STUDY / LIVING THE CHRISTIAN LIFE / HYMNS

Ye islands of the northern sea C. M Christ's incarnation, and the last judgment

Isaac Watts's setting of Psalm 97:1, 3, 5–7, 11, 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. 4

METRE

Common Metre 8.6.8.6 · 6 stanzas

WRITTEN ON

Psalm 97:1, 3, 5–7, 11 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

Ye islands of the northern sea

Ye islands of the northern sea,

Rejoice, the Saviour reigns;

His word like fire, prepares his way,

And mountains melt to plains.

The psalm it sets

Watts made this hymn from Psalm 97:1, 3, 5–7, 11, "in the language of the New Testament": a paraphrase, not a translation. The line that comes closest to it is marked.

1The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the distant shores be glad. 3Fire goes before Him and consumes His foes on every side. 5The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. 6The heavens proclaim His righteousness; all the peoples see His glory. 7All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods! 11Light shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart. PSALM 97:1, 3, 5–7, 11 · BEREAN STANDARD BIBLE READ PSALM 97

Ye islands of the northern sea, Rejoice, the Saviour reigns; His word like fire, prepares his way, And mountains melt to plains. 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 4. Point at a tick to see the hymn; click it to open that hymn.

NO. 4 · ISAAC WATTS · THIS HYMN Ye islands of the northern sea

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