STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS
Let God arise in all his might First Part The vengeance and compassion of God
Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 68:1–6, 32–35, 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
Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 8 stanzas
WRITTEN ON
Psalm 68:1–6, 32–35 the verse printed above it
The hymn, and the Scripture in it
All 8 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
Let God arise in all his might
Let God arise in all his might,
And put the troops of hell to flight,
As smoke that sought to cloud the skies
Before the rising tempest flies.
The psalm it sets
Watts made this hymn from Psalm 68:1–6, 32–35, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.
1God arises. His enemies are scattered, and those who hate Him flee His presence. 2As smoke is blown away, You will drive them out; as wax melts before the fire, the wicked will perish in the presence of God. 3But the righteous will be glad and rejoice before God; they will celebrate with joy. 4Sing to God! Sing praises to His name. Exalt Him who rides on the clouds — His name is the LORD— and rejoice before Him. 5A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in His holy habitation. 6God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land. 32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord— Selah 33to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds. 34Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies. 35O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God! PSALM 68:1–6, 32–35 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 68
Let God arise in all his might, And put the troops of hell to flight, As smoke that sought to cloud the skies Before the rising tempest flies. 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 Let God arise in all his might
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