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Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty is a hymn text by Joachim Neander (1680) in 14.14.4.7.8 meter. Found in CW21 624, CW93 234, ELH 65, elw 859. Sung to LOBE DEN HERREN.

One of the great hymns of praise in the Lutheran tradition, paraphrasing Psalms 103 and 150. The three stanzas move through praise of God's sovereignty, God's sustaining care, and the call to all creation to join the praise. The sweeping 14-syllable lines give the hymn an almost cosmic breadth.

History & Background

Written by Joachim Neander (1650-1680) in 1680, shortly before his death at age 30. The original German Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren is based on Psalms 103 and 150. Translated into English by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) in 1863. The tune LOBE DEN HERREN is from the Stralsund Gesangbuch of 1665.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Christian Worship: Hymnal — 624
  • Christian Worship — 234
  • Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 65
  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 859
  • Gather 4th Edition — 664
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 543
  • Lutheran Service Book — 790
  • Lutheran Worship — 444
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 39

Bulletin Note

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty — Joachim Neander, 1680; tr. Winkworth, 1863

Preaching Connection

Psalms 103 and 150 — God's sovereignty and sustaining care over all creation.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Law (divine majesty and power) → Gospel (providence, mercy, sustenance) → Gospel (daily goodness) → Gospel (communal adoration and response)

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

Joachim Neander (1650-1680) published it in Glaub- und Liebesübung (1680), the year he died at about 30; five stanzas, headed Ps 103:1, echoing Ps 150. The tune first appears in Stralsund (1665); Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica (1668) paired it. Winkworth's English (1863) dropped st. 3. From memory: Neander, rector of the Reformed Latin school at Düsseldorf, liked to walk in a valley near the city that was later named Neandertal after him, so the Neanderthal fossil carries his name. Source: Hymnology Archive.

In the Church Year

Suggested in the one-year series

  • Trinity 12 (2×)
  • Trinity 14 (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • Proper 6 (2×)
  • Proper 19 (1×)
  • Proper 23 (1×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

AI-assisted draft These study notes were drafted with AI from the hymn text and have not yet been reviewed line by line. Treat them as a starting point and check them against the sources.

Overview

Neander's masterpiece, drawing on Psalms 103 and 150. Each stanza begins 'Praise to the Lord' and names a reason: he is King and Savior (1), sovereign sustainer (2), Creator and protector (3), giver of prosperity and mercy (4); then all that has breath is summoned (5). It is addressed to the singer's own soul, combining Reformed psalm-singing with Lutheran chorale style.

Central theme: Praise to God for his kingship, providence, creation, and mercy

Structure

Anaphora: every stanza opens 'Praise to the Lord'; st. 5 widens to all creation.

Law & Gospel Shape

Gospel and praise throughout.

Confessional Connections

First Article throughout; 'Health and Salvation' (st. 1) points to the Second.

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Opening hymn; Thanksgiving; Holy Trinity; church anniversaries; any festive occasion.

Historical Notes

Neander (1650-1680), a Reformed pastor and teacher in Düsseldorf, died at 30. The Neander Valley (and Neanderthal man) is named for him.

About the Tune

LOBE DEN HERREN (Stralsund, 1665) — majestic triple-meter melody; Bach's Cantata 137 sets it.

Scripture References

Ps 103:1-5 Ps 150 Neh 9:6 Ex 19:4 Deut 32:11 Ps 139:14 Ps 91:4

Stanza by Stanza

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty…

Praise the almighty King of creation; my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation; join the great throng with harp and psalter.

'King of creation' (German: 'mighty King of glory,' Ps 24:7-10). The singer addresses his own soul as in Ps 103:1. 'Thy Health and Salvation' (Heil can mean both) — God is not only the giver of health and salvation but is himself our salvation (Ps 27:1). 'Harp and psalter' come from Ps 150:3 and Ps 57:8 ('Awake, O harp and lyre!'). The individual joins the 'full throng' of the church.

Scripture
Ps 103:1, Ps 24:7-10, Ps 27:1, Ps 57:8, Ps 150:3
Imagery & language
King; harp and psalter; throng.
Law / Gospel
Doxology.
Connection to previous
Opening ascription.
kingship of God salvation corporate praise
2 Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things…

Praise the Lord who reigns wonderfully over all, lifts and sustains like an eagle; have you not seen how your desires were granted in what he ordained?

'On wings of an eagle' recalls Ex 19:4 ('I bore you on eagles' wings') and Deut 32:11 (the eagle bearing its young). God's rule is protective. The rhetorical question invites reflection on God's providence in one's own life. Note the qualification: desires are granted 'in what He ordaineth' — God gives what is truly good, which may differ from what we asked (Rom 8:28; Ps 37:4).

Scripture
Ex 19:4, Deut 32:11, Isa 40:31, Ps 37:4, Rom 8:28
Imagery & language
Eagle's wings.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — providence.
Connection to previous
From God's kingship to his governance.
providence God's sovereignty answered prayer
3 Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully…

Praise the Lord who made you wonderfully, gave health, and caught you when you fell carelessly; what need has ever lacked relief? His mercy's wings sheltered you.

'Fearfully and wonderfully made' quotes Ps 139:14. 'When heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee' — God protects even from our own carelessness (Ps 37:24). 'Wings of His mercy' (Ps 91:4; Ps 17:8; Matt 23:37) — another wing image, now of shelter rather than lifting. This is personal providence, explaining the First Article's 'defends me against all danger and guards and protects me from all evil.'

Scripture
Ps 139:13-14, Ps 37:24, Ps 91:4, Ps 17:8, Matt 23:37
Imagery & language
Sheltering wings; falling and being caught.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — creation and protection.
Connection to previous
From cosmic providence to personal care.
creation of the individual protection mercy
4 Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work…

Praise the Lord who blesses your work and defends you, who sends streams of mercy from heaven; consider again what the Almighty can do as he befriends you in love.

Blessing on daily work (Ps 90:17, 'establish the work of our hands'). 'Streams of His mercy' — mercy as an abundant, continuous flow (Ps 36:8). 'Ponder anew' calls for fresh reflection on God's power exercised in friendship — almighty power is not threatening but befriending (John 15:15).

Scripture
Ps 90:17, Ps 36:8, Deut 28:12, John 15:15
Imagery & language
Streams from heaven; friendship.
Law / Gospel
Gospel — blessing on vocation.
Connection to previous
Applies providence to daily labor.
vocation mercy divine friendship
5 Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me…

Let everything in me and everything that breathes adore him; let the Amen sound again from his people; we gladly adore him forever.

Ps 103:1 ('all that is within me, bless his holy name') and Ps 150:6 ('Let everything that has breath praise the LORD'). The 'Amen' of God's people (Ps 106:48; 1 Cor 14:16) is the assent of faith. The hymn ends with the whole person and the whole creation in eternal praise.

Scripture
Ps 103:1, Ps 150:6, Ps 106:48, Rev 5:14
Imagery & language
Breath; Amen.
Law / Gospel
Doxology.
Connection to previous
Climactic widening of praise.
universal praise worship

Themes

Praise Sovereignty of God Creation Doxology

Look Further