Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Text written in 1907 by Henry van Dyke (1852-1933)

Sung to HYMN TO JOY, melody from Ninth Symphony, composed in 1824 by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Psalm 81:1 Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

Isaiah 35:10 And those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

V. 1 Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,

God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flow'rs before Thee,

Hail Thee as the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sing and sadness,

Drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness,

Fill us with the light of day!

Psalm 96:11, 12 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

V. 2 All Thy works with joy surround Thee,

Earth and heav'n reflect Thy rays,

Stars and angels sing around Thee,

Center of unbroken praise;

Field and forest, vale and mountain,

Bloss'ming meadow, flashing sea,

Chanting bird and flowing fountain

Call us to reoice in Thee.

Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

V. 3 Thou art giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living,

Ocean-depth of happy rest!

Thou the Father, Christ our Brother--

All who live in love are Thine:

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.