Let All on Earth Their Voices Raise

“Let All on Earth Their Voices Raise” is a classic hymn of praise written by Isaac Watts, one of the earliest and most influential English hymn writers. The text is a paraphrase of Psalm ninety-six, adapted to fit the hymn tradition of English worship, and it calls the entire world into joyful praise of Jehovah. Watts’s approach captures both the universal scope of God’s glory and the personal response of the worshiper, inviting believers from every land and culture to join in lifting their voices in thanksgiving and adoration. The hymn begins with a summons for all the earth to raise its voice in praise, to bless the holy name of God, and to make His glory known among the nations. This reflects the psalmist’s own call to the people of Israel to declare God’s majesty and wonders to the ends of the world. The hymn then emphasizes God’s creative power, affirming that He framed the globe, built the sky, and made the shining worlds on high, where He reigns in complete glory. In doing so, the hymn praises both God’s majestic power and His beauty, pointing worshipers toward a reverent awe of the Creator.

Watts’s hymn also looks forward to the day when the earth will feel God’s saving power in a fuller sense, when all nations will know His name and confess His holiness. This eschatological hope resonates with the biblical promise that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In this way, the hymn bridges creation’s praise with redemption’s fulfillment, showing that the God who made the world is also the God who saves. The language of the hymn is dignified yet accessible, allowing congregations to enter into the act of universal praise with sincerity and joy. Because of its strong biblical foundation and its expansive vision of worship, “Let All on Earth Their Voices Raise” has been included in hymnals across Christian traditions, serving as both a doxology and a reminder that praise belongs to God from every part of His creation.