Benedicite. This canticle is given in the Septuagint version of Holy Scriptures, and is therein a part [verse 35 to middle of v. 66] of the prayer of Azarias in the furnace, which occurs between vv. 23 and 21 of Dan. iii. It is not in the Hebrew version of the Holy Scriptures, and on this ground, amongst others, it is omitted from the Authorised Version. Its use in the Church, as a Canticle, dates from a very early period. It is in the Greek, Ambrosian, Mozarabic, Roman, Sarum, and other Officebooks, usually at Lauds for Sundays and Festivals, but varying in form and length, full details of which are given in Dr. Smith's Dictionary of Christian Antiquities, Art. Benedicite. In addition to the renderings into Latin for the use of the Western Church, the following are versions in English, the first of which, after that in Latin as noted above, is the version in the Book of Common Prayer:—
1. 0 all ye works of the Lord. By whom this rendering from the Latin was made is not known.
2. 0 all ye works of God the Lord. Anon, in Playford's musical edition of the Old Version, 1677, and thence into the Supplement to the New Version, edition 1708.
3. Ye works of God, on Him alone. By James Merrick, from his Hymns & Poems on Sacred Subjects, 1763.
4. Angels holy, high and lowly. By J. S. Blackie. This rendering of the Benedicite appeared in Dr. Bonar's Bible Hymn Book, 1845, No. 90, in 12 stanzas of 6 lines, and again in Dr. Blackie's Lays and Legends of Ancient Greece, 1857, p. 163, in 7 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "Benedicite." Professor Blackie, in a note thereto, says:—
"This hymn was composed by me for the very "beautiful Burschen melody, Alles Scheige, the music and words of which will be found in the collection of Burschen Melodies, published by me in Tait's Magazine for 1840, vol. vii. p. 259. Many of these melodies, though used on convivial occasions, have a solemnity about them, in virtue of which they are well fitted for the service of the Sanctuary" (p. 359). This rendering of the Benedicite is gaining in popular favour, and is found in several hymnals.
5. 0 all ye works of God most high. This paraphrase was given in various numbers of The Sunday at Home, in 1885. It is by the Rev. Richard Wilton.
Strictly speaking, Nos. 2, 3, and 5 are not in common use. In addition to the above renderings there are also:—
(1) Song of the Three Children Paraphrased, &c. By Lady Chudleigh. London, 1703. This is reprinted in her Poems, 1709. (2) Song of the Three Children in English Verse. By M. Le PIa, London. Printed by J. Morphew. [Cir. 1720.] This was edited by S. Wesley, jun. (3) Divine Hymns, or a Paraphrase upon the Te Deum & Benedicite. Cambridge, T. Walker, 1691.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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