This is hymn #337 in the hymnal.

The saying "Praise the Lord" does not mean that you should leave your garage door closed, as in "Praise the lowered".

Joachim Neander, 1650-1680, Germany, accomplished theologian, loved the Lord and walking in His creation, through forests and deep ravines in the area, with many caves, waterfalls, etc.. He wrote over 60 texts and many hymns.

He became ill and died of tuberculosis at the young age of 30.

There is a stained glass window of Joachim in a church in Lübben, Germany.

Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), (England), an accomplished translator of German texts and hymns, published an English translation in 1863.

She was an pioneer in advocating the higher education of women.

The small valley through which Joachim Neander liked to walk was named, in his honor, the Neander Valley.

Today, the German word for valley is "Tal", related to the "dale" as in "hill and dale".

At the time, the German word for valley was "Thal" with a "th" (almost silent "h"). Amish Bibles today use that spelling (e.g., Psalms 23).

Thus, the "Neander Valley", in German, was "Neanderthal".

Note: The "Neanderthal valley" is literally the "Neander valley valley" (a redundant place name).

A few hundred years later, in 1856, the valley became a limestone quarry for use in cement. Bones were found and the people of these bones were named "Neanderthals".

The Neanderthals had large skulls, large brow ridges, but were otherwise similar to people today.

Today, it is recognized that Neanderthals were fully human.

The first Neanderthal found was an old man with arthritis, on the way down, not on the way up from ape to man.

While singing, think of walking with Joachim Neander through the scenic Neander valley while marveling at the God's beautiful creation.

Neander intended the first verse as a solo, a conversation calling on others to join in the following verses.