Blest are the undefiled in heart,
Whose ways are right and clean;
Who never from Thy law depart,
But fly from every sin.

Blest are the men that keep Thy Word,
And practice Thy commands;
With their whole heart they seek the Lord,
And serve thee with their hands.

Great is their peace who love Thy law;
How firm their souls abide!
Nor can a bold temptation draw
Their steady feet aside.

Then shall my heart have inward joy,
And keep my face from shame,
When all Thy statutes I obey,
And honor all Thy Name.

But haughty sinners God will hate,
The proud shall die accursed;
The sons of falsehood and deceit
Are trodden to the dust.

Vile as the dross the wicked are;
And those that leave Thy ways
Shall see salvation from afar,
But never taste Thy grace.

O let my supplicating cry
By Thee, my gracious Lord, be heard;
Give wisdom and deliver me
According to Thy faithful Word.

Instructed in Thy holy law,
To praise Thy Word I lift my voice;
O Lord, be Thou my present help,
For Thy commandments are my choice.

For Thy salvation I have longed,
And in Thy law is my delight;
Enrich my soul with life divine,
And help by Thy judgments right.

Thy servant like a wandering sheep
Has lost the path and gone astray;
Restore my soul and lead me home,
For Thy commands I would obey

O that the Lord would guide my ways
To keep His statutes still!
O that my God would grant me grace
To know and do His will!

O send Thy Spirit down to write
Thy law upon my heart!
Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,
Nor act the liar’s part.

From vanity turn off my eyes;
Let no corrupt design,
Nor covetous desires, arise
Within this soul of mine.

Order my footsteps by Thy Word,
And make my heart sincere;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,
But keep my conscience clear.

My soul hath gone too far astray,
My feet too often slip;
Yet since I’ve not forgot Thy way,
Restore Thy wand’ring sheep.

Make me to walk in Thy commands,
’Tis a delightful road;
Nor let my head, or heart, or hands,
Offend against my God.

The Bible! the Bible! more precious than gold,
The hopes and the glories its pages unfold;
It speaks of a Savior, and tells of His love;
It shows us the way to the mansions above,
It shows us the way to the mansions above.

The Bible! the Bible! blest volume of truth,
How sweetly it smiles on the season of youth!
It bids us seek early the pearl of great price,
Ere th’heart is enslaved in the bondage of vice,
Ere th’heart is enslaved in the bondage of vice.

The Bible! the Bible! we hail it with joy,
Its truths and its glories our tongues shall employ;
We’ll sing of its triumphs, we’ll sing of its worth,
And send its glad tidings afar o’er the earth,
And send its glad tidings afar o’er the earth.

The Bible! the Bible! the valleys shall ring,
And hilltops re-echo the notes that we sing;
Our banners inscribed with its precepts and rules
Shall long wave in triumph, the joy of our schools,
Shall long wave in triumph, the joy of our schools.

How can I, Lord, keep my way pure?
To Your Word I must be true.
So I seek You with my whole heart;
Do not let me stray from You.

Your Word’s hidden in my heart, Lord,
That I might not go astray.
Praise to You, O Lord, my Father;
Teach me Your decrees each day.

With my lips I recount gladly
All the laws You’ve giv’n to man.
I rejoice in all Your statutes,
As in wealth too vast to scan.

Meditating on Your precepts,
I consider all Your ways.
I delight in Your decrees, Lord;
I will never turn away.

How shall the young direct their way?
What light shall be their perfect guide?
Thy Word, O Lord, will safely lead,
If in its wisdom they confide.
Sincerely I have sought Thee, Lord,
O let me not from Thee depart;
To know Thy will and keep from sin
Thy Word I cherish in my heart.

O blessèd Lord, teach me Thy law,
Thy righteous judgments I declare;
Thy testimonies make me glad,
For they are wealth beyond compare.
Upon Thy precepts and Thy ways
My heart will meditate with awe;
Thy Word shall be my chief delight,
And I will not forget Thy law.

How shall the young secure their hearts
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy Word the choicest rules imparts
To keep the conscience clean.

When once it enters to the mind,
It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest souls instruction find,
And raise their thoughts to God.

’Tis, like the sun, a heav’nly light
That guides us all the day,
And through the dangers of the night
A lamp to lead our way.

The men that keep Thy law with care,
And meditate Thy Word,
Grow wiser than their teachers are,
And better know the Lord.

Thy precepts make me truly wise:
I hate the sinner’s road;
I hate my own vain thoughts that rise,
But love Thy law, my God.

The starry heav’ns Thy rule obey,
The earth maintains her place;
And these Thy servants, night and day,
Thy skill and power express.

But still Thy law and Gospel, Lord,
Have lessons more divine;
Not earth stands firmer than Thy Word,
Nor stars so nobly shine.

Thy Word is everlasting truth;
How pure is every page!
That holy Book shall guide our youth
And well support our age.

Hide God’s Word in your heart,
Its precious truth believe;
At His command take from His hand,
The Bread of Life receive.

Refrain

Hide God’s Word in your heart,
Hide God’s Word in your heart—
His Word of love sent from above,
Hide God’s Word in your heart.

Hide God’s Word in your heart,
If you would grow in grace,
And like Him be until you see
Your Master face to face.

Refrain

Hide God’s Word in your heart,
And seek the Spirit’s pow’r
To understand each blest command
He gives from hour to hour.

Refrain

Hide God’s Word in your heart,
And, having hidden well,
Seek out the lost, the tempest tossed,
Go forth His love to tell.

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Hide God’s Word in your heart,
Each day a verse repeat;
Tho’ sin allure success is sure,
You cannot have defeat.

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Holy Bible, Book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine to tell me whence I came;
Mine to teach me what I am.

Mine to chide me when I rove;
Mine to show a Savior’s love;
Mine thou art to guide and guard;
Mine to punish or reward.

Mine to comfort in distress;
Suffering in this wilderness;
Mine to show, by living faith,
Man can triumph over death.

Mine to tell of joys to come,
And the rebel sinner’s doom;
O thou holy Book divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.

Holy Bible, book Divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine;
Mine to tell me whence I came;
Mine to teach me what I am.

Mine to chide me when I rove;
Mine to shew a Saviour’s love;
Mine art thou to guide my feet;
Mine to judge, condemn, acquit.

Mine to comfort in distress;
If the Holy Spirit bless;
Mine to shew, by living faith,
Man can triumph over death.

Mine to tell of joys to come,
And the rebel sinner’s doom;
Holy Bible, book Divine,
Precious treasure, thou art mine.

Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,
A light to my path alway,
To guide and to save me from sin,
And show me the heav’nly way.

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Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.

Forever, O Lord, is Thy Word
Established and fixed on high;
Thy faithfulness unto all men
Abideth forever nigh.

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At morning, at noon, and at night
I ever will give Thee praise;
For Thou art my portion, O Lord,
And shall be through all my days!

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Thro’ Him Whom Thy Word hath foretold,
The Savior and Morning Star,
Salvation and peace have been brought
To those who have strayed afar.

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A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic like the sun;
It gives a light to every age;
It gives, but borrows none.

The Spirit breathes upon the Word
And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford
A sanctifying light.

The hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise;
They rise, but never set.

Let everlasting thanks be Thine
For such a bright display.
As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.

My soul rejoices to pursue
The steps of Him I love,
Till glory breaks upon my view
In brighter worlds above.

Upon the Gospel’s sacred page
The gathered beams of ages shine;
And, as it hastens, every age
But makes its brightness more divine.

On mightier wing, in loftier flight,
From year to year does knowledge soar;
And, as it soars, the Gospel light
Becomes effulgent more and more.

More glorious still, as centuries roll,
New regions blest, new powers unfurled,
Expanding with the expanding soul,
Its radiance shall o’er flow the world.

Flow to restore, but not destroy,
As when the cloudless lamp of day
Pours out its floods of light and joy,
And sweeps the lingering mists away.

We love the good old Bible,
The glorious Word of God,
The lamp for those who travel
O’er all life’s dreary road.
The watchword in life’s battle,
The chart on life’s dark sea;
The beautiful, dear Bible,
It shall our teacher be.

Who would not love the Bible,
So beautiful and wise?
Its teachings charm the simple,
And point us to the skies.
Its stories all so mighty
Of men so brave to see;
The beautiful, dear Bible,
It shall our teacher be.

But most we love the Bible,
For there we children learn
How Christ for us became a child,
Our hearts to Him to turn;
And how He bowed to sorrow,
That we His face might see,
The Bible, O the Bible,
It shall our teacher be.

Then we will hold the Bible,
The glorious book of God;
We’ll ne’er forsake the Bible
Through all life’s future road.
And when we lie adying,
Wherever that may be,
The beautiful, dear Bible,
Shall still our solace be.

Thy servant, blessed by Thee, shall live
And keep Thy Word with awe;
Lord open Thou mine eyes to see
The wonders of Thy law.

A pilgrim in the earth am I,
Thy will to me reveal;
To know Thy truth my spirit yearns,
Consumed with ardent zeal.

Thou dost rebuke the proud, O Lord,
Who hate Thy holy Name;
But since I keep Thy righteous law,
Deliver me from shame.

I on Thy statutes meditate,
Though evil men deride;
Thy faithful Word is my delight,
My counselor and guide.

Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.

Refrain

Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Refrain

Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Refrain

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;
And every one who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.
Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.

Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light
Are seen to guide the traveler and make his pathway bright.
Thy Word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair;
And find, for life’s long battle day, all needful weapons there.

O may I love Thy precious Word, may I explore the mine,
May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine!
O may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword,
I’ll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.

My grieving soul revive, O Lord,
According to Thy Word;
To Thee my ways I have declared
And Thou my prayer hast heard.

Teach me to know Thy holy way
And think upon Thy deeds;
In grief I ask for promised grace
According to my need.

Keep me from falsehood, let Thy law
With me in grace abide;
The way of faithfulness I choose,
Thy precepts are my guide.

I cleave unto Thy truth, O Lord,
From shame deliver me;
In glad obedience I will live
Through strength bestowed by Thee.

How wondrous and great
Thy works, God of praise!
How just, King of saints,
And true are Thy ways!
O who shall not fear Thee,
And honor Thy Name?
Thou only art holy,
Thou only supreme.

To nations long dark
Thy light shall be shown;
Their worship and vows
Shall come to Thy throne:
Thy truth and Thy judgments
Shall spread all abroad,
Till earth’s every people
Confess Thee their God.

Christ in His Word draws near;
Hush, moaning voice of fear,
He bids thee cease;
With songs sincere and sweet
Let us arise, and meet
Him Who comes forth to greet
Our souls with peace.

Rising above thy care,
Meet Him as in the air,
O weary heart;
Put on joy’s sacred dress;
Lo, as He comes to bless,
Quite from thy weariness
Set free thou art.

For works of love and praise
He brings thee summer days,
Warm days and bright;
Winter is past and gone,
Now He, salvation’s Sun,
Shineth on every one
With mercy’s light.

From the bright sky above,
Clad in His robes of love,
’Tis He, our Lord!
Dim earth itself grows clear
As His light draweth near;
O let us hush and hear
His holy Word.

Give me the Bible, star of gladness gleaming,
To cheer the wand’rer lone and tempest tossed;
No storm can hide that radiance peaceful beaming,
Since Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Refrain

Give me the Bible, holy message shining;
Thy light shall guide me in the narrow way;
Precept and promise, law and love combining,
Till night shall vanish in eternal day.

Give me the Bible, when my heart is broken,
When sin and grief have filled my soul with fear;
Give me the precious words by Jesus spoken,
Hold up faith’s lamp to show my Savior near.

Refrain

Give me the Bible, all my steps enlighten,
Teach me the danger of these realms below;
That lamp of safety o’er the gloom shall brighten,
That light alone the path of peace can show.

Refrain

Give me the Bible, lamp of life immortal,
Hold up that splendor by the open grave;
Show me the light from Heaven’s shining portal,
Show me the glory gilding Jordan’s wave.

Refrain

The Voice of God’s Creation found me
Perplexed midst hope and fear,
For though His sunshine flashed around me,
His storms at times drew near:
And I said—
Oh! that I knew where He abideth!
For doubts beset our lot,
And lo! His glorious face He hideth,
And men perceive it not!

The Voice of God’s Protection told me
He loveth all He made;
I seemed to feel His arms enfold me,
And yet was half afraid:
And I said—
Oh! that I knew where I might find Him!
His eye would guide me right:
He leaveth countless tracks behind Him,
Yet passeth out of sight.

The Voice of Conscience sounded nearer,
It stirred my inmost breast;
But though its tones were firmer, clearer,
’Twas not the voice of rest:
And I said—
Oh! that I knew if He forgiveth!
My soul is faint within,
Because in grievous fear it liveth
Of wages due to sin.

It was the Voice of Revelation
That met my utmost need;
The wondrous message of salvation
Was joy and peace indeed:
And I said—
Oh! how I love the sacred pages
From which such tidings flow,
As monarchs, patriarchs, poets, sages,
Have longed in vain to know!

For now is life a lucid story,
And death a rest in Him,
And all is bathed in light and glory
That once was dark or dim:
And I said—
O Thou Who dost my soul deliver,
And all its hopes uplift;
Give me a tongue praise the Giver,
A heart to prize the gift.

Carry your Bible with you,
Let all its blessings outflow;
It will supply you each moment—
Take it wherever you go!

Refrain

Take it wherever you go,
Take it wherever you go,
God’s message of love
Sent down from above,
Oh, take it wherever you go!

Carry the word of pardon,
Sweeter each day it will grow;
Somewhere some heart will be waiting—
Take it wherever you go!

Refrain

Carry the wondrous story,
Tell it to hearts plunged in woe;
This word of gracious redemption—
Take it wherever you go!

Refrain

Carry the word of promise;
Sinners unpardoned may know
God’s path from sin unto safety—
Take it wherever you go!

Refrain

This book is all that’s left me now!
Tears will unbidden start—
With faltering lip and throbbing brow
I press it to my heart.
For many generations past,
Here is our family tree!
My mother’s hands this Bible clasped,
She, dying, gave it me.

Ah, well do I remember those
Whose names these records bear;
Who round the hearth-stone used to close
After the evening prayer,
And speak of what these pages said,
In tones my heart would thrill!
Though they are with the silent dead,
Here are they living still!

My father read this holy book
To brothers, sisters dear;
How calm was my poor mother’s look,
Who leaned God’s Word to hear!
Her angel face—I see it yet!
What thronging memories come—
Again that little group is met
Within the halls of home!

Thou truest friend man ever knew,
Thy constancy I’ve tried;
When all were false I found thee true,
My counselor and guide.
The mines of earth no treasures give,
That could this volume buy;
In teaching me the way to live,
It taught me how to die.

Father, make us loving, gentle, thoughtful, kind;
Fill us with Thy Spirit, make us of Thy mind.
Help us love each other, more and more each day,
Help us follow Jesus, in the narrow way.

Refrain

We would learn of Jesus,
Help us here below,
Follow in His footsteps,
Who hath loved us so.

Father, we would ever, live as in Thy sight;
Thou dost know our longings after what is right.
Fill our hearts with kindness as we onward go,
Teach us to be loving, Thou hast loved us so.

Refrain

Help us to remember, Thou art ever near;
Teach us lovingkindness, tenderness and cheer.
There is much of sorrow, in this world below;
Father, make us loving, Thou hast loved us so.

Refrain

Lord, not for light in darkness do we pray,
Not that the veil be lifted from our eyes,
Not that the slow ascension of our day
Be otherwise.

We know the paths wherein our feet should press,
Across our hearts are written Thy decrees;
Yet now O Lord, be merciful to bless,
With more than these.

Grant us the will to fashion as we feel;
Grant us the strength to labor as we know;
Grant us the purpose, ribbed and edged with steel,
To strike the blow.

Knowledge we ask not, knowledge Thou hast lent,
But Lord, the will, there lies our bitter need;
Give us to build above the deep intent
The deed, the deed.

Let everlasting glories crown
Thy head, my Savior and my Lord;
Thy hands have brought salvation down,
And writ the blessings in Thy Word.

What if we trace the globe around,
And search from Britain to Japan,
There shall be no religion found
So just to God, so safe for man.

In vain the trembling conscience seeks
Some solid ground to rest upon;
With long despair the spirit breaks,
Till we apply to Christ alone.

How well Thy blessèd truths agree!
How wise and holy Thy commands!
Thy promises, how firm they be!
How firm our hope and comfort stands.

Not the feigned fields of heath’nish bliss
Could raise such pleasures in the mind;
Nor does the Turkish paradise
Pretend to joys so well refined.

Should all the forms that men devise
Assault my faith with treach’rous art,
I’d call them vanity and lies,
And bind the Gospel to my heart.

Thy promised mercies send to me,
Thy great salvation, Lord;
So shall I answer those who scoff:
My trust is Thy Word.

My hope is in Thy judgment, Lord;
Take not Thy truth from me;
And in Thy law forevermore
My daily walk shall be.

And I will walk at liberty
Because Thy truth I seek;
Thy truth before the kings of earth
With boldness I will speak.

The Lord’s commands, which I have loved,
Shall still new joy impart;
With reverence I will hear Thy laws
And keep them in my heart.

All my doubts I give to Jesus!
I’ve His gracious promise heard—
“I shall never be confounded”—
I am trusting in that word.

Refrain

I am trusting, fully trusting,
Sweetly trusting in His Word;
I am trusting, fully trusting,
Sweetly trusting in His Word.

All my sin I lay on Jesus!
He doth wash me in His blood;
He will keep me pure and holy,
He will bring me home to God.

Refrain

All my fears I give to Jesus!
Rests my weary soul on Him;
Tho’ my way be hid in darkness,
Never can His light grow dim.

Refrain

All my joys I give to Jesus!
He is all I want of bliss;
He of all the worlds is Master—
He has all I need in this.

Refrain

All I am I give to Jesus!
All my body, all my soul,
All I have, and all I hope for,
While eternal ages roll.

Refrain

I do not know how Adam’s sin
Lives on in you and me,
Nor how it causes all the wrong
And sorrow that we see.

Refrain

But I read it in God’s Word, and I believe it;
Yes, I believe it, fully believe it!
I read it in God’s Word, and I believe it,
And that is all I need to do.

I do not know how God could give
Unto a maiden fair,
His holy Son, in Bethl’hem born,
His bed a manger bare.

Refrain

I do not know how God could lay
My sins upon His Son,
Nor how, on Calv’ry’s cross, for me
He perfect pardon won.

Refrain

I do not know how God could call
His Son from out the grave,
Nor how that way to me His
Everlasting life He gave.

Refrain

I do not know how Jesus’ blood
Can cleanse my heart from sin,
Nor how, by faith, in ev’ry fight
The vict’ry I may win.

Refrain

I do not know how one day He
Can come to earth again,
Nor how like Him I shall be made,
And ever with Him reign.

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O Lord, my earnest cry
Thy listening ear has heard;
With Thy salvation answer me,
And I will keep Thy Word.
At early dawn I prayed,
Thy promises my trust;
At night I thought upon Thy Word,
Most holy and most just.

O hear me in Thy grace,
In mercy quicken me;
The wicked plan to do me harm,
But they are far from Thee.
Thou, Lord, art near to me,
And true are Thy commands;
Of old Thy testimonies show
Thy truth eternal stands.

Lord, Thy Word to me remember,
Thou hast made me hope in Thee;
This my comfort in affliction,
That Thy Word has quickened me.

Mocked by those who are unrighteous,
Still to Thy commands I cleave;
Thinking on Thy former judgments,
Help and comfort I receive.

Wicked men, Thy law forsaking,
Stirred my indignation strong;
For in all my pilgrim journey
Thy commandments are my song.

Thou hast been my meditation
And Thy law has been my guide;
I have kept Thy righteous precepts,
And have found them true and tried.

Lord, forever at Thy side
Let my place and portion be;
Strip me of the robe of pride,
Clothe me with humility.

Meekly may my soul receive
All Thy Spirit hath revealed;
Thou hast spoken; I believe,
Though the prophecy were sealed.

Quiet as a weanèd child,
Weanèd from the mother’s breast,
By no subtlety beguiled,
On Thy faithful Word I rest.

Saints rejoicing evermore,
In the Lord Jehovah trust,
Him, in all His ways, adore,
Wise, and wonderful, and just.

O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me feel Thee near me! The world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me, around me and within;
But Jesus, draw Thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear Thee speaking in accents clear and still,
Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will.
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee
That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be.
And Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.

O let me see Thy footprints, and in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly is in Thy strength alone.
O guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the end;
And then in Heaven receive me, my Savior and my Friend.

Thou art my portion, Lord;
Thy words I ever heed;
With all my heart, Thy grace I seek,
Thy promises I plead.

I thought upon my ways,
Thy testimonies learned;
With earnest haste, and waiting not,
To Thy commands I turned.

While snares beset my path,
Thy law I keep in view;
At midnight I will give Thee praise
For all Thy judgments true.

All those who fear Thy Name
Shall my companions be;
Thy mercy fills the earth, O Lord;
Thy statutes teach Thou me.

To Thee, my heart, eternal King,
Would now its thankful tribute bring;
To Thee its humble homage raise
In songs of ardent, grateful, praise.

All nature shows Thy boundless love,
In worlds below and worlds above;
But in Thy blessèd Word I trace
The richer glories of Thy grace.

Here what delightful truths are giv’n;
Here Jesus shows the way to Heav’n;
His Name salutes my listening ear,
Revives my heart, and checks my fear.

For love like this, O may our song
Through endless years Thy praise prolong;
And distant climes Thy Name adore,
Till time and nature are no more.

Good Thou art, and good Thou dost,
Thy mercies reach to all,
Chiefly those who on Thee trust,
And for Thy mercy call;
New they every morning are;
As fathers when their children cry,
Us Thou dost in pity spare,
And all our wants supply.

Mercy o’er Thy works presides;
Thy providence displayed
Still preserves, and still provides
For all Thy hands have made;
Keeps, with most distinguished care,
The man who on Thy love depends;
Watches every numbered hair,
And all his steps attends.

Who can sound the depths unknown
Of Thy redeeming grace?
Grace that gave Thine only Son
To save a ruined race!
Millions of transgressors poor
Thou hast for Jesus’ sake forgiven,
Made them of Thy favor sure,
And snatched from hell to Heaven.

Millions more Thou ready art
To save, and to forgive;
Every soul and every heart
Of man Thou wouldst receive:
Father, now accept of mine,
Which now, through Christ, I offer Thee;
Tell me now, in love divine,
That Thou hast pardoned me!

Thou, Lord, hast dealt well with Thy servant,
Thy promise is faithful and just;
Instruct me in judgment and knowledge,
For in Thy commandments I trust.

Before my affliction I wandered,
But now Thy good Word I obey;
O Thou Who art holy and gracious,
Now teach me Thy statutes, I pray.

The proud have assailed me with slander;
Thy precepts shall still be my guide;
Thy law is my joy and my treasure,
Though sinners may boast in their pride.

Affliction has been for my profit,
That I to Thy statutes might hold;
Thy law to my soul is more precious
Than thousands of silver and gold.

O How I love Thy holy Word,
Thy gracious covenant, O Lord!
It guides me in the peaceful way,
I think upon it all the day.

What are the mines of shining wealth,
The strength of youth, the bloom of health!
What are all joys compared with those
Thine everlasting Word bestows!

Long unafflicted, undismayed,
In pleasures path secure I strayed;
Thou mad’st me feel Thy chast’ning rod,
And strait I turned unto my God.

What though it pierced my fainting heart,
I bless Thine hand that caused the smart;
It taught my tears awhile to flow,
But saved me from eternal woe.

O! hadst Thou left me unchastised,
Thy precept I had still despised;
And still the snare in secret laid,
Had my unwary feet betrayed.

I love Thee therefore O my God,
And breathe towards Thy dear abode;
Where in Thy presence fully blest,
Thy chosen saints forever rest.

Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme
And speak some boundless thing;
The mighty works, or mightier Name
Of our eternal King.

Tell of His wonderful faithfulness
And sound His power abroad;
Sing the sweet promise of His grace,
The love and truth of God.
[originally, And the performing God]

Proclaim “salvation from the Lord
For wretched, dying men”;
His hand has writ the sacred Word
With an immortal pen.

Engraved as in eternal brass
The mighty promise shines;
Nor can the powers of darkness ‘rase
Those everlasting lines.

He that can dash whole worlds to death,
And make them when He please,
He speaks, and that almighty breath
Fulfils His great decrees.

His every word of grace is strong
As that which built the skies;
The voice that rolls the stars along
Speaks all the promises.

He said, “Let the wide heav’n be spread,”
And heav’n was stretched abroad:
“Abram, I’ll be thy God,” He said,
And He was Abram’s God.

O might I hear Thy heavenly tongue
But whisper, “Thou art Mine!”
Those gentle words shall raise my song
To notes almost divine.

How would my leaping heart rejoice,
And think my heav’n secure!
I trust the all creating voice,
And faith desires no more.

Thou, who didst make and fashion me,
O make me wise Thy law to learn;
Then they that fear Thee shall be glad
When they my hope in God discern.

Thou, Lord, art just in all Thy ways,
And faithful when Thou chastenest me;
I pray Thee, let Thy promised grace
Thy servant’s help and comfort be.

Show mercy, Lord, that I may live,
For in Thy law is all my joy;
While those who wrong me are rebuked,
Thy precepts shall my thought employ.

Let those that fear Thee turn to me,
Thy truth to them will I proclaim;
Instruct my heart to keep Thy law,
That I may not be put to shame.

My soul for Thy salvation faints,
But still I hope in Thee;
I long to see Thy promised help,
When Thou shalt comfort me.

Thy statutes I do not forget,
Though wasting grief I know;
Thy servant’s days are few, O Lord:
When wilt Thou judge my foe?

The proud, disdainful of Thy law,
Entrap me wrongfully;
O Thou, whose law is just and true,
Help and deliver me.

Almost consumed, yet from Thy law
I have not turned away;
In lovingkindness give me strength,
That I may still obey.