The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Isaac Watts were first published in this country by Dr. Franklin, in the year 1741.  His version is as follows:—­

  Let children hear the mighty deeds
    Which God performed of old;
  Which in our younger years we saw,
    And which our fathers told.

  He bids us make his glories known,
    His works of power and grace,
  And we’ll convey his wonders down
    Through every rising race.

  Our lips shall tell them to our sons,
    And they again to theirs,
  That generations yet unborn
    May teach them to their heirs.

  Thus shall they learn in God alone
    Their hope securely stands,
  That they may ne’er forget his works,
    But practise his commands;

3.—­Brady and Tate’s Version.

In the year 1803, the Seventy-eighth Psalm was first printed on a small sheet and placed under every plate, which practice has since been always adopted.  The version of that year was from Brady and Tate’s collection, first published in London in 1698, and in this country about the year 1739.  It was sung to the tune of St. Martin’s in 1805, as appears from a memorandum in ink on the back of one of the sheets for that year, which reads, “Sung in the hall, Commencement Day, tune St. Martin’s, 1805.”  From the statements of graduates of the last century, it seems that this had been the customary tune for some time previous to this year, and it is still retained as a precious legacy of the past.  St. Martin’s was composed by William Tans’ur in the year 1735.  The following is the version of Brady and Tate:—­

  Hear, O my people; to my law
    Devout attention lend;
  Let the instruction of my mouth
    Deep in your hearts descend.

  My tongue, by inspiration taught,
    Shall parables unfold,
  Dark oracles, but understood,
    And owned for truths of old;

  Which we from sacred registers
    Of ancient times have known,
  And our forefathers’ pious care
    To us has handed down.

  We will not hide them from our sons;
    Our offspring shall be taught
  The praises of the Lord, whose strength
    Has works of wonders wrought.

  For Jacob he this law ordained,
    This league with Israel made;
  With charge, to be from age to age,
    From race to race, conveyed,

  That generations yet to come
    Should to their unborn heirs
  Religiously transmit the same,
    And they again to theirs.

  To teach them that in God alone
    Their hope securely stands;
  That they should ne’er his works forget,
    But keep his just commands.

4.—­From Belknap’s Collection.

This collection was first published by the Rev. Dr. Jeremy Belknap, at Boston, in 1795.  The version of the Seventy-eighth Psalm is partly from that of Brady and Tate, and partly from Dr. Watts’s, with a few slight variations.  It succeeded the version of Brady and Tate about the year 1820, and is the one which is now used.  The first three stanzas were written by Brady and Tate; the last three by Dr. Watts.  It has of late been customary to omit the last stanza in singing and in printing.