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Will God for ever cast us off? The church pleading with God under sore persecutions

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 74, 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. 74

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 17 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 74 the verse printed above it

The hymn, and the Scripture in it

All 17 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 74, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture? 2Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance— Mount Zion where You dwell. 3Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed. 4Your foes have roared within Your meeting place; they have unfurled their banners as signs, … 19 more verses PSALM 74 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 74

Will God for ever cast us off? His wrath for ever smoke Against the people of his love, His little chosen flock? 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 74. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 74 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Will God for ever cast us off?

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