Most of you know that Isaac Watts is considered the “Father of English Hymnody.” He fought long and hard to sing songs written by “mere men” in
worship, along with the singing of Psalms. You probably also know that one of his greatest works was to put the Psalms into “verse,” which is to say, putting them into English rhythms and forms while keeping the basic structure and meaning of the original Psalm.
I’ve found his Psalm verses to be very helpful for use in private devotions/worship. So I just thought I’d share. Below are three different versions Watts wrote based on of one of my favorite Psalms, Psalm 63. Each is written to a different meter so that it could be sung to a variety of tunes, and the Common Meter version is divided into two parts.
Maybe rather lengthy for a blog post, but I hope you might find a blessing in meditating on these words of longing after God. SDG
PSALM 63 PART 1 - v.1-5
C. M.
Early, my God, without delay,
I haste to seek thy face;
My thirsty spirit faints away
Without thy cheering grace.
So pilgrims on the scorching sand,
Beneath a burning sky,
Long for a cooling stream at hand,
And they must drink or die.
I've seen thy glory and thy power
Through all thy temple shine;
My God, repeat that heav'nly hour,
That vision so divine.
Not all the blessings of a feast
Can please my soul so well,
As when thy richer grace I taste,
And in thy presence dwell.
Not life itself, with all her joys,
Can my best passions move,
Or raise so high my cheerful voice,
As thy forgiving love.
Thus till my last expiring day
I'll bless my God and King;
Thus will I lift my hands to pray,
And tune my lips to sing.
PSALM 63 PART 2 - v.6-10
C. M.
'Twas in the watches of the night
I thought upon thy power,
I kept thy lovely face in sight
Amidst the darkest hour.
My flesh lay resting on my bed,
My soul arose on high:
"My God, my life, my hope," I said,
"Bring thy salvation nigh."
My spirit labors up thine hill,
And climbs the heav'nly road;
But thy right hand upholds me still,
While I pursue my God.
Thy mercy stretches o'er my head
The shadow of thy wings;
My heart rejoices in thine aid,
My tongue awakes and sings.
But the destroyers of my peace
Shall fret and rage in vain;
The tempter shall for ever cease,
And all my sins be slain.
Thy sword shall give my foes to death,
And send them down to dwell
In the dark caverns of the earth,
Or to the deeps of hell.
PSALM 63
L. M.
Great God, indulge my humble claim,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest;
The glories that compose thy name
Stand all engaged to make me blest.
Thou great and good, thou just and wise,
Thou art my Father and my God;
And I am thine by sacred ties;
Thy son, thy servant, bought with blood
With heart, and eyes, and lifted hands,
For thee I long, to thee I look,
As travellers in thirsty lands
Pant for the cooling water-brook.
With early feet I love t' appear
Among thy saints, and seek thy face;
Oft have I seen thy glory there,
And felt the power of sovereign grace.
Not fruits nor wines that tempt our taste,
Nor all the joys our senses know,
Could make me so divinely blest,
Or raise my cheerful passions so.
My life itself without thy love
No taste of pleasure could afford;
'Twould but a tiresome burden prove,
If I were banish'd from the Lord.
Amidst the wakeful hours of night,
When busy cares afflict my head,
One thought of thee gives new delight,
And adds refreshment to my bed.
I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice,
While I have breath to pray or praise;
This work shall make my heart rejoice,
And spend the remnant of my days.
PSALM 63
S. M.
My God, permit my tongue
This joy, to call thee mine;
And let my early cries prevail
To taste thy love divine.
My thirsty, fainting soul
Thy mercy doth implore;
Not travellers in desert lands
Can pant for water more.
Within thy churches, Lord,
I long to find my place;
Thy power and glory to behold,
And feel thy quick'ning grace.
For life without thy love
No relish can afford;
No joy can be compared to this,
To serve and please the Lord.
To thee I'll lift my hands,
And praise thee while I live;
Not the rich dainties of a feast
Such food or pleasure give.
In wakeful hours at night
I call my God to mind;
I think how wise thy counsels are,
And all thy dealings kind.
Since thou hast been my help,
To thee my spirit flies,
And on thy watchful providence
My cheerful hope relies.
The shadow of thy wings
My soul in safety keeps;
I follow where my Father leads,
And he supports my steps.
worship, along with the singing of Psalms. You probably also know that one of his greatest works was to put the Psalms into “verse,” which is to say, putting them into English rhythms and forms while keeping the basic structure and meaning of the original Psalm.I’ve found his Psalm verses to be very helpful for use in private devotions/worship. So I just thought I’d share. Below are three different versions Watts wrote based on of one of my favorite Psalms, Psalm 63. Each is written to a different meter so that it could be sung to a variety of tunes, and the Common Meter version is divided into two parts.
Maybe rather lengthy for a blog post, but I hope you might find a blessing in meditating on these words of longing after God. SDG
PSALM 63 PART 1 - v.1-5
C. M.
Early, my God, without delay,
I haste to seek thy face;
My thirsty spirit faints away
Without thy cheering grace.
So pilgrims on the scorching sand,
Beneath a burning sky,
Long for a cooling stream at hand,
And they must drink or die.
I've seen thy glory and thy power
Through all thy temple shine;
My God, repeat that heav'nly hour,
That vision so divine.
Not all the blessings of a feast
Can please my soul so well,
As when thy richer grace I taste,
And in thy presence dwell.
Not life itself, with all her joys,
Can my best passions move,
Or raise so high my cheerful voice,
As thy forgiving love.
Thus till my last expiring day
I'll bless my God and King;
Thus will I lift my hands to pray,
And tune my lips to sing.
PSALM 63 PART 2 - v.6-10
C. M.
'Twas in the watches of the night
I thought upon thy power,
I kept thy lovely face in sight
Amidst the darkest hour.
My flesh lay resting on my bed,
My soul arose on high:
"My God, my life, my hope," I said,
"Bring thy salvation nigh."
My spirit labors up thine hill,
And climbs the heav'nly road;
But thy right hand upholds me still,
While I pursue my God.
Thy mercy stretches o'er my head
The shadow of thy wings;
My heart rejoices in thine aid,
My tongue awakes and sings.
But the destroyers of my peace
Shall fret and rage in vain;
The tempter shall for ever cease,
And all my sins be slain.
Thy sword shall give my foes to death,
And send them down to dwell
In the dark caverns of the earth,
Or to the deeps of hell.
PSALM 63
L. M.
Great God, indulge my humble claim,
Thou art my hope, my joy, my rest;
The glories that compose thy name
Stand all engaged to make me blest.
Thou great and good, thou just and wise,
Thou art my Father and my God;
And I am thine by sacred ties;
Thy son, thy servant, bought with blood
With heart, and eyes, and lifted hands,
For thee I long, to thee I look,
As travellers in thirsty lands
Pant for the cooling water-brook.
With early feet I love t' appear
Among thy saints, and seek thy face;
Oft have I seen thy glory there,
And felt the power of sovereign grace.
Not fruits nor wines that tempt our taste,
Nor all the joys our senses know,
Could make me so divinely blest,
Or raise my cheerful passions so.
My life itself without thy love
No taste of pleasure could afford;
'Twould but a tiresome burden prove,
If I were banish'd from the Lord.
Amidst the wakeful hours of night,
When busy cares afflict my head,
One thought of thee gives new delight,
And adds refreshment to my bed.
I'll lift my hands, I'll raise my voice,
While I have breath to pray or praise;
This work shall make my heart rejoice,
And spend the remnant of my days.
PSALM 63
S. M.
My God, permit my tongue
This joy, to call thee mine;
And let my early cries prevail
To taste thy love divine.
My thirsty, fainting soul
Thy mercy doth implore;
Not travellers in desert lands
Can pant for water more.
Within thy churches, Lord,
I long to find my place;
Thy power and glory to behold,
And feel thy quick'ning grace.
For life without thy love
No relish can afford;
No joy can be compared to this,
To serve and please the Lord.
To thee I'll lift my hands,
And praise thee while I live;
Not the rich dainties of a feast
Such food or pleasure give.
In wakeful hours at night
I call my God to mind;
I think how wise thy counsels are,
And all thy dealings kind.
Since thou hast been my help,
To thee my spirit flies,
And on thy watchful providence
My cheerful hope relies.
The shadow of thy wings
My soul in safety keeps;
I follow where my Father leads,
And he supports my steps.
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