STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

For ever shall my song record First Part. L. M. The covenant made with Christ; or, the true David

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 89, 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 · 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 89 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

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

For ever shall my song record

The truth and mercy of the Lord;

Mercy and truth for ever stand,

Like heaven, establish'd by his hand.

The psalm it sets

Watts made this hymn from Psalm 89, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations. 2For I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever; in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.” 3You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant: 4‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’” Selah … 48 more verses PSALM 89 · ITS FIRST VERSES · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 89

Thus to his Son he sware, and said, "With thee my covenant first is made; "In thee shall dying sinners live, "Glory and grace are thine to give. STANZA II

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 For ever shall my song record

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