STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

[With all my powers of heart and tongue Restoring and preserving grace

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 138, 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. 138

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 138 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

The psalm it sets

Watts made this hymn from Psalm 138, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises. 2I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else. 3On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul. 4All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. … 4 more verses PSALM 138 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 138

[With all my powers of heart and tongue I'll praise my Maker in my song: Angels shall hear the notes I raise, Approve the song, and join the praise. 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 138. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 138 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN [With all my powers of heart and tongue

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.