<Tr> <Th> Language </Th> <Td> English </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Published </Th> <Td> 1719 </Td> </Tr> <P> "Joy to the World" is a popular Christmas carol with words by Isaac Watts . As of the late 20th century, "Joy to the World" was the most - published Christmas hymn in North America . </P> <P> The words of the hymn are by English writer Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98, 96: 11 - 12 and Genesis 3: 17 - 18, in the Bible . The song was first published in 1719 in Watts' collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship . The paraphrase is Watts' Christological interpretation . Consequently, he does not emphasize with equal weight the various themes of Psalm 98 . In stanzas 1 and 2 Watts writes of heaven and earth rejoicing at the coming of the King . An interlude that depends more on Watts' interpretation than the psalm text, stanza 3 speaks of Christ's blessings extending victoriously over the realm of sin . The cheerful repetition of the non-psalm phrase "far as the curse is found" has caused this stanza to be omitted from some hymnals . But the line makes joyful sense when understood from the New Testament eyes through which Watts interprets the psalm . Stanza 4 celebrates Christ's rule over the nations. ". The nations are called to celebrate because God's faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world . </P>

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