A Little Prayer Before the Meal

1. Now thank we all our God
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom his world rejoices;
who from our mothers’ arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

2. O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
to keep us in his grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all ills
of this world in the next.

3. All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
whom heaven and earth adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.

Martin Rinckart (1586-1649) is the author of this hymn. He served as the Bishop of Eilenberg, Germany. The city experienced severe distress in 1637, with 8,000 people dying of disease and famine. It is said during this year Rinckart performed 40 or 50 burial services daily. During his time in Eilenberg, Rinckart wrote 66 hymns. The hymn “Nun danket alle Gott” (based on the first line) was originally titled “Tisch-Gebetlein,” which means “a little table prayer (before the meal).” This hymn was published in Jesu Hertz-Büchlein in geistlichen Oden in 1636. In 1647 it was set with a tune by Johann Crüger, Nun Danket in Praxis Pietatis Melica.

The Rinckart hymn was written in German, and translated into English by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878). A recent non-metrical translation by Francis Browne can be found HERE.