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The lands that long in darkness lay The Son of God incarnate; or, The titles and the kingdom of Christ, Isa. 9. 2 6 7

Isaac Watts printed it in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book I, no. 13, under Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7.

WRITTEN BY

Isaac Watts 1674–1748

PRINTED

1707 Hymns and Spiritual Songs · no. 13

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7 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

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

The lands that long in darkness lay

Now have beheld a heavenly light;

Nations that sat in death's cold shade

Are bless'd with beams divinely bright.

Where Watts found it

Watts printed the hymn under Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. 6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this. ISAIAH 9:2, 6, 7 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ ISAIAH 9

The virgin's promis'd Son is born, Behold th' expected Child appear; What shall his names or titles be? The Wonderful, the Counsellor. 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 13. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 13 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN The lands that long in darkness lay

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