, precepts, statutes, or judgments of Jehovah. Its enthusiasm for the Divine Righteousness never fails from beginning to end. Its fixed purpose is to kindle in other hearts the flame of devotion to the one Holy Law. It closes with a touch of magnificent pathos—a confession of personal failure and an assertion of spiritual loyalty: I have gone astray like a lost sheep: Seek thy servant: For I do not forget thy commandments. The Fifteenth Psalm I should call a short didactic lyric. Its title is _The Good Citizen_. It begins with a question: Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? This question is answered by the description of a man whose character corresponds to the law of God. First there is a positive sketch in three broad lines: He that walketh uprightly, And worketh righteousness, And speaketh truth in his heart. Then comes a negative characterization in a finely touched triplet: He that backbiteth not with his tongue, Nor doeth evil to his neighbor, Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. This is followed by a couplet containing a strong contrast: In whose eyes a vile person is contemned: But he honoureth them that fear the Lord. Then the description goes back to the negative style again and three more touches are added to the picture: He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not, He that putteth not out his money to usury, Nor taketh reward against the innocent. The poem closes with a single vigourous line, summing up the character of the good citizen and answering the question of the first verse with a new emphasis of security and permanence: He that doeth these things shall never be moved.