Scripture Verse

Come, for all things are now ready. Luke 14:17

Introduction

portrait
Fanny Crosby (1820–1915)

Words: Vari­ous­ly at­trib­ut­ed to ei­ther Fan­ny Cros­by or W. How­ard Doane. First known pub­li­ca­tion was in Roy­al Dia­dem (see mu­sic cre­dit, be­low), where it has a co­py­right no­tice of 1873, and gives the ly­ri­cist as W. H. D.and the com­pos­er as W. How­ard Doane.

Music: W. How­ard Doane, Roy­al Dia­dem, ed­it­ed by Ro­bert Low­ry & Howard Doane (New York and Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Big­low & Main, 1873), num­ber 6 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Howard Doane (1832–1915)

Lyrics

Blest are the hun­gry; they shall be fed;
Jesus a feast has kind­ly spread;
Come and re­ceive; on­ly believe;
Jesus will free­ly, free­ly give.

Refrain

All things are rea­dy—come and see;
Ready for you, rea­dy for me;
O what a feast of rich­est bless­ing,
Crowned with a Sav­ior’s love!

Out in the high­way, go and pro­claim
Welcome to all in Je­sus’ name;
Bread to the poor, bread ev­er­more,
Jesus will free­ly, free­ly give.

Refrain

Sweet in­vi­ta­tion! How can we slight
Him who will make our path so bright?
All we re­quire, all our de­sire,
Jesus will free­ly, free­ly give.

Refrain