Johann Jakob Schütz wrote “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” (Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut). He was born in Germany September 7, 1640. Schütz trained at Tübingen and became a lawyer/advocate in Frankfurt, Germany. He was a close friend of Lutheran pastor Phillip J. Spener, and helped him establish prayer meetings and Bible-study groups. Later Schütz became a Separatist and left the Lutheran Church. He died at Frankfurt, May 22, 1690.
Schütz wrote this hymn, also called “Praise and Thanksgiving” and “Hymn of Thanksgiving,” by 1675. It is found in Christliches Gedenkbüchlein, zur Beforderung eines anfangenden neuen Lebens, published in that year. (Frances Cox says the hymn first appeared anonymously in 1673; see Hymns from the German, page 251.)
The original contained nine stanzas. The translation (below) was made by Frances Elizabeth Cox, included in her Hymns from the German (London: Rivingtons, 1864, pp. 234-239). It omits Schütz’s ninth stanza. It is simply called Hymn of Praise in her book, and associated with Psalm 96:8 (Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name). By some “Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut” is identified as a hymn written during a time of revival in the church in Frankfurt. The hymn proclaims the greatness of the God who reigns above and the glory due unto him. It praises God for creation, love, salvation, healing, wisdom, mercy, his keeping, his presence, and his power – and many other things. Each of Schütz’s stanzas end with “Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre” (Give our God the glory)! In the English translation metered and rhymed by Cox, this becomes the refrain “To God all praise and glory!”
This hymn, set in 8.7.8.7.8.8.7. meter, is often sung with the tune Speratus. In Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Shape Note Edition (Knoxville, TN: Melody Publications, 2020, No. 28), this hymn paired with Mit Freuden Zart, a tune from the Bohemian Brethren’s 1566 Kirchengesänge.
Schütz founded his hymn on Deuteronomy 32:3. The recurring phrase is a metrical adjustment of the last sentence in Deuteronomy 32:3 in the Luther German Bible translation – “Gebt unserm Gott allein die Ehre!.” In the King James Bible, this verse is “because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.” Another appropriate verse to connect to this hymn is Psalm 40:3 – “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”
The God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love,
The God of our salvation;
With healing balm my soul he fills,
And ev’ry faithless murmur stills;
To God all praise and glory!
2. The angel host, O King of kings,
Thy praise for ever telling,
In earth and sky all living things
Beneath thy shadow dwelling,
Adore the wisdom which could span,
And power which formed creation's plan;
To God all praise and glory!
3. What God’s Almighty power hath made
His gracious mercy keepeth;
By morning glow or evening shade,
His watchful eye ne’er sleepeth:
Within the kingdom of his might,
Lo! all is just, and all is right:
To God all praise and glory!
4. I cried to God in my distress—
In mercy hear my calling—
My Saviour saw my helplessness,
And kept my feet from falling;
For this, Lord, thanks and praise to thee!
Praise God, I say, praise God with me!
To God all praise and glory!
5. The Lord is never far away,
Throughout all grief distressing
An ever-present help and stay,
Our peace, and joy, and blessing.
As with a mother’s tender hand,
He leads his own, his chosen band;
To God all praise and glory!
6. When ev’ry earthly hope has flown
From sorrow’s sons and daughters,
Our Father from his heavenly throne
Beholds the troubled waters;
And at his word the storm is stayed
Which made his children’s hearts afraid;
To God all praise and glory!
7. Then all my gladsome way along,
I sing aloud thy praises,
That men may hear the grateful song
My voice unwearied raises:
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart!
Both soul and body bear your part!
To God all praise and glory!
8. O ye who name Christ’s holy name,
Give God all praise and glory!
All ye who own his power, proclaim
Aloud the wondrous story!
Cast each false idol from his throne,
The Lord is God, and he alone;
To God all praise and glory!
The ninth stanza, as translated into English by Johann Christian Jacobi, is as follows:
Then come before his holy face
With joyful acclamation;
Extol the wonders of his grace,
In your submissive station;
The Lord has ordered all things best,
Ye convert souls in East and West,
Give to our God the Glory.
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