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God in his earthly temple lays The church the birth-place of the saints; or, Jews and Gentiles united in the Christian Church

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 87, 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. 87

METRE

Long Metre 8.8.8.8 · 4 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 87 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 87, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1He has founded His city on the holy mountains. 2The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3Glorious things are ascribed to you, O city of God. Selah 4“I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me— along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush — when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’” … 3 more verses PSALM 87 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 87

God in his earthly temple lays Foundations for his heavenly praise: He likes the tents of Jacob well, But still in Zion loves to dwell. 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 87. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 87 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN God in his earthly temple lays

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