Thou Who Roll'st the Year Around
Thou who roll'st the year around
Thou Who Roll'st the Year Around is a hymn text by Isaac Watts (1719) in L.M. meter. Found in lw 34, tlh 111. Sung to DUNDEE.
This hymn expresses trust in God's eternal governance of time and seasons, reflecting Lutheran confidence in divine providence and the sovereignty of God over human existence. It encourages meditation on mortality and the need for wisdom—key themes in Lutheran catechesis—while directing the believer toward repentance and godly living.
History & Background
Isaac Watts composed this hymn as part of his extensive hymnody work in the early 18th century, addressing the theme of God's eternal nature contrasted with human temporality. The hymn appeared in Watts' Psalms of David (1719) and has been widely used in Lutheran hymnals, particularly TLH (1941).
Hymnal Appearances
- Lutheran Worship — 34
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 111
Bulletin Note
Isaac Watts (1674–1748) wrote this meditation on divine sovereignty and human brevity in 1719. It has long served the Church on New Year and the Sunday following, anchoring the passage of time in God's unchanging rule.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes the Law's confrontation with human mortality and the Gospel's response: that eternal mercies sustain us through time's passage, inviting renewed petition for God's guidance in our numbered days.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From human vulnerability and seeking aid (Law) to divine vigilance and protection (Gospel); movement from question to assurance
Overview
A New Year's Eve hymn by Ray Palmer, the American Congregational pastor who wrote 'My Faith Looks Up to Thee.' It thanks the God who rolls the year around, crowned with mercies (st. 1-2); reflects that the year's days, joys and sorrows are gone (st. 3), and that its memory, though fading, will be revived at the Judgment (st. 4); asks forgiveness for its follies and grace not to waste our years (st. 5); and prays that at life's last evening we may go to the Father's house (st. 6).
Central theme: Thanksgiving and repentance at the year's end, in view of judgment, forgiveness and eternal home
Structure
Six 7.7.7.7 quatrains. Thanks (1-2) — the year passed (3) — the Judgment (4) — forgiveness (5) — eternal home (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: the year recalled 'at the solemn Judgment Day'; 'follies,' 'guilty stain' (4-5). Gospel: 'mercies large and free'; 'All our follies, Lord, forgive' (1, 5).
Confessional Connections
Ps 90:12 (TLH's text): 'teach us to number our days.' 'Revived… at the solemn Judgment Day' (2 Cor 5:10; AC XVII) — yet for the forgiven, God says 'I will remember their sin no more' (Jer 31:34; Isa 43:25): the year's sins, confessed and forgiven in Christ, will not condemn. Hence st. 5's prayer for pardon. 'That we spend not years in vain' — vocation and sanctification (Eph 5:15-16).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
New Year's Eve; end of the civil year.
Historical Notes
Palmer (1808-1887) wrote it in 1832.
About the Tune
AUS DER TIEFE (Nürnbergisches Gesangbuch, 1676).
Scripture References
Ps 90:12 Ps 65:11 Lam 3:22-23 Ps 90:4-10 Eccl 3:1-8 Eccl 12:14 2 Cor 5:10 Jer 31:34 Isa 43:25 Ps 51:2 Eph 5:15-16 John 14:2-3 Phil 1:23
Stanza by Stanza
You who roll the year around, crowned with generous and free mercies — your gifts to us are rich and abundant; our praise will rise warmly to you.
'You crown the year with your bounty' (Ps 65:11). Mercies new every morning (Lam 3:22-23).
- Scripture
- Ps 65:11, Lam 3:22-23
- Imagery & language
- Rolling year; mercies.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — mercies.
- Connection to previous
- Thanks.
Bend kindly to our worship while we tell our grateful thanks that, sustained by you, we now say farewell to the parting year.
'Sustained by Thee' — God upholds us (Ps 54:4). The congregation gathers at year's end to thank God.
- Scripture
- Ps 54:4, Ps 100:4
- Imagery & language
- Worship; farewell to the year.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — sustained by God.
- Connection to previous
- Farewell.
All its numbered days are gone; all its busy scenes are over; all its joys are gone forever; all its sorrows are felt no more.
'Our days… are soon gone, and we fly away' (Ps 90:10). 'A time to weep, and a time to laugh' (Eccl 3:4).
- Scripture
- Ps 90:4-10, Eccl 3:1-8, Jas 4:14
- Imagery & language
- Numbered days; joys and sorrows gone.
- Law / Gospel
- Realism — time passing.
- Connection to previous
- The year passed.
Mixed into the eternal past, its memory will fade, yet it will be revived at last on the solemn Judgment Day.
'God will bring every deed into judgment' (Eccl 12:14; 2 Cor 5:10). For believers the verdict rests on Christ; forgiven sins are remembered no more (Jer 31:34).
- Scripture
- Eccl 12:14, 2 Cor 5:10, Jer 31:34
- Imagery & language
- Fading memory; Judgment Day.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — accountability.
- Connection to previous
- Judgment.
Lord, forgive all our foolishness; cleanse us from every guilty stain. Let your grace live in us so that we do not waste our years.
'Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity' (Ps 51:2). 'I, I am he who blots out your transgressions… and I will not remember your sins' (Isa 43:25). 'Making the best use of the time' (Eph 5:15-16).
- Scripture
- Ps 51:2, Isa 43:25, Eph 5:15-16
- Imagery & language
- Follies forgiven; years not in vain.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — forgiveness; grace for living.
- Connection to previous
- Forgive.
Then, when life's last evening comes, may we fly as happy spirits to our everlasting home, our Father's house on high!
'In my Father's house are many rooms' (John 14:2-3). 'To depart and be with Christ' (Phil 1:23). The year's end as an image of life's end.
- Scripture
- John 14:2-3, Phil 1:23
- Imagery & language
- Life's last eve; Father's house.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — eternal home.
- Connection to previous
- Home.
Themes
God's providence and sovereignty passing of time and mortality wisdom and petition for divine guidance dependence on God's grace