STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

[Who is this fair one in distress The strength of Christ's love, and the soul's jealousy of her own, Cant. 8. 5 6 7 13 14

Isaac Watts printed it in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book I, no. 78, under Song of Songs 8:5–7, 13, 14.

WRITTEN BY

Isaac Watts 1674–1748

PRINTED

1707 Hymns and Spiritual Songs · no. 78

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Song of Songs 8:5–7, 13, 14 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 7 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 Song of Songs 8:5–7, 13, 14. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

5Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth. 6Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all. 7Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned. 13You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it! 14Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. SONG OF SONGS 8:5–7, 13, 14 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ SONG OF SONGS 8

[Who is this fair one in distress, That travels from the wilderness? And press'd with sorrows and with sins, On her beloved Lord she leans. STANZA I

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 78. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 78 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN [Who is this fair one in distress

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.