Scripture Verse

You hold me by my right hand. Psalm 73:23–24

Introduction

Words: An­na W. Sim­mons, in Crown of Gold, by Will­iam T. Giffe & Frank M. Da­vis (Lo­gans­port, In­di­ana: Home Mu­sic, 1892), num­ber 25.

Music: Kil­leen Da­vid E. Bry­er, 1892 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Hold Thou my hand, O Fa­ther,
Hold Thou my hand, I pray,
When shadows fall about me
And hide the beaten way,
When clouds hang low and heavy,
And storms of doubt assail,
I blindly grope and falter,
My strength of none avail.

I cannot tread unguided,
The upward-leading road;
I cannot bear unaided
The bur­den of the load;
I seek to journey onward,
I think to bravely stand,
But unaware, I stumble—
O Fa­ther, hold my hand!

Hold Thou my hand securely,
When sorrows dim my sight
And hide from me the beauty
And sweetness of the light;
My heart will make no murmur,
Whate’er might come, I know,
If Thou will lead me, Fa­ther,
Wherever I may go.