Whatsoever You Do (to the least of my people)

This is social justice themed hymn. It is based on Matthew 25:35-36, 40 (Christ's story about sheep and goats at the last judgement, and Jesus teaching that the only grounds for judgement is whether love has been shown to least of God's people. The later verses extend these ideas to the social issues of the day.

The original text was "“Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers", but more recent publications show it as “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people" (ref).

It was written by American Roman Catholic priest, teacher, playwright, folk-composer and author Willard F Jabusch (1930-2018), in 1965 for a youth Mass in Chicago, Illinois (USA) where he was working.

First published - with 11 verses - in the Hymnal for Young Christians (1966) Volume 1, it was been included in many other hymnals and was re-published in 1982. Today the rights are administered by by OCP Publications.

With irregular meter, the tune is also called WHATSOEVER YOU DO. The original setting was in the key of D, with time signature 3/4. The first few notes in this key are DF A A B A.

It is one of the two hymns quoted in Malcolm Muggeridge's 1971 book about Mother Theresa, Something beautiful for God.

Image source and license

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

Sheet music from OCP

Examples

Medium sized church-choir, during a hymn-a-thon, with keyboard, guitar and violin backing.

Children's choir with a soloist, professional recording:

Solo singer with guitar:

Small group with piano:

Singer with guitar, words on-screen:

Instrumental - electronic keyboard:

Lyrics

The full text is still copyright, so cannot be reproduced here, but it is available on this website. There is a three-line chorus which is sung at the start of the song and then repeated between each verse, and the last verse of each chorus is the "Now enter into the home of my Father". A rough outline of the verses is:

When I was hungry, you gave me to eat ...

Chorus:Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers (people) ...

When I was homeless, you opened your door ...

When I was weary, you helped me find rest ...

When I was little, you taught me to read ...

When in a prison, you came to my cell ...

Hurt in a battle you bound up my wounds ...

When I was Negro or Chinese or White ...

When I was aged you bothered to smile ...

When I was laughed at you stood by my side ...