Scripture Verse

One thing is needful. Luke 10:42

Introduction

Words: Jo­hann H. Schrö­der, 1697, cen­to (Eins ist noth, ach Herr dies eine). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Fran­ces E. Cox, 1841, alt.

Music: Eins ist Not Fried­rich Lay­riz, 1849 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

One thing’s needful; Lord this treasure
Teach me highly to regard;
All else, though it first give pleasure,
Is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
The gain of this one thing all loss can requite
And teach me in all things to find true delight.

Wilt thou find this one thing needful,
Turn from all created things
Unto Je­sus and be heedful
Of the blessèd joy He brings.
For where God and man both in one are united,
With God’s perfect fullness the heart is delighted;
There, there is the worthiest lot and the best,
My one and my all and my joy and my rest.

How were Mary’s thoughts devoted,
Her eter­nal joy to find
As intent each word she noted,
At her Sav­ior’s feet reclined!
How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling,
While hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing!
For Je­sus all earthly concerns she forgot,
And all was repaid in that one happy lot.

Thus my longings, heav’nward tending,
Jesus, rest alone on Thee.
Help me, thus on Thee depending;
Savior, come and dwell in me.
Although all the world
Should forsake and forget Thee,
In love I will follow Thee, ne’er will I quit Thee.
Lord Je­sus, both spirit and life is Thy Word;
And is there a joy which Thou dost not afford?

Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure,
Jesus, lies concealed in Thee;
Grant that this may still the measure
Of my will and actions be,
Humility there and simplicity reigning,
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
Oh, if I of Christ have this knowledge divine,
The fullness of heavenly wisdom is mine.

Naught have I, O Christ, to offer
Naught but Thee, my highest Good.
Naught have I, O Lord, to proffer
But Thy crimson-colored blood.
Thy death on the cross hath death wholly defeated
And thereby my right­eous­ness fully completed;
Salvation’s white raiments I there did obtain,
And in them in glo­ry with Thee I shall reign.

Therefore Thou alone, my Sav­ior,
Shalt be All in all to me;
Search my heart and my behavior,
Root out all hypocrisy.
Restrain me from wandering on pathways unholy
And through all life’s pilgrimage
Keep my heart lowly.
This one thing is needful, all others are vain;
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.