Stanza 1 of this text was originally a traditional German round from the Alsace region ("lobet und preiset"). Edith Lovell Thomas (b. Eastford, CT, 1878; d. Claremont, CA, 1970) translated the text and published it in her The Whole World Singing (1950).
A graduate of Boston University and the School of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, Thomas served as both educator and church musician. She taught music and worship at Boston University (1918-1932), directed church school music at Christ Church Methodist in New York City, and co-founded the Miss Thomas Preparatory School in Collingswood, New Jersey. Through much teaching and guest lecturing, she played an active role in promoting music and singing in church education. Her publications include several children's hymnals: Singing Worship (1935), Sing, Children, Sing (1939), and The Whole World Singing (1950), and the text¬book Music in Christian Education (1953).
Marie J. Post (PHH 5) added two stanzas, and all three were then published in the Psalter Hymnal Supplement (1974). The first two stanzas call everyone to join in joyful song to praise God for his many blessings, "for every good thing." The final stanza is a prayer for all of us to live a Christian life of love in the world.
Liturgical Use:
The entire hymn as a doxology at the close of worship; stanzas 1 and 2 as a call to worship, perhaps in unison, then concluding the service with stanza 3 in canon; as a hymn of praise for many joyful occasions.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1988
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