REFERENCE
Psalms 145:10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
INTRODUCTION
A hymn of praise to God that seems to be loosely paraphrased from Psalms 145. The text was written by Giovanni Bernardone, better known as Francis of Assisi, who was born in the Italian hill town of Assisi in 1182, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant named Pietro Bernardone. After a youth spent in indulgence, he became a soldier and at age twenty fought in a skirmish with neighboring Perugia in which he was captured and imprisoned for a year or more.
He wrote this hymn shortly before his death, but it was not published for almost 400 years. Translated to English by William H. Draper for a children’s Whitsuntide festival in Leeds, England; first appeared in the Public School Hymn Book, 1919.
Music: Lasst Uns Erfreuen, Ausserlesene Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesäng (Köln, Germany: Peter von Brachel, 1623); harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams in The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906), #519. Songs of Faith and Praise (Howard Publishing Co., Inc., 2003), #6.
STANZA 1 says that all creatures of God, including the sun and moon, should praise Him. "All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam, O praise Him, O praise Him!"
STANZA 2 says that the forces of nature–wind and clouds–and both morning and evening should praise God. "Thou rushing wind that art so strong, Ye clouds that sail in heaven along, O praise Him, Alleluia! Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice; Ye lights of evening find a voice, O praise Him, O praise Him."
STANZA 3 says that all mankind should praise God who helps us bear our pain and suffering. "And all ye men of tender heart, Forgiving others, take your part. Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, Praise God and on Him cast your care! O praise Him! O praise Him!"
STANZA 4 says that all things–human, animal, vegetable, mineral, or celestial–should bless the Father, Son, and Spirit. "Let all things their Creator bless, And worship Him in humbleness. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, three in One! O praise Him! O praise Him!"
He wrote this hymn shortly before his death, but it was not published for almost 400 years. Translated to English by William H. Draper for a children’s Whitsuntide festival in Leeds, England; first appeared in the Public School Hymn Book, 1919.
Music: Lasst Uns Erfreuen, Ausserlesene Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesäng (Köln, Germany: Peter von Brachel, 1623); harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams in The English Hymnal (London: Oxford University Press, 1906), #519. Songs of Faith and Praise (Howard Publishing Co., Inc., 2003), #6.
STANZA 1 says that all creatures of God, including the sun and moon, should praise Him. "All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam, O praise Him, O praise Him!"
- While we usually use the word "creature" to mean a living being, it literally means "that which is created," and indeed all things created by God exhibit praise to Him: Psalms 148:1-14.
- We should join our voices with them in giving God the fruit of our lips and offering the sacrifice of praise to Him: Hebrews 13:15.
- By their very existence, the heavenly bodies praise the One who made them: Psalms 97:6.
STANZA 2 says that the forces of nature–wind and clouds–and both morning and evening should praise God. "Thou rushing wind that art so strong, Ye clouds that sail in heaven along, O praise Him, Alleluia! Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice; Ye lights of evening find a voice, O praise Him, O praise Him."
- Even inanimate objects as the seas, the rivers, and the hills testify of their Creator: Psalms 98:7-8.
- The rising of the sun in the morning declares the glory of God: Psalms 19:1-6.
- Also the lights of the evening bear witness to the creation of God: Genesis 1:14-19.
STANZA 3 says that all mankind should praise God who helps us bear our pain and suffering. "And all ye men of tender heart, Forgiving others, take your part. Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, Praise God and on Him cast your care! O praise Him! O praise Him!"
- Like David, we should extol God as our King and bless His name forever: Psalms 145:1-2.
- Yes, we must bear our share of pain and sorrow in this life: Job 14:1.
- Yet, God loves us and we can cast all our cares upon Him: 1 Peter 5:7.
STANZA 4 says that all things–human, animal, vegetable, mineral, or celestial–should bless the Father, Son, and Spirit. "Let all things their Creator bless, And worship Him in humbleness. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, three in One! O praise Him! O praise Him!"
- God is the Creator: Exodus 20:11.
- Therefore, He alone is worthy of our worship: John 4:24.
- Everything that has breath should praise the Lord: Psalms 150:6.
LYRICS
| All creatures of our God and King Lift up your voice and with us sing, Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam! O praise Him! O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou rushing wind that art so strong Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along, O praise Him! Alleluia! Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice, Ye lights of evening, find a voice! O praise Him! O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! | And all ye men of tender heart, Forgiving others, take your part, O sing ye! Alleluia! Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, Praise God and on Him cast your care! O praise Him! O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Let all things their Creator bless, And worship Him in humbleness, O praise Him! Alleluia! Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, Three in One! O praise Him! O praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! |
HARMONY |
