All Creatures of Our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing.

All Creatures of Our God and King is based upon the Canticle of Brother Sun by St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226). Written in stages during the final year of his life, and nearly blind he wrote: "For his praise, I wish to compose a new hymn about the Lord's creatures, of which we make daily use, without which we cannot live." The text is a paraphrased translation by Wil­liam H. Drap­er (1855-1933), Pub­lic School Hymn Book, 1919. The tune is Lasst Uns Er­freu­en (Vigiles et Sancti), from the Jesuit hymnal: Ausserlesene Catlwlische Geistliche Kirchengesänge, adapted by Pe­ter von Brach­el, Cologne, 1623). It borrows elements of the earlier Genevan 68 (1539) by Mattaus Greitter (c.1494-1550). In the Liturgy of the Hours, All Creatures of Our God and King is used during Ordinary Time for Morning Prayer and during Easter.



ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING by William Draper, 1919 (Public Domain)

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!

 Refrain:  O Praise Him! O Praise Him! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2.  Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

3.  Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.

4.  Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.

5.  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!

6.  And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

7.  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!