STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

The Lord appears my helper now First Part Deliverance from a tumult

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 118:6–15, 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 · 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 118:6–15 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 118:6–15, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

6The LORD is on my side; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 7The LORD is on my side; He is my helper. Therefore I will look in triumph on those who hate me. 8It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 11They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 12They swarmed around me like bees, but they were extinguished like burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. 13I was pushed so hard I was falling, but the LORD helped me. 14The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. 15Shouts of joy and salvation resound in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD performs with valor! PSALM 118:6–15 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 118

Like bees my foes beset me round, A large and angry swarm; But I shall all their rage confound By thine almighty arm. STANZA III

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 The Lord appears my helper now

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.