"Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God" is a Christian hymn written by Karen Lafferty in 1971. This hymn calls us to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Directly inspired by scripture, the lyrics draw from Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Learn more about the story of this hymn and watch video performances below!
1 Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And His righteousness;
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
2 Ask, and it shall be given unto you;
Seek, and you shall find.
Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
3 Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds out from the mouth of God.
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
© 1972, Maranatha! Music (admin by Capital CMG Publishing)
The Story Behind Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
Karen Lafferty was born on February 29, 1948, and is an American Contemporary Christian musician from Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Seek Ye First or Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God is a Christian song inspired by Matthew 6:33. It was written in 1971 by Karen Lafferty after a Bible study on the verse at Calvary Chapel and has become one of the most well-known praise songs, entered in many recent hymnals.
The original version only included a single verse with a refrain of alleluias, which can also be sung in canon with the verse. Other verses of anonymous authorship have been added based on Matthew 7:7 and Matthew 4:4. It is occasionally included in Christian children's songbooks.