“Joy to the World” is a popular Christmas carol. The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible. The song was first published in 1719 in Watts’ collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship. Watts wrote the words of “Joy to the World” as a hymn glorifying Christ’s triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than a song celebrating His first coming. Only the second half of Watts’ lyrics are still used today.
The music was adapted and arranged to Watts’ lyrics by Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody which was then believed to have originated from Handel, not least because the theme of the refrain (And heaven and nature sing…) appears in the orchestra opening and accompaniment of the recitative Comfort ye from Handel’s Messiah, and the first four notes match the beginning of the choruses Lift up your heads and Glory to God from the same oratorio. However, Handel did not compose the entire tune. The name “Antioch” is generally used for the tune.
As of the late 20th century, “Joy to the World” was the most-published Christmas hymn in North America.
By WVU Choral Union & Symphony Orchestra
Lyrics
| Joy to the world
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 Savior 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 row, 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. |
普世歡騰
普世歡騰！救主下降，大地接她君王； 惟願眾心預備地方，諸天萬物歌。 普世歡騰！主治萬方，民眾都當歌唱； 沃野洪濤山石平原，響應歌聲嘹亮。 罪惡憂愁，不容再長，世途荊棘消亡； 化詛為恩無遠弗達，到處主澤流長。 主藉真理，恩治萬方，要使萬邦證明， 我主公義無限光榮，主愛奇妙莫明。 |