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Now may the God of power and grace Prayer and hope of victory. For a day of prayer in time of war

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 20, 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. 20

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 20 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 20, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 2May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion. 3May He remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings. Selah 4May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed. … 5 more verses PSALM 20 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 20

The name of Jacob's God defends Better than shields or brazen walls; He from his sanctuary sends Succour and strength, when Zion calls. 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 20. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 20 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Now may the God of power and grace

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