STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS
Great is the Lord, exalted high Second Part. L. M The works of creation, providence, redemption of Israel, and destruction of enemies
Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 135:5–12, 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. 2
METRE
Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 5 stanzas
WRITTEN ON
Psalm 135:5–12 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
The psalm it sets
Watts made this hymn from Psalm 135:5–12, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.
5For I know that the LORD is great; our Lord is above all gods. 6The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths. 7He causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth. He generates the lightning with the rain and brings forth the wind from His storehouses. 8He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, of both man and beast. 9He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants. 10He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings: 11Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan. 12He gave their land as an inheritance, as a heritage to His people Israel. PSALM 135:5–12 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 135
Great is the Lord, exalted high Above all powers and every throne; Whate'er he please in earth or sea, Or heaven, or hell, his hand hath done. 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 2. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.
NO. 2 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Great is the Lord, exalted high
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