Scripture Verse

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Introduction

portrait
Horatius Bonar
1808–1889

Words: Ho­ra­ti­us Bo­nar, Hymns of Faith and Hope, first ser­ies, 1857, pag­es 168–69.

Music: Lynd­hurst (Ma­ker) Fred­eri­ck C. Ma­ker, 1876 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Mak­er (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Calm me, my God, and keep me calm,
While these hot breezes blow,
Be like the night-dew’s cooling balm
Upon earth’s fevered brow.

Calm me, my God, and keep me calm,
Soft resting on Thy breast;
Sooth me with holy hymn and psalm,
And bid my spirit rest.

Calm me, my God, and keep me calm;
Let Thine outstretchèd wing
Be like the shade of Elim’s palm
Beside her desert spring.

Yes, keep me calm, tho’ loud and rude
The sounds my ear that greet,
Calm in the closet’s solitude,
Calm in the bustling street;

Calm in the hour of buoyant health,
Calm in my hour of pain;
Calm in my poverty or wealth
Calm in my loss or gain.

Calm in the sufferance of wrong,
Like Him who bore my shame,
Calm ’mid the threatening, taunting throng
Who hate Thy holy name;

Calm when the great world’s news with power
My listening spirit stir;
Let not the tidings of the hour
E’er find too fond an ear.

Calm as the ray of sun or star
Which storms assail in vain;
Moving unruffled through earth’s war,
The eternal calm to gain.