Joy to the World Lyrics in Large Print: Free Printable PDF
The words of Joy to the World are here in large print, one sheet at 18, 24 or 28 point. Isaac Watts wrote the words and published them in 1719. They were published before 1930, so they are public domain in the US and free to copy.
| Words by | Isaac Watts, 1719 |
|---|---|
| Music | Usually Lowell Mason's arrangement of a tune credited to Handel |
| Type size | 18, 24 or 28 pt |
| Paper | US Letter, A4 or 11 x 17 in, white or cream |
Joy to the World in large print: words and download
Joy to the World
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods,
rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love,
And wonders of his love
And wonders, and wonders of his love.
Words: Isaac Watts (1719). Music: Lowell Mason, arr. from Handel (1836). Public domain in the United States: words published 1719 (US, published 1929 or earlier).
The words above are set the way this site sets every song: left aligned, one column, plain type with no italics, and a blank line between stanzas. The sheet has 3 stanzas and 19 lines. Joy to the World is one of the songs in our large print Christmas carols collection, where you can print it with others in one PDF, and the whole set of texts is listed on the large print prayers and hymns page.
Who wrote Joy to the World and when?
Isaac Watts was an English minister and hymn writer. He first published the hymn in 1719, under the title The Messiah's Coming and Kingdom, in a book of psalm paraphrases. Wikipedia describes it as his Christian reading of Psalm 98, with an allusion to the Book of Genesis in the third verse.
The tune sung today is an arrangement by the American composer Lowell Mason, of a melody credited to George Frideric Handel. Wikipedia dates Mason's first publication of the tune with these words to 1836, with later versions in 1839 and 1848. Wikipedia reports that, as of December 2009, the hymn had appeared in 1,387 North American hymnals, which makes it the most-published Christmas carol on the continent. Some books leave out the third verse, so check your own book if your group sings from one.
When is Joy to the World sung?
It is sung throughout Advent and on Christmas Day, and many congregations use it as the closing carol because of its bright, rising tune. If you are planning a folder of songs for the same occasion, the sheets for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem and O Come, All Ye Faithful use the same layout, so they sit well together.
How do you print Joy to the World for a service, a sing-along or a care-home visit?
In our layout tests on US Letter paper, Joy to the World takes 1 page at 18 point, 2 at 24 point and 2 at 28 point. On 11 x 17 paper at 24 point it takes 1 page. Eighteen point is the smallest size we offer, because the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) says print below 18 point is not large print, and our page on what large print is explains the reasons for 18, 24 and 28 point.
Count the singers first. For a church service, print one copy for each place and keep a small stack at the door. For a sing-along, one for each person. For a care-home visit, one for each resident plus the helpers, printed single-sided so the sheet lies flat on a lap tray. Give each person their own sheet at 24 point, or 28 point for readers with more advanced sight loss. Because some hymnals drop the third verse, tell the group which one you are singing.