Hymn Story: Jesus Shall Reign

The stories that surround our hymns extend far beyond the time of the original writing.

Close to two centuries after Isaac Watts penned "Jesus Shall Reign" as a poetic translation of Psalm 172, King George -- the tribal king of the South Sea islands -- along with many of his people -- heeded the gospel message brought by missionaries and converted from the darkness of sin and cannibalism to faith in Christ.

One Sunday in 1862, the king gathered the people around him to proclaim a Christian constitution for his government and five thousand natives from the islands of Tonga, Fiji and Samoa joined together to sing "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does his successive journeys run."

Jesus Shall Reign

by Isaac Watts

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
with every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.

Blessings abound where'er he reigns:
the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring
the highest honors to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud amen.