Joy to the World (Phelps)

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Joy to the World! The Lord Will Come is an adaptation of the popular Christmas carol, Joy to the World. It was included in A Collection of Sacred Hymns (Kirtland, Ohio), the first Latter Day Saint hymnal published in 1835 or 1836.

The adapted version was short lived, and was not included in its entirety in subsequent hymnals. However, the changes typify the millennial expectation and theology of the early Latter Day Saint church. The version of the song currently published in the hymnal of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the Phelps text--except for the first two lines, which reflect Watts' original words.

[edit] Side-by-Side Lyrics of Phelps and Watts

The changes were made by W. W. Phelps from the original version written by Isaac Watts.

Phelps Adaptation	Watts Original
Joy to the world! the Lord will come! And earth receive her King; Let ev'ry heart prepare him room, And saints and angels sing.	Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing.
Rejoice! rejoice! when Jesus reigns! And saints their songs employ: While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.	Joy to the world, the Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains Repeat the sounding joy.
No more will sin and sorrow grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He'll come and make the blessings flow Far as the curse was found.	No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow Far as the curse is found.
Rejoice! rejoice! in the Most High, While Israel spread abroad, Like stars that glitter in the sky, And ever worship God.	He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love.