The poem appeared first in 1783 as part of an article by Claudius in the fourth volume of Der Wandsbecker Bothe [de].

[1] The early version began with a line "Im Anfang war’s auf Erden", describing the beginning according to the Book of Genesis 1:2.

In the 19th century, Johann André composed a new melody and chose eight of the stanzas for a version which appeared in both Protestant and Catholic hymnals, often sung in schools.

[1] In 1861, Jane Montgomery Campbell created a free translation to English in three stanzas, "We plough the fields and scatter".

It was included, with a musical setting of the melody by Schulz by John Bacchus Dykes, in various hymnals of different denominations.