Ye heavens, send forth your song of praise

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Ye heavens, send forth your song of praise

Author: Isaac Watts
Tune: ST. LAWRENCE (Smith)
Published in 8 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Ye heav’ns send forth your song of praise!
earth, raise your voice below!
Let hills and mountains join the hymn,
and joy through nature flow.
2 Behold how gracious is our God!
hear the consoling strains,
in which he cheers our drooping hearts,
and mitigates our pains.

3 Cease ye, when days of darkness come,
in sad dismay to mourn,
as if the Lord could leave his saints
forsaken or forlorn.
4 Can the fond mother e’er forget
the infant whom she bore?
and can its plaintive cries be heard,
nor move compassion more?

5 She may forget: nature may fail
a parent’s heart to move;
But Sion on my heart shall dwell
in everlasting love.
6 Full in my sight, upon my hands
I have engrav'd her name:
my hands shall build her ruin'd walls,
and raise her broken frame.

Source: The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #R24a

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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 >

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