When Jesus Reigns in Zion

Lyrics

Verse 1
The nations rage and plot in vain
To overthrow their Master
But all who flee His rightful reign
Run only to disaster
Kings of the earth who plot to war
Hear the Lord laugh like thunder roar
The day will come you’ll plot no more
When Jesus reigns in Zion

Verse 2
Then God who sits enthroned shall laugh
And hold them in derision
He will reprove them in His wrath
And thwart what they envision
Jesus will rule with iron rod
Ending rebellion, rage, and fraud
For every knee will bow to God
When Jesus reigns in Zion

Verse 3
Come kiss God’s own begotten Son
Creator of creation
He claims the prize His blood has won
Inheriting the nations
Heaven and earth, receive your King
Join in the song the ransomed sing
Make every hill and valley ring
When Jesus reigns in Zion

Audio Demo

Author & Composer

Lyrics by Daniel J. Mount. Music by John Stockton.

Publishing Information

Completed on February 6, 2023.

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

This song is also released for free non-commercial use under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. Here’s a little more about what that means.

Sheet Music

Lead Sheet – F (recorded key)

Lead Sheet – C (congregational key)

Scripture References

Psalm 2

Song Story

I first heard this melody in a language I don’t speak. John Schmid is a country Gospel singer from Holmes County, Ohio. He lives in one of the largest centers of Amish life and culture in the world. The Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch as their native language. Though Schmid’s native language is English, he learned Pennsylvania Dutch and records some of his tracks in each language.

One of the most beloved songs in Amish culture is “Lob Lied.” Some Amish churches sing it every single time they worship. Schmid recorded a version of “Lob Lied.” A different, uncredited song is sung starting at 1:25 in that video. The melody really stuck with me. I kept coming back to it and playing it over and over. I really wanted something to sing it to in English, so I wrote this setting of Psalm 2 to that melody.

Later, I did some digging on the origins of the melody. Its origin is an 1869 melody by John H. Stockton often used with the English hymn “The Great Physician.” The syllable count of that lyric is a little different than what I have here, but that’s because I wrote the melody to the Pennsylvania Dutch version.