STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

Thus I resolved before the Lord,- Psalm 39 Part 1

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 39:1–3, 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. 1

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 4 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 39:1–3 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 4 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 39:1–3, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1I said, “I will watch my ways so that I will not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are present.” 2I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred. 3My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue: PSALM 39:1–3 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 39

Thus I resolved before the Lord,- "Now will I watch my tongue; Lest I let slip one sinful word, Or do my neighbor wrong." 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 1. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 1 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Thus I resolved before the Lord,-

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