The Presbyterian Hymnal: Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs

310

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

1.  Jesus, the very thought of Thee
    With sweetness fills my breast;
    But sweeter far Thy face to see,
    And in Thy presence rest.

2.  Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
    Nor can the mind recall
    A sweeter sound than Thy blest name,
    O Savior of us all.

3.  O hope of every contrite heart,
    O joy of all the meek,
    To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
    How good to those who seek!

4.  But what to those who find? Ah, this 
    Nor tongue nor pen can show:
    The love of Jesus, what it is
    None but His loved ones know.

5.  Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
    As Thou our prize wilt be;
    Jesus, be Thou our glory now,
    And through eternity.

WORDS: Attr. Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153) Trans. Edward Caswall, 1849;
MUSIC: alt. 1987John Bacchus Dykes, 1866
Theme: Jesus Christ