Rejoice in the Lord alway

General information

Philippians 4: 4-7, appointed as the Epistle at Holy Communion on the Fourth Sunday in Advent in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer. The Latin version of this text had been, and continued to be, the introit at Mass on the Third Sunday in Advent. See also Proper 23 A and OT 27A in 3-year lectionaries.

Settings by composers

• Anonymous, in the Mulliner Book (formerly attr. John Redford) SATB (version 3)
• Henry Purcell SATB (ATB verse) and strings (version 1)
• John Sheppard AATB (version 2)

• Gaudete in Domino (Giaches de Wert) (1st verse only, in Latin)

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Anonymous — Rejoice in the Lord alway
• Henry Purcell — Rejoice in the Lord alway, Z 49
• John Sheppard — Rejoice in the Lord

Text and translations

English text Sheppard's version Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. Let your restraint be known unto all men. The Lord is e'en at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in all prayer and supplication let your petition be manifest unto God, with giving of thanks. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus. Amen.

English text Purcell's version Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord.

German translation (singing version for Purcell's music) Seid fröhlich im Herrn allzeit, allewege freuet euch. Eure Freundlichkeit lasst erfahren alle Menschen. Der Herr ist ja nah. Um nichts macht euch Sorgen, sondern lasst in allen Dingen eure Bitten mit Danksagung, Beten und Flehen kundwerden vor Gott. Und der Friede Gottes, welcher alle Vernunft übersteigt, bewahre euch durch Christus unsern Herrn.

English text 1549 Book of the Common Prayer (modern spelling) Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say, rejoice. Let your softness be known unto all men: the Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing: but in all prayer and supplication, let your petitions be manifest unto God with giving of thanks. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesu. Amen.

Hypothetical Mulliner Book version Reioice in the Lorde allwayes and again I say rejoice. Let your softness be known unto all men for the Lord is even at hand Be not carefull But in all thinges let your petitions and prayer and supplications with giving of thanks be knowne before God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding Kepe your hartes and mindes in Christ Jesu our Lord. (Amen.)