I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath
Verse 1
I’LL praise my Maker while I’ve breath; And when my voice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My days of praise shall ne’er be past, While life, and thought, and being last, Or immortality endures.
Verse 2
Happy the man whose hopes rely On Israel’s God! He made the sky, And earth, and seas, with all their train; His truth for ever stands secure; He saves the oppressed, He feeds the poor, And none shall find His promise vain.
Verse 3
The Lord pours eyesight on the blind; The Lord supports the fainting mind; He sends the labouring conscience peace; He helps the stranger in distress, The widow, and the fatherless, And grants the prisoner sweet release.
Verse 4
I’ll praise Him while He lends me breath; And when my voice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My days of praise shall ne’er be past, While life, and thought, and being last, Or immortality endures.
Background: I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath
"**I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath**" is a foundational hymn, deeply rooted in the work of the "Father of English Hymnody," Isaac Watts. Here's its history, arranged for easy reading:
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**The Hymn: "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath"** This powerful hymn is a declaration of lifelong devotion and trust in God, a staple in many Christian traditions. ---
**1. Author: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)** * **Who He Was:** Watts was an English Nonconformist minister, theologian, and prolific hymn writer. He is widely considered the most important figure in the history of English hymnody. * **His Impact:** Before Watts, congregational singing in England largely consisted of metrical psalms (direct, often clunky, translations of the Psalms). Watts revolutionized this by writing "hymns of human composure" – original poetic texts that were theologically rich and emotionally expressive, often paraphrasing scripture but with a new, distinctly Christian lens. ---
**2. Origin & Date: A Paraphrase of Psalm 146** * **Biblical Basis:** The hymn is Watts's paraphrase of **Psalm 146**. This Psalm emphasizes: * Praising God for a lifetime. * Trusting in God rather than in human rulers or power. * God's role as the Creator, sustainer, and helper of the oppressed, blind, hungry, and stranger. * **Publication:** This hymn first appeared in Watts's significant collection, **"The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament" (1719)**. * Watts's goal was to make the Psalms more accessible and relevant to New Testament believers, infusing them with Christocentric themes. ---
**3. Theme & Message** * **Lifelong Devotion:** The core message is a commitment to praise God for one's entire life, from the first breath to the last. * **Trust in God Alone:** It contrasts the fleeting power and unreliability of human leaders ("princes" in the original Psalm) with the eternal faithfulness and power of God. * **God's Character:** The hymn beautifully describes God as the Creator, the one who keeps truth forever, executes judgment for the oppressed, feeds the hungry, and cares for the vulnerable (the blind, strangers, widows, and orphans). ---
**4. Structure & Music** * **Meter:** The hymn is written in **Common Metre (CM)**, a very popular and versatile meter with a syllable pattern of 8.6.8.6 (meaning each stanza has four lines, alternating between eight and six syllables). * **Tunes:** Due to its common meter, "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath" can be sung to a multitude of traditional Common Metre tunes. Some common associations include: * **"Old 100th"** (the tune often used for the Doxology, "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow"). * It has also historically been set to a powerful tune by **George Frideric Handel**, adapted from his oratorio *Samson*, though this is less common for congregational singing today. ---
**5. Enduring Legacy** * **Timeless Appeal:** The hymn's powerful message of unwavering trust and praise to an unfailing God resonates across generations and denominations. * **Lyrical Strength:** Watts's clear, direct, and yet poetic language makes the hymn both profound and easy to sing. * **Influential:** It stands as a testament to Isaac Watts's genius in making biblical truths singable and memorable, firmly establishing the English hymn as a vital part of Christian worship. "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath" remains a cornerstone of Christian hymnody, a beloved anthem of praise that encourages believers to devote their entire lives to honoring their Creator.
**The Hymn: "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath"** This powerful hymn is a declaration of lifelong devotion and trust in God, a staple in many Christian traditions. ---
**1. Author: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)** * **Who He Was:** Watts was an English Nonconformist minister, theologian, and prolific hymn writer. He is widely considered the most important figure in the history of English hymnody. * **His Impact:** Before Watts, congregational singing in England largely consisted of metrical psalms (direct, often clunky, translations of the Psalms). Watts revolutionized this by writing "hymns of human composure" – original poetic texts that were theologically rich and emotionally expressive, often paraphrasing scripture but with a new, distinctly Christian lens. ---
**2. Origin & Date: A Paraphrase of Psalm 146** * **Biblical Basis:** The hymn is Watts's paraphrase of **Psalm 146**. This Psalm emphasizes: * Praising God for a lifetime. * Trusting in God rather than in human rulers or power. * God's role as the Creator, sustainer, and helper of the oppressed, blind, hungry, and stranger. * **Publication:** This hymn first appeared in Watts's significant collection, **"The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament" (1719)**. * Watts's goal was to make the Psalms more accessible and relevant to New Testament believers, infusing them with Christocentric themes. ---
**3. Theme & Message** * **Lifelong Devotion:** The core message is a commitment to praise God for one's entire life, from the first breath to the last. * **Trust in God Alone:** It contrasts the fleeting power and unreliability of human leaders ("princes" in the original Psalm) with the eternal faithfulness and power of God. * **God's Character:** The hymn beautifully describes God as the Creator, the one who keeps truth forever, executes judgment for the oppressed, feeds the hungry, and cares for the vulnerable (the blind, strangers, widows, and orphans). ---
**4. Structure & Music** * **Meter:** The hymn is written in **Common Metre (CM)**, a very popular and versatile meter with a syllable pattern of 8.6.8.6 (meaning each stanza has four lines, alternating between eight and six syllables). * **Tunes:** Due to its common meter, "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath" can be sung to a multitude of traditional Common Metre tunes. Some common associations include: * **"Old 100th"** (the tune often used for the Doxology, "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow"). * It has also historically been set to a powerful tune by **George Frideric Handel**, adapted from his oratorio *Samson*, though this is less common for congregational singing today. ---
**5. Enduring Legacy** * **Timeless Appeal:** The hymn's powerful message of unwavering trust and praise to an unfailing God resonates across generations and denominations. * **Lyrical Strength:** Watts's clear, direct, and yet poetic language makes the hymn both profound and easy to sing. * **Influential:** It stands as a testament to Isaac Watts's genius in making biblical truths singable and memorable, firmly establishing the English hymn as a vital part of Christian worship. "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath" remains a cornerstone of Christian hymnody, a beloved anthem of praise that encourages believers to devote their entire lives to honoring their Creator.
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