While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Nahum Tate (1652–1715) was an Irish-born poet, playwright, and English Poet Laureate whose tumultuous literary career culminated in one of the most influential liturgical collaborations in the history of Western hymnody. Born in Dublin, Tate graduated from Trinity College in 1672 before relocating to London to pursue a career in the theater. Despite a lifetime spent in the relentless pursuit of popular favor and royal patronage—which earned him the title of Poet Laureate in 1692 and Royal Historiographer in 1702—he faced persistent financial ruin. He spent much of his life fleeing from creditors and eventually died in the Mint at Southwark, a notorious London sanctuary for debtors.

While Tate’s secular plays and adaptations (including a famously sanitized version of Shakespeare's King Lear with a happy ending) have largely been relegated to literary footnotes, his sacred verse transformed English congregational singing. In collaboration with the Anglican clergyman Nicholas Brady, Tate produced the New Version of the Psalms of David (1696). This collection was designed to replace the rough, antiquated metric patterns of the 16th-century Sternhold and Hopkins "Old Version." Tate and Brady introduced a smoother, more elegant, and refined metrical style that aligned with the neoclassical tastes of the late Stuart period, eventually gaining royal authorization for use in the Church of England.

From this New Version, several stanzas have broken away to become permanent fixtures in the global Protestant hymn book. His most famous enduring texts include:

• "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night": One of the few festive hymns officially permitted by the Church of England during an era when strict metrical psalmody ruled Sunday services. It remains a cornerstone of traditional Christmas liturgy.

• "As Pants the Hart for Cooling Streams": A elegant, lyrical paraphrase of Psalm 42 that beautifully captures the soul's desperate longing for spiritual sustenance.

• "O 'Twas a Joyful Sound to Hear": A vibrant rendering of Psalm 122 celebrating the joy of corporate worship and the peace of the New Jerusalem.

• "Through All the Changing Scenes of Life": Drawn from Psalm 34, this text is an enduring anthem of praise and absolute trust in divine providence amidst life's shifting circumstances.

Tate’s legacy is defined by a striking irony: the theatrical works he hoped would secure his fortune and fame are forgotten, while the church metrical paraphrases he compiled to reshape liturgical order have endured for over three centuries. Together with Brady, he bridged the gap between the rigid, literal psalm-singing of the Reformation and the free, imaginative hymnody later popularized by Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley, ensuring his voice would continue to be heard in congregations around the world.

Profile at a Glance

The Psalter Metrical Shift

The work of Tate and Brady marked a turning point in how scripture was sung in English parishes, introducing a polished poetic meter that elevated congregational participation.

• The Neoclassical Polish: Unlike the rugged, literal translations of the "Old Version," Tate utilized smooth iambic lines that easily adapted to the developing choral and organ traditions of the 18th century.

• The Christmas Exception: At a time when non-scriptural hymns were strictly forbidden in church liturgy, "While Shepherds Watched" bypassed restrictions because it was a direct, faithful paraphrase of the Gospel of Luke, opening the door for the festive carols that followed in later generations.