Sweetest Joy the Soul Can Know

Sweetest joy the soul can know

Fairest light was ev­er shed

Who alike in joy or woe

Leavest none un­vis­it­ed;

Spirit of the High­est God

Lord from whom is life be­stowed

Who up­hold­est ev­ery­thing

Hear me

hear me

while I sing!

For the nob­lest gift Thou art

That a soul e’er sought or won

Have I wished Thee to my heart

Then my wish­ing all is done;

Ah then yield Thee

nor re­fuse

Here to dwell

for Thou didst choose

This my heart

from e’en its birth

For Thy tem­ple here on earth.

Thou art shed like gent­lest show­ers

From the Fa­ther and the Son

Bringest to this earth of ours

Purest bless­ing from their throne;

Suffer then

O no­ble Guest

That rich gift by Thee pos­sessed

Which Thou giv­est at Thy will

All my soul and flesh to fill.

Thou art wise

be­fore Thee stand

Hidden things un­veiled to Thee

Countest up the grains of sand

Fathomest the deep­est sea

And Thou know­est well how blind

Dark and crook­ed is my mind;

Give me wis­dom

in Thy light

Let me please my God aright.

Thou art ho­ly

en­ter­est in

Where pure hearts Thy com­ing wait

But Thou flee­st shame and sin

Craft and false­hood Thou dost hate;

Wash me then

O Well of grace

Every stain and spot ef­face

Let me flee what Thou dost flee

Grant me what Thou lov’st to see.

Thou art lov­ing

hat­est strife

As a lamb of pa­tient mood

Calm through all our rest­less life

E’en to sin­ners kind and good;

Grant me too this no­ble mind

To be calm and true and kind

Loving ev­ery friend or foe

Grieving none whom Thou dost know.

Well con­tent­ed is my heart

If but Thou re­ject me not;

If but Thou wilt ne’er de­part

I am blest what­e’er my lot;

Thine for ev­er make me now

And to Thee

my Lord

I vow

Here and yon­der to em­ploy

Every pow­er for Thee with joy.

Be my help when dan­ger’s nigh

When I sink hold Thou me up

Be my life when I must die

In the grave be Thou my hope;

Bring me when I rise again

To the land that knows no pain

Where Thy fol­low­ers from Thy stream

Drink for ev­er joys su­preme.