“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
(LSB 790) was written by Reformed Pietist Joachim Neander (1650-1680) and he
wrote approximately 60 hymns with this hymn being his best known.
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
almost explodes off the page with its refrain at the beginning of each stanza.
The rest of the hymn is a rousing statement describing who God the Father is,
how He works, and what He bestows.
Most American Christians of a certain
age have sung this hymn several times a year throughout their lives. That is
because this hymn represents a tradition of adoration and praise in most of
American Protestantism. “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” is not only present
in the hymnals of virtually all Christian churches, it is much present in the
practice of their congregations. Hymnologist Martin Rößler describes the hymn as “the number one
hit among chorales, the bestseller on the hymn list, and anecdotally and statistically
the most frequently sung hymn of all time.”
The hymn has a momentum that builds
and drives the singer to the phrase “let the Amen” in the final stanza.
1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear
Now to His temple draw near,
Joining in glad adoration!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear
Now to His temple draw near,
Joining in glad adoration!
2 Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning
And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.
Have you not seen
All that is needful has been
Sent by His gracious ordaining?
And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.
Have you not seen
All that is needful has been
Sent by His gracious ordaining?
3 Praise to the Lord, who has fearfully, wondrously, made you,
Health has bestowed and, when heedlessly falling, has stayed you.
What need or grief
Ever has failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade you.
Health has bestowed and, when heedlessly falling, has stayed you.
What need or grief
Ever has failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade you.
4 Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do
As with His love He befriends you.
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do
As with His love He befriends you.
5 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore Him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore Him!
Text: Public domain
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