Joy to the World

Christmas song #4 in our countdown to Christmas is "Joy to the World". 

Joy to the World was written by the famous English hymn writer and theologian, Isaac Watts.  Based on Psalm 98, and first published in 1719, the song was written as a hymn glorifying Christ's triumphant return at the end of the age, rather than as a celebration of His birth in a manger.

Isaac Watts  1674---1748

Isaac Watts went on to write some 750 hymns, many of which are still sung today.  Two very well known popular Watts hymns are "O God, Our Help In Ages Past" and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".


Isaac Watts Statue at Southampton Solent University

Note that the phrase, "The Lord IS come" is grammatically incorrect.  It was correct, however, when it was written in 1719.

           Joy TO The World

Joy to the world!  The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n 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 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 neations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.