Now Thank We All Our God

By Martin Rinkart (1586-1649)
 Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878)

Now thank we all our God With heart and hands and voices
Who wondrous things hath done, In whom this world rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms, Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God, Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in his grace, And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God The Father now be given,
The Son, and him who reigns With them in highest heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore,
For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore.

An attitude of gratitude for the blessings of life is an ideal of Christian living which is supported by numerous passages of scripture from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Remarkably, Martin Rinkart was inspired to write this hymn at a time his country was suffering from the ravages of war, famine and plague—not only a beautiful expression of thankfulness, but also a powerful statement of faith.