Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

This is one of my favorite hymns. It was written by Joachim Neander, called the greatest of all German-Calvinist Reformed hymn writers. (Now there's a mouth full!) He wrote some sixty hymns and composed many tunes. Nearly all of his hymns are triumphant expressions of praise. Neander was a noted scholar in theology, literature and music, as well as a pastor of the Reformed Church in Dusseldorf, Germany. This particular hymn takes on new significance when you realize that he wrote it the year he died (at age 30 in 1680) while battling tuberculosis.
1. Praise to the Lord,
The Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him,
For He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
Now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

2. Praise to the Lord,
Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How all your longings have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

3. Praise to the Lord,
Who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness
And mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

4. Praise to the Lord,
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath,
Come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

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