STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

The king of saints, how fair his face Second Part. L. M. Christ and his church; or, The mystical marriage

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 45, 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. 4

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 45 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

AMONG THE SCRIPTURES

The stanzas at the centre; around them, every book its heading and its echoes come from, Old Testament on the left and New on the right. Choose a stanza or a book.

a line echoes this verse its heading or an echo comes from here

STANZA I

The king of saints, how fair his face

The king of saints, how fair his face,

Adorn'd with majesty and grace!

He comes with blessings from above,

And wins the nations to his love.

The psalm it sets

Watts made this hymn from Psalm 45, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. 2You are the most handsome of men; grace has anointed your lips, since God has blessed you forever. 3Strap your sword at your side, O mighty warrior; appear in your majesty and splendor. 4In your splendor ride forth in victory on behalf of truth and humility and justice; may your right hand show your awesome deeds. … 13 more verses PSALM 45 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 45

At his right hand our eyes behold The queen array'd in purest gold; The world admires her heavenly dress, Her robe of joy and righteousness. 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 4. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 4 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN The king of saints, how fair his face

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