Classic Christian Hymns · Public-domain text

All People That on Earth Do Dwell (Psalm 100)

William Kethe

William Kethe (died 1594) was a Scottish clergyman and reformer. During the fierce Marian persecutions in Britain, Kethe was forced to flee into exile in Geneva, Switzerland. There, he worked alongside other scholars on the landmark Geneva Bible and translated several Psalms into metrical verse. His most famous translation, 'All People That on Earth Do Dwell' (Psalm 100), was written to encourage the scattered, suffering congregation of exiles to sing their praise aloud with joy.

Source: Sternhold and Hopkins Psalter

All people that on Earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forthtell;
Come ye before him and rejoice.
The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid he did us make;
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why? The Lord our God is good;
His mercy is forever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.