Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Words: Joachim Neander, 1680; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863 · Tune "Lobe den Herren": Joachim Neander, 1665 · Public domain
Verse 1
GPraise to the CLord, the GAlmighty, the GKing of creation!
GO my soul, praise Him, for DHe is thy Ghealth and Dsalvation!
GAll ye who Chear, now to GHis temple draw Dnear,
GJoin me in Emglad DadoraGtion!
Verse 2
GPraise to the CLord, who o'er all things so Dwondrously reigneth,
GShelters thee under His Dwings, yea, so Ggently Dsustaineth!
GHast thou not Cseen how thy Gdesires e'er have Dbeen
GGranted in Emwhat He DordainGeth?
Verse 3
GPraise to the CLord, who doth prosper thy Dwork and Gdefend thee;
GSurely His goodness and Dmercy here Gdaily Dattend thee.
GPonder Canew what the GAlmighty can Ddo,
GIf with His Emlove He Dbefriend Gthee.
Verse 4
GPraise to the CLord! O let all that is Din me Gadore Him!
GAll that hath life and Dbreath, come now with Gpraises Dbefore Him!
GLet the CAmen sound from GHis people Dagain,
GGladly for Emaye we Dadore GHim.
Chords in the key of G
- G
- C
- D
- Em
About this hymn
- Words
- Joachim Neander, German original 1680; English translation by Catherine Winkworth, 1863
- Music
- LOBE DEN HERREN, a German melody first printed in 1665, composer anonymous, likely adapted from a folk tune
- Meter
- 14.14.4.7.8
- In
- 453 hymnals
- Scripture
- Psalm 103, Psalm 150, Psalm 23
The story
Joachim Neander wrote the German words in 1680, built out of Psalm 103 and Psalm 150. He died that same year, at thirty. The tune is older than the words. It shows up in print in 1665 and seems to have started as a folk melody that carried other texts before it carried this one. Bach built a cantata on the chorale in 1725, used it again in a wedding cantata, and set it for organ. The English we sing is Catherine Winkworth's 1863 translation. One thing to watch at the bench: the meter is 14.14.4.7.8. Those long opening lines and the short fourth line mean you cannot drop in a common meter tune here.
Where it fits in a service
Often used as an opening hymn or a call to worship, since the whole text is straight praise. It also works well on a thanksgiving Sunday or anywhere the service needs a strong, lifted start.
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