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'Twas in the watches of the night Second Part Midnight thoughts recollected

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 63:6–10, 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. 2

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 63:6–10 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 63:6–10, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

6When I remember You on my bed, I think of You through the watches of the night. 7For You are my help; I will sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. 8My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me. 9But those who seek my life to destroy it will go into the depths of the earth. 10They will fall to the power of the sword; they will become a portion for foxes. PSALM 63:6–10 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 63

'Twas in the watches of the night I thought upon thy power, I kept thy lovely face in sight Amidst the darkest hour. 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 2. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 2 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN 'Twas in the watches of the night

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