STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

My Saviour, my almighty Friend 2d Part Christ our strength and righteousness

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 71:14–16, 22–24, 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 · 7 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 71:14–16, 22–24 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 7 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 71:14–16, 22–24, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

14But I will always hope and will praise You more and more. 15My mouth will declare Your righteousness and Your salvation all day long, though I cannot know their full measure. 16I will enter in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will proclaim Your righteousness—Yours alone. 22So I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to You with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. 23When I sing praise to You my lips will shout for joy, along with my soul, which You have redeemed. 24My tongue will indeed proclaim Your righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded. PSALM 71:14–16, 22–24 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 71

When I am fill'd with sore distress For some surprising sin, I'll plead thy perfect righteousness, And mention none but thine. STANZA IV

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 My Saviour, my almighty Friend

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