Joy To The World Lyrics

Updated on November 26, 2025

The Music and Words of Joy To The World have been sung all around the world and they are a staple for many carolers during the Christmas season. The Joy To The World lyrics below are the original words written by Isaac Watts. Enjoy this and hymns like it by selecting our hymns below on this page. God bless you.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing
And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonder wonders of His love

Hymn Information:

Title: Joy to the World
Author / Lyricist: Isaac Watts
Composer / Tune: attributed to George Frideric Handel but by Lowell Mason (1836) – ANTIOCH
Date Written / Published: 1719
Meter: 6.6.8.6
Historical Context: Based on Psalm 98; originally for New Year’s and Christmas.
Theme / Message: Celebrates Christ’s universal reign and triumph over sin.
Notable Features: Triumphant, rhythmic melody suitable for congregational singing.
Cultural / Religious Impact: Global popularity in both Protestant and Catholic hymnals.
Source / Scholarship: “The Hymns of Isaac Watts” – John Julian

Scholarly Views On This Hymn:

Brooke Foss Westcott — University of Cambridge

According to Westcott, this hymn celebrates Christ’s coming and reign over creation. Westcott emphasizes the eschatological joy of a world restored by God’s rule.

John A. Broadus — The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

The hymn expresses triumph over sin and death through Christ’s reign. Broadus highlights its didactic function in teaching worshippers the gospel’s victory.

Charles Hodge — Princeton Theological Seminary

According to Hodge, the hymn proclaims Christ as King whose authority brings global joy. Hodge stresses that the joy is grounded in God’s sovereign plan.

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield — Princeton Theological Seminary

The hymn’s exuberance mirrors biblical anticipation of God’s kingdom. Warfield emphasizes the connection between Christ’s reign and human hope.

Handley Carr Glyn Moule — University of Cambridge

The hymn conveys exuberant praise for the fulfillment of God’s promises. Moule highlights the importance of congregational participation in expressing joy.

About Joy To The World

The lyrics to Joy To The World have been sung for a long time during the Christmas season.
The words are found in most hymnals as it's a popular Christmas carol.
The music was widely considered to be written by The Baroque Composer, George Frideric Handel, but was arranged by Lowell Mason, who added it to a hymnbook in 1836. Isaac Watts is the song's author.
Today the words and music of this carol help to make Joy to the world one of the most popular hymns at Christmas.
The lyrics are widely known and are a staple of the Christmas season and probably will be for years to come! Let's look at some of the lines more closely below.

You can get music lessons to learn how to play songs like this on the piano at The Alive Christians School of Music. You can enjoy more hymns and Christian songs here.