Give thanks to God the sovereign Lord

Give thanks to God the sovereign Lord

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 49 hymnals

Representative Text

We thank You, God, our sovereign Lord,
your mercies still endure;
our King of kings is well adored,
your truth is ever sure.

What wonders has your wisdom done;
how mighty is your hand!
Heaven, earth, and sea you framed alone;
how wide is your command!

The sun supplies the day with light;
your counsels guide our way.
The moon and stars adorn the night,
your peace becomes our stay.

We thank you, God, our heavenly King:
your mercies still endure;
the whole earth has your praise to sing;
your truth is ever sure.



Source: In Melody and Songs: hymns from the Psalm versions of Isaac Watts #97

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Give thanks to God the sovereign Lord
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Give thanks to God the Sovereign Lord, [King] . I. Watts. [Ps. cxxxvi.] This C.M. version of Ps. 136 was published in his Psalms of David, &c., 1719, in 10 stanzas of 4 lines, with the following note:—

"In every stanza of this Psalm I have endeavoured to imitate the Chorus or Burden of the Song, For His mercy endureth for ever, and yet to maintain a perpetual variety."

The systematic way in which this end is accomplished is sketched out in the title which he gave to his Paraphrase. It reads: "God's Wonders of Creation, Providence, Redemption of Israel, and Salvation of his People." The form in which it is found in most modern collections, as in New Congregational Hymn Book, 1859, No. 226, and others, eliminates the reference to the "Redemption of Israel," thus reducing the hymn to 6 stanzas. The first line sometimes reads: "Give thanks to God, the Sovereign King."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 49 of 49)
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A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #41

Cantica Laudis #d79

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Carmina Sacra #129a

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d257

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Church Hymn Book #P.CXXXVI

Church Melodies, a Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d296

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Church Psalmist #P136b

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Church Psalmist #P136b

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Church Psalmist #P136b

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Church Psalmody #P136.2

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Church Psalmody #P136b

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David, corrected and enlarged, to which is added a collection of hymns; the whole applied to the state of the Christian Church in general (2nd ed.) #256

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Doctor Watts's imitation of the Psalms of David, to which is added a collection of hymns; the whole applied to the state of the Christian Church in general (3rd ed.) #240

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #256

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #240

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Doctor Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #CXXXVIa

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Dr. Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David #300

Familiar Hymns, Alphabetically Arranged. #d71

Text

In Melody and Songs #97

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Manual of Christian Psalmody #P136b

Melodies of the Church #d275

Parish Psalmody #d192

Parish Psalmody #d198

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d217

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. #d226

Psalms and Hymns for Public worship, Containing All the Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts ... #d210

Text

Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts, The #Ps.310

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Psalms and Hymns, Adapted to Public Worship #P136.1

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Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship #P136.1

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Psalms and Hymns #P136b

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Psalms of Grace #136b

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Psalms, carefully suited to the Christian worship in the United States of America #281

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Psalms #136a

The Bay State Collection of Church Music #d47

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The Choir #100a

The Christian Hymn Book #d183

The Christian Hymn Book. 7th ed. #d185

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The Christian Psalmist; or, Watts' Psalms and Hymns #P136a

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The Christian Psalmist #P136b

The National Psalmist #d45

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #468

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The Psalms of David #CXXXVIa

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The Psalms of David #P136a

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The Psalms of David #251

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The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D. #136a

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The Virginia Selection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #32

Virginia Selection of Psalms #d133

Exclude 47 pre-1979 instances
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