A Psalm for the Lord's Day (Sweet is the work, my God, my King)

This is a hymn of joyous praise. The words are based on Psalm 92.

It was written by English Congregational minister, hymn writer and theologian, Isaac Watts (1674-1748), and first published by in 1719 in Watt's collection, First published in his Psalms of David, arranged on 7 verses each with 4 lines.

With meter 8.8.8.8, tunes it is set to include:

CANONBURY - first published as a hymn tune in Tucker's Hymnal with Tunes, Old and New (1872).
ROCKINGHAM (Mason) by Lowell Mason (1792-1872)
WAREHAM (Knapp) by William Knapp (1698, Wareham, Dorsetshire, England. Died: September 26, 1768,
DEEP HARMONY by English composer Handel Parker (1854-1928) - the most-commonly-used tune in recent recordings
HESPERUS, originally called WHITBURN, by English civil engineer and musician Henry Baker (d.1910).

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides

Downloadable organ arrangement of ROCKINGHAM

Downloadable SATB choir arrangeement, DEEP HARMONY

Instrumental, DEEP HARMONY

Examples

Congregation with organ, tune DEEP HARMONY

Small choir with piano, tune DEEP HARMONY

Choir, unaccompanied:

Massed choir with gentle organ:

Singer with band, contemporary setting:

Instrumental - piano. Tune CANONBURY:

Instrumental - piano. Tune DEEP HARMONY:

Lyrics

Traditional language

1. Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
to praise thy name, give thanks and sing,
to show thy love by morning light,
and talk of all thy truth at night.

2. Sweet is the day of sacred rest,
no mortal cares disturb my breast;
O may my heart in tune be found,
like David's harp of solemn sound!

3. My heart shall triumph in the Lord,
and bless his works, and bless his word;
thy works of grace, how bright they shine,
how deep thy counsels, how divine!

4. And I shall share a glorious part,
when grace has well refined my heart,
and fresh supplies of joy are shed,
like holy oil, to cheer my head.

5. Then shall I see and hear and know
all I desired or wished below;
and every power find sweet employ
in that eternal world of joy.

Modern English

1 Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
to praise Your name, give thanks and sing,
to show Your love by morning light,
and talk of all Your truth at night.

2 Sweet is the day of sacred rest,
no mortal cares disturb my breast;
O may my heart in tune be found,
like David's harp of solemn sound!

3 My heart shall triumph in the Lord,
and bless his works, and bless his word;
Your works of grace, how bright they shine,
how deep Your counsels, how divine!

4 And I shall share a glorious part,
when grace has well refined my heart,
and fresh supplies of joy are shed,
like holy oil, to cheer my head.

5 Then shall I see and hear and know
all I desired or wished below;
and every power find sweet employ
in that eternal world of joy.