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My God, accept my early vows Watchfulness, and brotherly reproof. A morning or evening psalm

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 141:2–5, 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. 141

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 4 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 141:2–5 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 4 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 141:2–5, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

2May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering. 3Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips. 4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies. 5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked. PSALM 141:2–5 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 141

Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord, From every rash and heedless word; Nor let my feet incline to tread The guilty path where sinners lead. STANZA II

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

NO. 141 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN My God, accept my early vows

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