Benedicite, omnia opera Domini

O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord (Chant)

Published in 111 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

2. O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

3. O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord;
O ye waters that be above the firmament bless ye the Lord;

4. O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

5. O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord;
O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord;

6. O ye showers and dew, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

7. O ye winds of God, bless ye the Lord;
O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord;

8. O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord,
praise him and magnify him for ever.

9. O ye dews and frosts, bless ye the Lord;
O ye frost and cold, bless ye the Lord;

10. O ye ice and snow, bless he the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

11. O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord;
O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord;

12. O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

13. O let the earth bless the Lord;
O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord;

14. O all ye green things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

15. O ye wells, bless ye the Lord;
O ye seas and floods, bless ye the Lord;

16. O ye whales and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

17. O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord;
O all ye beast and cattle, bless ye the Lord;

18. O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

19. O ye people of God, bless ye the Lord;
O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;

20. O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord;
praise him and magnify him for ever.

21. O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord;
O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord.

22 Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit;
praise him and magnify him for ever.


Source: The Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #S177

Text Information

First Line: O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord (Chant)
Title: Benedicite, omnia opera Domini
Language: English
Notes: The Song of the Three Children.
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

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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Lutheran Worship #9

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The Hymnal 1982 #S177

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The Hymnal 1982 #S178

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The Hymnal 1982 #S179

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