Scripture Verse

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

Introduction

Words: Fer­di­nand Q. Blan­chard, in Hymns for Schools and Col­leg­es (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ginn & Com­pa­ny, 1913).

Music: Can­on­bu­ry adapt­ed from Nacht­stück, Op­us 23, No. 4, by Ro­bert A. Schu­mann, 1839 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Ferdinand Q. Blanchard
(1876–1966)

Lyrics

illustration
Christ in the Carpenter’s Shop
Georges de La Tour (1593–1652)

O Je­sus, youth of Na­za­reth,
Preparing for the bit­ter strife,
Wilt Thou im­part to ev­ery heart
Thy per­fect pu­ri­ty of life?

O Christ whose words make dear the fields
And hill­sides green of Ga­li­lee,
Grant us to find with re­ve­rent mind
The truth Thou saidst should make us free.

O suf­fer­ing Lord on Cal­va­ry,
Whom love led on to mor­tal pain,
We know Thy cross is not a loss
If we Thy love shall tru­ly gain.

O Mas­ter of abun­dant life,
From na­tal morn to vic­to­ry’s hour,
We look to Thee, heed Thou our plea,
Teach us to share Thy age­less pow­er.