Hymn Desk
Hymn Texts /

My Soul Now Bless Thy Maker

My soul now bless thy Maker

This hymn articulates the Lutheran emphasis on God's grace and the forgiveness of sins as central to Christian experience, drawing directly from the Psalter. It reflects the Reformation's recovery of the Psalms as essential to Christian prayer and worship.

History & Background

This hymn is based on Psalm 103 and was composed by Heinrich Held in the late 17th century in Germany. Catherine Winkworth provided this widely-used English translation in 1863, making it accessible to English-speaking Lutheran congregations.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 782
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 519
  • Lutheran Service Book — 820
  • Lutheran Worship — 453
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 34

Translation

Catherine Winkworth

Bulletin Note

Written by German hymnodist Heinrich Held in 1695, this hymn draws from Psalm 103 and reflects Luther's recovery of the Psalter for Christian prayer, making divine mercy the pulse of congregational worship.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel movement central to Lutheran proclamation: from awareness of God's judgment to the celebration of forgiveness that transforms the condemned soul into a witness of grace.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Retrospective gratitude for God's past faithfulness (St. 1-2) → Prospective petition for future protection and alignment with God's will (St. 3-4)

Themes

Praise and worship God's mercy and compassion Forgiveness of sins God's covenant faithfulness Psalmody

Look Further