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When overwhelm'd with grief Safety in God

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 61:1–6, 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. 61

METRE

Short Metre 6.6.8.6 · 4 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 61:1–6 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 61:1–6, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. 2From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3For You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy. 4Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah 5For You have heard my vows, O God; You have given me the inheritance reserved for those who fear Your name. 6Increase the days of the king’s life; may his years span many generations. PSALM 61:1–6 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 61

O lead me to the rock That's high above my head, And make the covert of thy wings My shelter and my shade. 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 61. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 61 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN When overwhelm'd with grief

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