Joy to the World facts for kids
"Joy to the World" is a very popular Christmas song. An English minister named Isaac Watts wrote the words for this song. By the late 1900s, it was the most printed Christmas hymn (a religious song) in North America.
Contents
About "Joy to the World"
Where Did the Song Come From?
The words for "Joy to the World" were written by Isaac Watts. He based them on parts of the Bible, specifically Psalm 98, Psalm 96:11-12, and Genesis 3:17-18. The song was first printed in Watts' book called The Psalms of David in 1719.
The tune we usually hear today for this hymn was arranged by Lowell Mason. He published his version in 1848 in a book called The National Psalmist. He named his tune ANTIOCH.
The Original Words
The words below are how they first appeared in the book The Psalms of David : imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian State and Worship (London 1719):
Psalm XCVIII. Second Part.
The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom
Joy to the World; the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let ev'ry heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields & floods, rocks, hills & plains
Repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make his blessings flow
Far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.
Different Versions
In the Latter-day Saints' hymn book, the refrain (a repeated part of a song) in the first verse is "And Saints and Angels Sing".
Some modern recordings, especially those made for children, sometimes leave out the first verse of the song.
Who Has Sung It?
A very popular version of "Joy to the World" was recorded by the Trinity Choir in 1911. Since then, many famous artists have sung the song. These include Johnny Cash, Mariah Carey, Pat Boone, Ella Fitzgerald, The Supremes, and Nat King Cole.
Images for kids
-
Isaac Watts, who wrote the words for "Joy to the World"
See also
In Spanish: Regocijad, Jesús nació para niños
