STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

Where shall we go to seek and find L. M At the settlement of a church; or, The ordination of a Minister

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 132:5, 13–18, 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

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 132:5, 13–18 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

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

Where shall we go to seek and find

An habitation for our God,

A dwelling for th' Eternal Mind

Amongst the sons of flesh and blood?

The psalm it sets

Watts made this hymn from Psalm 132:5, 13–18, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

5until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 13For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home: 14“This is My resting place forever and ever; here I will dwell, for I have desired this home. 15I will bless her with abundant provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will sing out in joy. 17There I will make a horn grow for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one. 18I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown upon him will gleam.” PSALM 132:5, 13–18 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 132

Where shall we go to seek and find An habitation for our God, A dwelling for th' Eternal Mind Amongst the sons of flesh and blood? 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 Where shall we go to seek and find

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.