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When the great Judge, supreme and just Second Part The wisdom and equity of providence

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 9:12–20, 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 · 8 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 9:12–20 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

When the great Judge, supreme and just

When the great Judge, supreme and just,

Shall once inquire for blood,

The humble souls, that mourn in dust,

Shall find a faithful God.

The psalm it sets

Watts made this hymn from Psalm 9:12–20, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

12For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted. 13Be merciful to me, O LORD; see how my enemies afflict me! Lift me up from the gates of death, 14that I may declare all Your praises— that within the gates of Daughter Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation. 15The nations have fallen into a pit of their making; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16The LORD is known by the justice He brings; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. Higgaion Selah 17The wicked will return to Sheol— all the nations who forget God. 18For the needy will not always be forgotten; nor the hope of the oppressed forever dashed. 19Rise up, O LORD, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your presence. 20Lay terror upon them, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah PSALM 9:12–20 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 9

When the great Judge, supreme and just, Shall once inquire for blood, The humble souls, that mourn in dust, Shall find a faithful God. 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 2. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 2 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN When the great Judge, supreme and just

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