STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

I waited patient for the Lord First Part. C. M A song of deliverance from great distress

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 40:1–3, 5, 17, 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. 1

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 40:1–3, 5, 17 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 6 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 40:1–3, 5, 17, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. 2He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm. 3He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 5Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us— none can compare to You— if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count. 17But I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and deliverer; O my God, do not delay. PSALM 40:1–3, 5, 17 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 40

I waited patient for the Lord, He bow'd to hear my cry; He saw me resting on his word, And brought salvation nigh. 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 1. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 1 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN I waited patient for the Lord

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