O Love divine, that stooped to share
Our sharpest pang, our bitterest tear!
On Thee we cast each earthborn care;
We smile at pain while Thou art near.

Though long the weary way we tread,
And sorrow crown each lingering year,
No path we shun, no darkness dread,
Our hearts still whispering, “Thou art near!”

When drooping pleasure turns to grief,
And trembling faith is changed to fear,
The murmuring wind, the quivering leaf,
Shall softly tell us Thou art near!

On Thee we fling our burdening woe,
O Love divine, forever dear!
Content to suffer while we know,
Living and dying, Thou art near!

Regard my grief and rescue me,
For I do not forget Thy laws;
As Thou hast promised, save me, Lord,
Redeem my soul, and plead my cause.

Far is salvation from the men
Who do not seek Thy statutes, Lord;
Great are Thy mercies, quicken me
According to Thy holy Word.

I bear the spite of many foes,
Yet from Thy law I do not swerve;
I saw the faithless and was grieved,
For they Thy Word do not observe.

Behold how I Thy precepts love!
In kindness, Lord, revive Thou me;
The sum of all Thy Word is truth;
Thy Word abides eternally.

In tenderness He sought me,
Weary and sick with sin;
And on His shoulders brought me
Back to His fold again.
While angels in His presence sang
Until the courts of Heaven rang.

Refrain

Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold.

He washed the bleeding sin wounds,
And poured in oil and wine;
He whispered to assure me,
“I’ve found thee, thou art Mine”;
I never heard a sweeter voice;
It made my aching heart rejoice!

Refrain

He pointed to the nail prints,
For me His blood was shed,
A mocking crown so thorny
Was placed upon His head;
I wondered what He saw in me,
To suffer such deep agony.

Refrain

I’m sitting in His presence,
The sunshine of His face,
While with adoring wonder
His blessings I retrace.
It seems as if eternal days
Are far too short to sound His praise.

Refrain

So while the hours are passing,
All now is perfect rest,
I’m waiting for the morning,
The brightest and the best,
When He will call us to His side,
To be with Him, His spotless bride.

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All praise to Him Who reigns above
In majesty supreme,
Who gave His Son for man to die,
That He might man redeem!

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Blessèd be the Name! Blessèd be the Name!
Blessèd be the Name of the Lord!
Blessèd be the Name! Blessèd be the Name!
Blessèd be the Name of the Lord!

His Name above all names shall stand,
Exalted more and more,
At God the Father’s own right hand,
Where angel hosts adore.

Refrain

Redeemer, Savior, Friend of man
Once ruined by the fall,
Thou hast devised salvation’s plan,
For Thou hast died for all.

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His Name shall be the Counselor,
The mighty Prince of Peace,
Of all earth’s kingdoms Conqueror,
Whose reign shall never cease.

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I do believe the Bible, the blesséd Word of God,
And close unto its promises I cleave.
It points me to the pathway the saints and martyrs trod,
My Father is its Author, and I believe.

Refrain

Yes, I believe the blessèd Word of God,
It marks the paths His people all have trod;
The story, from creation, all thro’ to “Revelation,”
Bears proof of inspiration, and I believe.

It was my parents’ counsel; to them its truths were grand.
And mem’ry oft a picture sweet doth weave
Of that “old-fashioned Bible that lay upon the stand,”
In life, in death, it cheered them, and I believe.

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I once was lost and dying, in darkness and despair,
And o’er my lost condition long I grieved,
Until I searched the Bible and learned of Jesus there,
Who sweetly blest and saved me when I believed.

Refrain

Bold infidels may cavil, and scorn the blesséd Book,
And with their groundless doctrines may deceive;
Still all the while the Bible brings peace to those who look
With faith upon its pages, and I believe.

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No book is like the Bible,
For childhood, youth and age;
Our duty, plain and simple,
We find on every page.
It came  by inspiration,
A light to guide our way,
A voice from Him who gave it,
Reproving when we stray.

Refrain

No book is like the Bible,
The blessèd book we love,
The pilgrim’s chart of glory,
It leads to God above.

It tells of man’s creation,
His sad, primeval fall;
It tells of man’s redemption,
Through Christ, who died for all;
In sacred words of wisdom
It bids us watch and pray,
And early come to Jesus,
The Life, the Truth, the Way.

Refrain

O, let us love the Bible,
And praise it more and more;
Our life is like a shadow,
Our days will soon be o’er;
But if we closely follow
The counsel God has giv’n,
We then may hope with angels
To sing His praise in Heav’n.

Refrain

Though mighty foes assail me, Lord,
I fear not them, but Thee;
As boundless wealth and priceless spoil,
Thy Word rejoices me.
Deceit and falsehood I abhor,
But in Thy law delight;
Throughout the day I praise Thy Name,
For all Thy ways are right.

Great peace has he who loves Thy law,
Unmoved, he safely stands;
For Thy salvation I have hoped
And followed Thy commands.
Thy testimonies I have kept,
They are my chief delight;
Observant of Thy law and truth,
I walk before Thy sight.

The highest joy that can be known
To those who heav’nward wend—
It is the Word of Life to own,
And God to have as Friend;
It is the Word of Life to own,
And God to have as Friend.

The Word doth give me wealth untold,
All good it has in store;
My deepest sorrows lose their hold
To joys forevermore;
My deepest sorrows loose their hold
To joys forevermore.

How often when in deep despair
My soul has been restored,
And when the tempter would ensnare
’Twould strength to stand afford;
And when the tempter would ensnare
’Twould strength to stand afford.

It tells me of a love divine,
How Jesus’ blood was shed;
Each day this joyous song is mine
As paths of grace I tread;
Each day this joyous song is mine
As paths of grace I tread.

When stars above shall shine no more
God’s Word is still my light;
When pleasures of this world are o’er,
My joys shall reach their height;
When pleasures of this world are o’er,
My joys shall reach their height.

Deceit and falsehood I abhor,
But love Thy law, Thy truth revealed;
My steadfast hope is in Thy Word;
Thou art my Refuge and my Shield;
The paths of sin I have not trod,
But kept the precepts of my God.

According to Thy gracious Word
Uphold me, Lord, deliver me;
O do not let me be ashamed
Of patient hope and trust in Thee;
O hold Thou me, and I shall stand
And ever follow Thy command.

The froward Thou hast set at naught
Who vainly wander from the right;
The wicked Thou dost count as dross;
Thy just decrees are my delight;
For fear of Thee I stand in awe
And reverence Thy most holy law.

Lord Jesus Christ, my Savior blest,
My Hope and my Salvation!
I trust in Thee; deliver me from misery;
Thy Word’s my consolation.

As Thou dost will, lead Thou me still
That I may truly serve Thee,
My God, I pray, teach me Thy way to my last day
In Thy true faith preserve me.

Most heartily I trust in Thee;
Thy mercy fails me never.
Dear Lord, abide; my Helper tried, Thou Crucified,
From evil keep me ever.

Now henceforth must I put my trust
In Thee, O dearest Savior.
Thy comfort choice, Thy Word and voice, my heart rejoice
Despite my ill behavior.

When sorrows rise, my refuge lies
In Thy compassion tender.
Within Thine arm can naught alarm; keep me from harm,
Be Thou my strong Defender.

I have Thy Word, Christ Jesus, Lord;
Thou never wilt forsake me.
This will I plead in time of need. Oh, help with speed
When troubles overtake me!

Grant, Lord, I pray, Thy grace each day
That I, Thy Law revering,
May live with Thee and happy be eternally
Before Thy throne appearing.

How I love Thy law, O Lord!
Daily joy its truths afford;
In its constant light I go,
Wise to conquer every foe.

Thy commandments in my heart,
Truest wisdom can impart;
To my eyes Thy precepts show
Wisdom more than sages know.

While my heart Thy Word obeys,
I am kept from evil ways;
From Thy law, with Thee to guide,
I have never turned aside.

Sweeter are Thy words to me
Than all other good can be;
Safe I walk, Thy truth my light,
Hating falsehood, loving right.

Take me, O my Father, take me;
Take me, save me, through Thy Son;
That which Thou wouldst have me, make me,
Let Thy will in me be done.
Long from Thee my footsteps straying,
Thorny proved the way I trod;
Weary come I now, and praying,
Take me to Thy love, my God.

Fruitless years with grief recalling,
Humbly I confess my sin;
At Thy feet, O Father, falling,
To Thy household take me in.
Freely now to Thee I proffer
This relenting heart of mine;
Freely life and love I offer,
Gift unworthy love like Thine.

Once the world’s Redeemer, dying,
Bore our sins upon the tree;
On that sacrifice relying,
Now I look in hope to Thee:
Father, take me; all forgiving,
Fold me to Thy loving breast;
In Thy love forever living
I must be forever blest.

We have not known Thee as we ought,
Nor learned Thy wisdom, grace and power;
The things of earth have filled our thought,
And trifles of the passing hour.
Lord, give us light Thy truth to see,
And make us wise in knowing Thee.

We have not feared Thee as we ought,
Nor bowed beneath Thine awful eye,
Nor guarded deed and word and thought,
Remembering that God was nigh.
Lord, give us faith to know Thee near,
And grant the grace of holy fear.

We have not loved Thee as we ought,
Nor cared that we are loved by Thee;
Thy presence we have coldly sought,
And feebly longed Thy face to see.
Lord, give a pure and loving heart
To feel and know the love Thou art.

We have not served Thee as we ought,
Alas, the duties left undone,
The work with little fervor wrought,
The battles lost or scarcely won!
Lord, give the zeal, and give the might,
For Thee to toil, for Thee to fight.

When shall we know Thee as we ought,
And fear and love and serve aright?
When shall we, out of trial brought,
Be perfect in the land of light?
Lord, may we day by day prepare
To see Thy face and serve Thee there.