Scripture Verse

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Introduction

portrait
Julian K. Smyth
(1856–1921)

Words: From the Swed­ish; au­thor & trans­lat­or un­known.

Music: Smyth Ju­li­an K. Smyth (1856–1921) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know when the mu­sic was writ­ten, the au­thor or trans­lat­or, or where to get good pic­tures of them (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Jesus is my best of friends,
None like Him ’mongst mor­tals born;
And shall I whom He de­fends,
Join the world, His good­ness scorn?
Naught shall raise a part­ing line
To hold me from His ten­der­est love;
One shall be His will and mine
Lifelong here, for aye above.

Once He suf­fered death for me;
In that death He con­quered sin,
Him re­deem­ing still I see;
Wondrous strength from Him I win.
Who could sul­len, sit com­plain­ing,
Knowing Christ has sealed his bliss?
Who, the ran­som gift dis­dain­ing,
E’er could fly such love as His?

In that well proved love I bide;
Naught from Him this heart shall se­ver.
Angel glo­ry, mor­tal pride,
Wealth or want shall part us ne­ver.
Depth be­low nor heights above,
E’er shall hold my soul en­ticed,
Luring from a Fa­ther’s love
Mine hence­forth in Je­sus Christ.