Scripture Verse

Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. Mark 10:47

Introduction

portrait
John Newton (1725–1807)

Words: John New­ton, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779), Book 1, num­ber 95, alt.

Music: Bar­ran­quil­la George E. Ol­iv­er, in Ca­rols Old and Ca­rols New, by Charles L. Hut­chins (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Par­ish Choir, 1916), num­ber 263 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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George E. Oliver
1855–1941

Lyrics

Mercy, O Thou Son of Da­vid!
Thus blind Bartimeus prayed;
Others by Thy word are sav­èd,
Now to me afford Thine aid
;
Many for his cries re­buked him,
But he called the louder still;
Till the gracious Sav­ior bid him,
Come, and ask Me what you will.

Money was not what he wanted,
Though by begging used to live;
But he asked, and Je­sus granted
Alms, which none but He could give:
Lord, remove this grievous blind­ness,
Let my eyes behold the day
;
Strait he saw, and won by kind­ness,
Followed Je­sus in the way.

O! methinks I hear him prais­ing,
Publishing to all around,
Friends, is not my case am­az­ing?
What a Sav­ior I have found:
O! that all the blind but knew Him,
And would be advised by me!
Surely, would they hasten to Him,
He would cause them all to see.