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.
“Now Thank We All Our God” (“Nun danket alle Gott” in German) is a hymn of profound gratitude and trust in God, written by German pastor and hymn writer Martin Rinkart around 1636. Composed during one of the most challenging periods in European history, this hymn became a powerful expression of faith amidst adversity and remains one of the most cherished hymns in Christian worship today.
Historical Background and Inspiration
Martin Rinkart wrote this hymn during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), a devastating conflict that ravaged much of Europe, especially Rinkart’s homeland in Germany. Rinkart served as a Lutheran pastor in the walled city of Eilenburg, Saxony, which became a refuge for people fleeing the war. However, overcrowding and a lack of resources soon led to famine and outbreaks of plague.
In 1637, plague swept through Eilenburg, killing thousands, including many pastors. Rinkart was left as the only surviving pastor in the town and sometimes performed as many as 40-50 funerals a day, eventually officiating over 4,000 funerals that year alone, including that of his own wife. Yet, despite the overwhelming hardships, Rinkart’s faith remained steadfast, and he composed “Now Thank We All Our God” as a hymn of thanksgiving to express his gratitude for God’s provision and care, even in the darkest of times.
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.
“Now Thank We All Our God” (“Nun danket alle Gott” in German) is a hymn of profound gratitude and trust in God, written by German pastor and hymn writer Martin Rinkart around 1636. Composed during one of the most challenging periods in European history, this hymn became a powerful expression of faith amidst adversity and remains one of the most cherished hymns in Christian worship today.
Historical Background and Inspiration
Martin Rinkart wrote this hymn during the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), a devastating conflict that ravaged much of Europe, especially Rinkart’s homeland in Germany. Rinkart served as a Lutheran pastor in the walled city of Eilenburg, Saxony, which became a refuge for people fleeing the war. However, overcrowding and a lack of resources soon led to famine and outbreaks of plague.
In 1637, plague swept through Eilenburg, killing thousands, including many pastors. Rinkart was left as the only surviving pastor in the town and sometimes performed as many as 40-50 funerals a day, eventually officiating over 4,000 funerals that year alone, including that of his own wife. Yet, despite the overwhelming hardships, Rinkart’s faith remained steadfast, and he composed “Now Thank We All Our God” as a hymn of thanksgiving to express his gratitude for God’s provision and care, even in the darkest of times.
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