Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun

Representative Text

1 Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

2 To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
with every morning sacrifice.

3 People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.

4 Blessings abound where'er he reigns:
the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.

5 Let every creature rise and bring
the highest honors to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud amen.

Psalter Hymnal, (Gray)

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Title: Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun
Author: Isaac Watts (1719)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Notes: Spanish translation: See "Dominará Jesús el Rey" by Thomas M. Westrup
Copyright: Public Domain

English

German

Hungarian

Spanish

Welsh

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Ps. 72:5, 8, 17
st. 2 = Ps. 72:15
st. 3 = Ps. 72:10-11
st. 4 = Ps. 72:12-14
st. 5 = Ps. 72:19, Rev. 5:11-14

Isaac Watts (PHH 155) based this hymn text on Psalm 72:12-19 and referred to verses 5 and 8 of the psalm as well. (For general comments on this psalm see PHH 72.) Originally in eight stanzas entitled "Christ's Kingdom among the Gentiles," the text was published in Watts' Psalms of David, Imitated (1719). The original stanzas 2, 3, and 7 are omitted, as is customary in modern hymnals.

Watts' text is a strong Christological interpretation of Psalm 72. We sing of the worldwide reign of Christ (st. 1), who is praised by all creatures (st. 2 and 5) , and whose rule results in blessings on people "of every tongue" (st. 3) and redemption for the outcasts (st. 4). The text has a strong missionary focus.

Liturgical Use:
Advent; Epiphany; Ascension; with mission themes; stanza 5 as a doxology; (see also suggestions at PHH 72).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

======================

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun. I. Watts. [Foreign Missions.] This is one of the most popular hymns by Watts, and was given in his Psalms of David, 1719, as Pt. ii. of his version of Ps. lxxii., in 8 stanzas of 4 lines. Although it has attained to a high position in modern Hymns, it is rarely found in the collections published before the present cent. It increased in popularity with the growth and development of Foreign Missions, and is now used most extensively in all English-speaking countries. One of the earliest to adopt it for congregational use was Rowland Hill. It is found in his Psalms & Hymns, 1st edition, 1783; but abbreviated to 6 stanzas.

This was followed by some compilers in the Church of England, including Cotterill in Psalms & Hymns, 1810-1820; Bickersteth, 1833, and others; by the Wesleyans in their Supplement, 1830; the Baptists, and other denominations, until at the present day it is given in almost every English hymn-book of any standing or merit. As an example of the way in which The Psalms of David were imitated in the language of the New Testament, by Watts, it is unusually good. It is also in his best style. In modern collections it is generally given in an abbreviated form, ranging from 4 stanzas, as in Hymns Ancient & Modern to 6 stanzas, as in the Wesleyan Hymn Book. Changes are also introduced in the text, but most of these date from the beginning of the present century. It has been rendered in full and in part in many languages, including "Omnibus in terris Dominus rognabit Iesus," by the Rev. R. Bingham, in his Hymnologia Christiana Latina, 1871, p. 103. In this rendering stanzas ii., iii., and vii. are omitted. Mr. G. J. Stevenson gives, in his Methodist Hymn Book Notes, 1883, p. 351, an account of the striking and historical use which was made of this hymn when various islands in the South Seas officially renounced heathenism and embraced Christianity:—

"Perhaps one of the most interesting occasions on which this hymn was used was that on which King George, the sable, of the South Sea Islands, but of blessed memory, gave a new constitution to his people, exchanging a Heathen for a Christian form of government. Under the spreading branches of the banyan trees sat some thousand natives from Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa, on Whitsunday, 1862, assembled for divine worship. Foremost amongst them all sat King George himself. Around him were seated old chiefs and warriors who had shared with him the dangers and fortunes of many a battle; men whose eyes were dim, and whose powerful frames were bowed down with the weight of years. But old and young alike rejoiced together in the joys of that day, their faces most of them radiant with Christian joy, love, and hope. It would be impossible to describe the deep feeling manifested when the solemn service began, by the entire audience singing Dr. Watts's hymn, “Jesus shall reign where'er the sun"... Who so much as they could realize the full meaning of the poet's words? for they had been rescued from the darkness of heathenism and cannibalism, and they were that day met for the first time under a Christian constitution, under a Christian king, and with Christ Himself reigning in the hearts of most of those present. That was indeed Christ's kingdom set up in the earth."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

DUKE STREET

First published anonymously in Henry Boyd's Select Collection of Psalm and Hymn Tunes (1793), DUKE STREET was credited to John Hatton (b. Warrington, England, c. 1710; d, St. Helen's, Lancaster, England, 1793) in William Dixon's Euphonia (1805). Virtually nothing is known about Hatton, its composer,…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Media

You have access to this FlexScore.
Download:
Are parts of this score outside of your desired range? Try transposing this FlexScore.
General Settings
Stanza Selection
Voice Selection
Text size:
Music size:
Transpose (Half Steps):
Capo:
Contacting server...
Contacting server...
Questions? Check out the FAQ

A separate copy of this score must be purchased for each choir member. If this score will be projected or included in a bulletin, usage must be reported to a licensing agent (e.g. CCLI, OneLicense, etc).

This is a preview of your FlexScore.
Baptist Hymnal 1991 #587
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
The Cyber Hymnal #3439
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
Harmonia Americana: containing a concise introduction to the grounds of music; with a variety of airs, suitable fore divine worship and the use of musical societies; consisting of three and four parts #33b
  • PDF (PDF)
  • MusicXML (made with MuseScore) (XML)
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #412
The United Methodist Hymnal #157
  • Full Score (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
Worship and Rejoice #341

Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 111)

A New Hymnal for Colleges and Schools #16

A Selection of Plain Tunes, Set Pieces, and Anthems from Indian Melodies #31b

A Teaching Hymnal #98

Text

African American Heritage Hymnal #289

TextPage Scan

African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal #96

Ambassador Hymnal #154

Text

Ancient and Modern #691a

Text

Ancient and Modern #691b

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #399a

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #399b

TextFlexScoreAudio

Baptist Hymnal 1991 #587

Text

Baptist Hymnal 2008 #303

TextPage Scan

Celebrating Grace Hymnal #158

Text

Chalice Hymnal #95

Christian Science Hymnal #560

TextPage Scan

Christian Worship (1993) #84

Text

Christian Worship #380

Church Family Worship #415

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #97

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #56

TextPage Scan

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #470

TextPage Scan

Common Praise (1998) #383

TextPage Scan

Common Praise #490a

TextPage Scan

Common Praise #490b

TextPage Scan

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #359a

TextPage Scan

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #359b

Page Scan

Complete Mission Praise #379

TextPage Scan

CPWI Hymnal #321

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #193

TextAudioPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #434

Text

Gather Comprehensive #482

Text InfoTextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

Glory to God #265

Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #261

Hymnal #319

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #143

Hymns and Psalms #239a

Hymns and Psalms #239b

TextPage Scan

Hymns for a Pilgrim People #211

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #516

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Faith #496

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #470

Hymns of the Christian Life #439

Hymns Old and New #277

TextPage Scan

Hymns to the Living God #105

TextPage Scan

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #479

TextPage Scan

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #460

TextPage Scan

Lead Me, Guide Me (2nd ed.) #345

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

Lift Up Your Hearts #219

TextPage Scan

Lutheran Service Book #832

TextPage Scan

Lutheran Worship #312

TextPage Scan

Moravian Book of Worship #404

TextPage Scan

One in Faith #633

TextPage Scan

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism #362

Page Scan

Oramos Cantando = We Pray In Song #478

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #370

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #371

Praise y Adoración #382a

Page Scan

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #246

TextPage Scan

Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #220

TextPage Scan

Psalms for All Seasons #72B

Text InfoTune InfoTextScoreFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #412

Rejoice Hymns #250

TextPage Scan

Rejoice in the Lord #233

TextPage Scan

Renew! Songs and Hymns for Blended Worship #296

TextPage Scan

RitualSong (2nd ed.) #843

TextPage Scan

RitualSong #631

TextFlexScorePage Scan

Santo, Santo, Santo #209

Text

Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #227

Sing Glory #45

TextPage Scan

Sing Joyfully #536

Singing the Faith #328a

Singing the Faith #328b

Audio

Small Church Music #152

Audio

Small Church Music #301

Songs of Fellowship #301a

Songs of Fellowship #301b

Spurgeon's Own Hymn Book #72a

The 21st Century Hymnal #10

TextPage Scan

The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #390

The Baptist Hymnal #597

The Book of Hymns (A fresh anthology of favourite hymns) #47

TextPage Scan

The Book of Praise #275

Text

The Celebration Hymnal #375

The Christian Life Hymnal #39

Page Scan

The Covenant Hymnal #269

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #3439

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

The Hymnal 1982 #544

Text

The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #231

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #637a

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #637b

The Liturgical Harp #48

The New Century Hymnal #300

TextPage Scan

The New English Hymnal #388a

TextPage Scan

The New English Hymnal #388b

Text

The New National Baptist Hymnal (21st Century Edition) #10

Text

The Presbyterian Hymnal #423

Text

The Song Book of the Salvation Army #160

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

The United Methodist Hymnal #157

TextFlexScoreAudioPage Scan

The Worshiping Church #745

Text

Together in Song #207

Pages

Include 1670 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us