STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

When the Eternal bows the skies Hymn 31 Part 1

Isaac Watts printed it in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book I, no. 31.1, under Psalm 138:6.

WRITTEN BY

Isaac Watts 1674–1748

PRINTED

1707 Hymns and Spiritual Songs · no. 31.1

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 138:6 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 5 stanzas as Watts printed them, with the verses their lines echo beside them. Point at a line to join it to its verse; click to read the passage.

SHARED WORDSthe verse shares the line's wording ECHOproposed by an AI model, confirmed by a separate check Not the author's own notes

Where Watts found it

Watts printed the hymn under Psalm 138:6. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. PSALM 138:6 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 138

He bids his aweful chariot roll Far downward from the skies, To visit every humble soul With pleasure in his eyes. STANZA II

Its place in the book

Book I of the hymn book, “Collected from the Holy Scriptures”, holds these hymns in this order: 179 hymns. This is number 31.1. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 31.1 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN When the Eternal bows the skies

Rooted in Scripture. Open for discovery.

A place to read slowly, ask deeply, and follow the connections. Scripture, study and the voices of Christian history, brought together for a lifetime of learning.

SPEND TIME IN THE WORD

  • Open the reader
  • Books & reading progress
  • Compare Scripture editions
  • Find a passage

FOLLOW YOUR QUESTIONS

  • Study collections
  • People & places
  • Faith & apologetics
  • Stories of faith

A library with a paper trail.

Meet the authors. Explore the collection. Trace each work to its source.

Download the code.

Open source on GitHub.