"Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee" is a Christian hymn written by Henry Van Dyke in 1907, also known as "The Hymn of Joy." This song's lyrics praise and glorify God's love and dominion over all of creation. Van Dyke speaks of the loving mercy and grace of God, as all of nature praises Him eternally. Read the full lyrics of this hymn and learn more about the story of Henry Van Dyke below!
(Also known as "The Hymn of Joy")
1 Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
2 All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heaven reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
3 Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
4 Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
The Story Behind Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Henry Van Dyke wrote this poem in 1907 while visiting the home of Williams College president Harry Augustus Garfield. He was serving as a guest preacher at Williams at the time. He told his host that the local Berkshire Mountains had been his inspiration for writing "Joyful, Joyful, We Ador Thee". The image for this article is a sunrise photo of the Berkshire Mountains!
The lyrics were first published in 1911 in Van Dyke's Book of Poems, Third Edition. Van Dyke wrote of this hymn:
"These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time—hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope."
"This hymn is generally considered by hymnologists to be one of the most joyous expressions of hymn lyrics in the English language." It is also used as a Christian song for children.
Photo credit: GettyImages/jdwfoto
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