A Psalm for a Master of a Family

Representative Text

1 Of justice and of grace I sing,
and pay my GOD my vows;
Thy grace and justice, heav'nly King,
teach me to rule my house.

2 Now to my tent, O GOD, repair,
and make Thy servant wise;
I'll suffer nothing near me there
that shall offend Thine eyes.

3 The man that doth his neighbor wrong
by falsehood or by force,
the scornful eye, the sland'rous tongue,
I'll thrust them from my doors.

4 I'll seek the faithful and the just,
and will their help enjoy;
these are the friends that I shall trust,
the servants I'll employ.

5 The wretch that deals in sly deceit,
I'll not endure a night;
the liar's tongue I ever hate,
and banish from my sight.

6 I'll purge my family around,
and make the wicked flee;
so shall my house be ever found
a dwelling fit for Thee.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #101

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: Of justice and of grace I sing
Title: A Psalm for a Master of a Family
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Of justice and of grace I sing. I. Watts. [Psalms ci.] Published in his Psalms of David, 1719, p. 258, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines. It is in use in its original form, and as, "Mercy and judgment I will sing," in the Islington Psalms & Hymns, 1862, and as, "Mercy and judgment will I sing," in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1875. Although found in these three forms its use is limited.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

NEW BRITAIN

NEW BRITAIN (also known as AMAZING GRACE) was originally a folk tune, probably sung slowly with grace notes and melodic embellishments. Typical of the Appalachian tunes from the southern United States, NEW BRITAIN is pentatonic with melodic figures that outline triads. It was first published as a hy…

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SALZBURG (Haydn)


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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #101

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The Cyber Hymnal #12100

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