The story behind the hymn
Joachim Neander wrote this hymn at just thirty years old, a year before his death, drawing on Psalms 103 and 150. He loved to walk and worship in a valley near Dusseldorf which was later named after him — the Neanderthal.
Catherine Winkworth's 1863 English translation carried the hymn into worldwide use. Its soaring tune, Lobe den Herren, has lifted congregations for three and a half centuries.
The hymn walks through God's reign, shelter, and daily sustaining, and ends by calling everything that has breath to praise — a singable summary of the psalmist's last word.
The lyrics
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.
Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!Hast thou not seen how thy desires e'er have beenGranted in what He ordaineth?
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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The Scripture behind it
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul — the hymn's opening move.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.