Scripture Verse

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

Introduction

Words: Paul H. Sweet­ser, in The Sab­bath School Lute, ed­it­ed by Ed­ward L. White & John E. Gould (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ol­iv­er Dit­son, 1848), num­ber 30.

Music: Ho­ly Hill Will­iam H. Pon­ti­us (1857–1937) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Sweet­ser or Pon­ti­us (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

O, blest in spir­it are the poor;
The heav’n­ly king­dom they pos­sess;
And they that mourn shall mourn no more,
The mourn­ers, God will sure­ly bless.

The meek in heart the Lord will bless,
And they shall dwell in all the land;
And those who thirst for right­eous­ness,
They shall be filled from God’s own hand.

O, bless­èd are the mer­ci­ful,
For mer­cy they shall sure ob­tain;
And bless­èd are the pure in soul,
For they God’s fa­vor shall re­claim.

O blest are they who strive for peace,
For they shall be the Lord’s de­light;
The heav’n­ly king­dom shall in­crease,
In those who suf­fer for the right.

O blest are they whom men re­vile,
And per­se­cute for Je­sus’ sake—
They shall re­joice in God’s own smile,
And rich re­wards from Hea­ven take.