Scripture Verse

What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36

Introduction

portrait
Fanny Crosby (1820–1915)

Words: Fan­ny Cros­by, 1879.

Music: Abruz­zo John R. Swe­ney (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
John Sweney (1837–1899)

Origin of the Song

Fanny was talk­ing to one of her neigh­bors, who comp­lained bit­ter­ly of his po­ver­ty. If I had wealth I would be able to do just what I wish to do; and I would be able to make an ap­pear­ance in the world.

Fanny re­plied, Well, take the world, but give me Je­sus. She was here in­spired by her own words to write a hymn with that ti­tle.

Ruffin, p. 142

Lyrics

Take the world, but give me Je­sus,
All its joys are but a name;
But His love abid­eth ever,
Through eter­nal years the same.

Refrain

Oh, the height and depth of mer­cy!
Oh, the length and breadth of love!
Oh, the full­ness of re­demp­tion,
Pledge of end­less life above!

Take the world, but give me Je­sus,
Sweetest com­fort of my soul;
With my Sav­ior watch­ing o’er me,
I can sing though bil­lows roll.

Refrain

Take the world, but give me Je­sus,
Let me view His con­stant smile;
Then through­out my pil­grim jour­ney
Light will cheer me all the while.

Refrain

Take the world, but give me Je­sus.
In His cross my trust shall be,
Till, with clear­er, bright­er vi­sion,
Face to face my Lord I see.

Refrain