[Tune–Antioch.]
```
{title: Joy to the World}
{tune: Antioch}
{verse}
[C] Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
[F] Let earth receive her King,
[C] Let every heart prepare him room,
[G] And heaven and nature sing.
{verse}
[C] Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns!
[F] Let men their songs employ;
[C] While fields, and floods, rocks, hills and plains
[G] Repeat the sounding joy.
{verse}
[C] While fields, and floods, rocks, hills and plains
[G] Repeat the sounding joy;
[C] Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns;
[F] Let men their songs employ.
{verse}
[C] No more let sins and sorrows grow,
[F] Nor thorns infest the ground;
[C] He comes to make his blessings flow,
[G] Far as the curse is found.
{verse}
[C] He rules the world with truth and grace,
[F] And makes the nations prove
[C] The glories of his righteousness,
[G] And wonders of his love.
```
Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King,
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields, and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy.
While fields, and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy;
Joy to the earth! The Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ.
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.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness,
And wonders of his love.
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About This Hymn
"Antioch," a beloved hymn tune, was composed by George Frideric Handel, most famously known for his oratorio *Messiah*. The tune was first introduced in Handel's *Judas Maccabaeus* in 1747, and it quickly gained popularity in both sacred and secular contexts. The hymn text most often paired with this tune is "Joy to the World," written by Isaac Watts in 1719. Watts’ hymn draws inspiration from Psalm 98, celebrating the coming of Christ and his triumphant reign over the earth. While the text and music were not originally composed together, "Antioch" perfectly complements Watts' jubilant words, creating a timeless hymn of praise and hope. Its robust, triumphant melody, along with its lyrics emphasizing the joy of Christ's reign, makes it one of the most enduring and frequently sung hymns, especially during the Christmas season. Over time, "Antioch" has become a symbol of joyous celebration, expressing both anticipation and the fulfillment of divine promise.