STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

When God revealed his gracious name Psalm 126

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 126, printed in 1719 in The Psalms of David Imitated, where he set the psalms "in the language of the New Testament".

WRITTEN BY

Isaac Watts 1674–1748

PRINTED

1719 The Psalms of David Imitated · no. 126

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 126 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 6 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

The psalm it sets

Watts made this hymn from Psalm 126, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers. 2Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. 4Restore our captives, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. … 2 more verses PSALM 126 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 126

When God revealed his gracious name, And changed my mournful state, My rapture seemed a pleasing dream, The grace appeared so great. STANZA I

Its place in the book

Watts's psalms run from Psalm 1 to Psalm 150, several settings to many psalms: 367 hymns. This is number 126. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 126 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN When God revealed his gracious name

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.