Praise to the Lord, The Almighty, The King of Creation [Hymn]

This hymn is based on Psalm 103:1-6 and Psalm 150, and has been a beloved song of praise to God by individuals and congregations since it was first published in 1680. Each stanza describes a different aspect of God’s true nature.¹

Table of Contents

Joachim Neander (1650-1680)

“Neander was the first important hymn-writer of the German Reformed Church… Many of Neander’s hymns were speedily received into the Lutheran hymnbooks, and are still in universal use. The finest are the jubilant hymns of Praise and Thanksgiving, such as his “Lobe den Herren”, and those setting forth the Majesty of God in His works of beauty and wonder in Nature, such as his “Himmel, Erde”, and “Unbegreiflich Gut”; while some of his hymns of Penitence, such as his “Sieh hier bin ich, Ehrenkönig” (q.v.), are also very beautiful. Many are of a decidedly subjective cast, but for this the circumstances of their origin, and the fact that the author did not expect them to be used in public worship, will sufficiently account.”

– From Hymnary - Joachim Neander

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Lyrics

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration. \

2 Praise to the Lord! who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth;
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires e’er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth? \

3 Praise to the Lord! Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee! \

4 Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee!
Decked thee with health, and with loving hand
guided and stayed thee;
How oft in grief Hath not He brought thee relief,
Spreading His wings e’er to shade thee! \

5 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.