Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
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
- 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)
Themes
Praise Sovereignty of God Creation Doxology