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Judge me, O Lord, and prove my ways Self-examination; or, Evidences of grace

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 26, 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. 26

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 5 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 26 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 26, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1Vindicate me, O LORD! For I have walked with integrity; I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. 2Test me, O LORD, and try me; examine my heart and mind. 3For Your loving devotion is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth. 4I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites. … 8 more verses PSALM 26 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 26

Judge me, O Lord, and prove my ways, And try my reins, and try my heart; My faith upon thy promise stays, Nor from thy law my feet depart. 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 26. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 26 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Judge me, O Lord, and prove my ways

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