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, in Joy to the World, ed­it­ed by Tul­li­us C. O’Kane, Charles C. Mc­Cabe and John Swe­ney (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: Hitch­cock & Wal­den, 1879) num­ber 33.

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

Alternate Tune:

portrait
John R. Sweney (1837–1899)

Origin of the Song

One day some­one was talk­ing about wealth; and he said, 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.

I re­plied, Take the world, but give me Je­sus. This re­mark led me to write the hymn hav­ing that ti­tle.

Crosby, p. 178

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

O the height and depth of mer­cy,
O the length and breadth of love.
O 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