Seventy - Third Trivia Question

 Question

Considered as the most-published Christmas hymn,

this Christmas carol was written by English hymn writer 

Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible.

It was originally intended as a hymn glorifying Christ's Parousia

at the end of the age, rather than a Christmas song celebrating

his first coming as a babe born in a stable.

Only the second half of Watts' lyrics are still used today.

The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection.

The music was adapted and arranged to Watts' lyrics by 

Lowell Mason in 1839 from an older melody which

was then believed to have originated from Handel.