GOD THE FATHER >> Majesty & Power of God
SDAH 89
Let all on earth their voices raise,
To sing the great Jehovah’s praise,
And bless His holy name:
His glory let the people know,
Get the hymn sheet in other keys here
For Worship Leaders
Make each hymn more meaningful with these helpful tools: Short, ready-to-use hymn introductions for church bulletins, multiple ways to introduce a hymn based on your worship theme and in-depth history and insights to enrich your song service.
Hymn Spotlight: Let All On Earth Their Voices Raise
This hymn is a metrical version of Psalm 96, originally titled The Lord of the Gentiles. Isaac Watts (1674–1748) included it in his Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament (1719). Over time, the meter was adjusted to make it more singable. The hymn calls all nations to worship the one true God, a powerful reminder of His sovereignty and the call for worldwide praise.
The tune OLD 113TH comes from the Strassburger Kirchenamt (1525), likely composed by Matthäus Greiter (c. 1500–1550). Used in early German psalters and later adapted by John Calvin, the melody was refined over time, even appearing in Bach’s choral works.
As we sing, may our voices join in the universal praise of our Creator and King!
📖 Reference: Feel free to share but please cite hymnsforworship.org when reproducing.
Introductions for Sabbath School Song Service (based on specific lesson quarterlies):
This is a metrical version of Psalm 96, first entitled “The Lord of the Gentiles.” Isaac Watts (1674–1748; see Biographies) printed it in his Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, 1719. Originally it was in 8.8.8.8.D. meter, but has been altered through the years, the third and sixth lines being shortened to make the meter 8.8.6.6.D. For example, “To sing and bless His holy name” has become “And bless His holy name.” The omitted second stanza, which shows Watts’s extreme chauvinism, is:
The heathens know Thy glory, Lord;
The wondering nations read Thy Word,
In Britain is Jehovah known:
Our worship shall no more be paid
To gods which mortal hands have made;
Our Maker is our God alone.
OLD 113TH gets its name from the practice of giving a tune the same number as the psalm for which it was composed or for which it had become the most accepted. This custom dated back to William Kethe’s Genevan Psalter, 1561 (to be distinguished from Bourgeois’ Genevan Psalter, 1551). OLD 113TH is one of the seven melodies thought to have been contributed by Greiter to the book Strassburger Kirchenamt, 1525. John Calvin took it from a German psalter of 1526 and set it to Psalm 86 in his 1562 Psalter. It was also used for Psalm 36. The original tune was longer, irregular, and syncopated. Many editors, over a long period of time, were involved in changing it to its shorter, more regular form. J. S. Bach wrote a fine chorale setting of the tune and also composed an organ chorale prelude based upon it. Creative leaders will find possibilities for antiphonal singing of this hymn.
Matthäus Greiter was born c. 1500 at Aichach, Bavaria. He studied to be a singer and Roman Catholic monk at Strasbourg, but in 1524 he became a Lutheran minister there. John Calvin came to Strasbourg and preached from 1538 to 1541; he saw the success Greiter enjoyed in achieving fine congregational singing, so made him music editor of Calvin’s first Psalter, Strasbourg, 1539. Greiter served two churches and directed a choir-school before returning to the Roman Catholic Church. He died on December 20, 1550 (some say 1552).
The arrangement of OLD 113TH that SDAH uses is by Vicar Earl Coates (1921–; see SDAH 71), who arranged, a Methodist composer, editor, and writer. He was a member of the subcommittee on hymn tunes for the 1964 revision of the Methodist Hymnal.
Stanza:
Psalm 96:1-9
Text
1
Let all on earth their voices raise,
To sing the great Jehovah’s praise,
And bless His holy name:
His glory let the people know,
His wonders to the nations show,
His saving grace proclaim.
2
He framed the globe; He built the sky;
He made the shining worlds on high,
And reigns in glory there:
His beams are majesty and light;
His beauties, how divinely bright!
His dwelling place, how fair!
3
Come, the great day, the glorious hour,
When earth shall feel His saving power,
All nations fear His name;
Then shall the race of men confess
The beauty of His holiness,
His saving grace proclaim.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
Ps 96:1-9
Author
Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Copyright
Arrangement copyright 1964 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.
Hymn Tune
OLD 113TH
Metrical Number
8.8.6.D.
Composer
Attr. to Matthaus Greiter (c.1500-1552)
Arranger
Arr. by by V. Earle Copes (1921-2014)
Theme
MAJESTY & POWER OF GOD
