We are continuing to work through some psalms/hymns to listen to/sing at home in this strange season when so many of us in so many nations are social distancing, sheltering in home, facing work and school disruptions and abatement. I wrote a little article that lists around a hundred great psalms and hymns, ancient and modern.
Today, I want to recommend All Creatures of Our God and King. It is a hymn translated by an Anglican rector, W. H. Draper in the early twentieth century that became very popular in hymnals in the second half of the twentieth century. It is based on Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun (which itself is based largely on Psalm 148). The original Umbrian (a now defunct Italic language that was spoken in parts of what is now central Italy) text and an English translation of Canticle of the Sun are side by side below.
You can learn more about the hymn, here, at Hymnary.org which is a great site that you should bookmark and use regularly.
Here is a link to Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, TN, choir and orchestra singing this majestic hymn.
Draper’s “translation” is really a very loose poetic interpretation, but it is beautiful lyrically.
1 All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2 Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O praise him, alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
ye lights of evening, find a voice,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy Lord to hear,
alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
that givest man both warmth and light,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
4 And all ye men of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye, alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on him cast your care,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
5 Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, three in one,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!