Joy to the World | Christmas Carol Lyrics

from the MMF Songbook



History for 'Joy to the World'

Joy to the World was written by Isaac Watts and set to music believed to have been written by George Frederic Handel. Isaac Watts showed an aptitude for theology and language at a very young age. He learned Latin at age 5, Greek at age 9, French at age 11 and Hebrew at age 13. In Issac's opinion, church music was boring. When he complained to his father, his father challenged him to write something better. The result was a revolution in church music. In 1719 Isaac Watts published Psalms of David which included Joy to the World. The words are a paraphrase of Psalm 98:4-9.

Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song; For he hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought salvation for him. Jehovah hath made known his salvation: His righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the nations. He hath remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all the earth: Break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises. Sing praises unto Jehovah with the harp; With the harp and the voice of melody. With trumpets and sound of cornet Make a joyful noise before the King, Jehovah. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein; Let the floods clap their hands; Let the hills sing for joy together. Before Jehovah; for he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity. Psalm 98


Lyrics for 'Joy to the World'

Verse 1
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, 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,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, 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,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.


Browse Related Resources for ‘Joy to the World‘

Piano Sheet Music

Joy to the World for Beginner/Level 1 Piano Solo
Joy to the World for Easy/Level 3 Piano Solo

Guitar Sheet Music

Joy to the World for Easy Guitar Solo



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