JOY TO THE WORLD

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"Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas song.[1]

The words are by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, based on the second half of 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.

[2] The nations are called to celebrate because God's faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world.[3]

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.[4] 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.[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

Joy to the world the Savior reigns

Let men their songs employ

White fields and floods

Rocks hill 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

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 make the nations prove

The Glories of His Righteousness

And wonders of His love

And wonders of His love

And wonders, and wonders of His love

YES, Joy to the World the Lord, Christ Jesus has come

O' that earth would receive the King

O' that every heart would receive their King

Because heaven and nature do sing.

Joy to the world the Savior Reigns

He Reigns even now,

But at His return it will be Manifest, FOREVER.

And those who love Him have employed unending songs

Extolling His virtues

All of Creation repeats the sounding Joy

Of His Majesty and Excellence.

At His Return Sin and sorrows will be banished, FOREVER

Thorns will no longer infest the ground

And the Curse will be NO MORE!

Christ Jesus will rule the world with His Truth and Grace

The nations will bow before Him

The Glories of His Righteousness will be sovereign

And the wonders of His love Eternally felt.

HALLELUJAH!