Metrical paraphrases by Isaac Watts
English text
Version 1. Long Meter
1
Jehovah reigns: he dwells in light,
Girded with majesty and might;
The world created by his hands
Still on its first foundation stands.
2
But ere this spacious world was made,
Or had its first foundations laid,
Thy throne eternal ages stood,
Thyself the ever-living God.
3
Like floods the angry nations rise,
And aim their rage against the skies;
Vain floods, that aim their rage so high!
At thy rebuke the billows die.
4
For ever shall thy throne endure;
Thy promise stands for ever sure;
And everlasting holiness
Becomes the dwellings of thy grace.
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Version 2. Meter 10 10. 10 10. 11 11
1
The Lord of glory reigns; he reigns on high;
His robes of state are strength and majesty;
This wide creation rose at his command,
Built by his word, and stablish'd by his hand:
Long stood his throne ere he began creation,
And his own Godhead is the firm foundation.
2
God is th'eternal king: Thy foes in vain
Raise their rebellion to confound thy reign:
In vain the storms, in vain the floods arise,
And roar, and toss their waves against the skies;
Foming at heav'n they rage with wild commotion,
But heav'n's high arches scorn the swelling ocean.
3
Ye tempests rage no more; ye floods be still,
And the mad world submissive to his will:
Built on his truth, his church must ever stand;
Firm are his promises, and strong his hand:
See his own sons, when they appear before him,
Bow at his footstool, and with fear adore him.
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Version 3. Meter 668. 668
1
The Lord Jehovah reigns,
And royal state maintains,
His head with awful glories crown'd;
Array'd in robes of light,
Begirt with sov'reign might,
And rays of majesty around.
2
Upheld by thy commands
The world securely stands;
And skies and stars obey thy word:
Thy throne was fix'd on high
Before the starry sky,
Eternal is thy kingdom, Lord.
3
In vain the noisy crowd,
Like billows fierce and loud,
Against thine empire rage and roar;
In vain with angry spite
The surly nations fight,
And dash like waves against the shore.
4
Let floods and nations rage,
And all their pow'rs engage,
Let swelling tides assault the sky,
The terrors of thy frown
Shall beat their madness down;
Thy throne for ever stands on high.
5
Thy promises are true,
Thy grace is ever new;
There fix'd thy church shall ne'er remove:
Thy saints with holy fear
Shall in thy courts appear,
And sing thine everlasting love.
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