Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme

General information

'Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme' is a hymn by Isaac Watts, published as Hymn 69 in Book 2 of his Hymns and Spiritual Songs.

Settings by composers

• William Billings — Bellingham  English SATB
• Oliver Holden — Heavenly Theme  English SATB
• Henry Searle — Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme  English SATB

 

Text and translations

English text 1  Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme, And speak some boundless thing; The mighty works, or mightier name Of our eternal king. 2  Tell of his wondrous faithfulness, And sound his pow'r abroad; Sing the sweet promise of his grace, And the performing God. 3  Proclaim salvation from the Lord For wretched dying men: His hand has writ the sacred word With an immortal pen. 4  Engrav'd as in eternal brass The mighty promise shines, Nor can the pow'rs of darkness rase Those everlasting lines. 5  He that can dash whole worlds to death. And make them when he please, He speaks, and that almighty breath Fulfils his great decrees. 6  His very word of grace is strong As that which built the skies, The voice that rolls the stars along Speaks all the promises. 7  He said, Let the wide heav'n be spread, And heav'n was stretch'd abroad; Abrah'm, I'll be thy God, he said, And he was Abrah'm's God. 8  O, might I hear thine heav'nly tongue But whisper, Thou art mine, Those gentle words should raise my song To notes almost divine. 9  How would my leaping heart rejoice And think my heav'n secure! I trust the all-creating voice, And faith desires no more.

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