STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

David rejoiced in God his strength Psalm 21

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 21, 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. 21

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 21 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

The psalm it sets

Watts made this hymn from Psalm 21, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1O LORD, the king rejoices in Your strength. How greatly he exults in Your salvation! 2You have granted his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah 3For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 4He asked You for life, and You granted it— length of days, forever and ever. … 9 more verses PSALM 21 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 21

David rejoiced in God his strength, Raised to the throne by special grace; But Christ the Son appears at length, Fulfils the triumph and the praise. 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 21. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 21 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN David rejoiced in God his strength

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.