Scripture Verse

I will lift up my hands in Thy name. Psalm 63:4

Introduction

Words: H. L. Ham­mond, in Sun­shine for Sun­day Schools, by Phi­lip P. Bliss (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: John Church & George F. Root and Sons, 1873).

Music: Phi­lip P. Bliss (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Ham­mond’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

portrait
Philip P. Bliss
1838–1876

As we neared the steam­er in our lit­tle boat, the storm raged fear­ful­ly. The waves ran so high we could not ap­proach di­rect­ly, but were or­dered to the lee, and ev­en then we were in im­mi­nent per­il.

The cap­tain threw him­self flat on the deck and reached down his hands for me. But I was fright­ened and weak, my fin­gers were be­numbed, and I dared not give him my hands.

He called out to me in a loud, stern voice, Up with your hands, wo­man, or I can not save you! I obey­ed, and he im­me­di­ate­ly drew me up­on the deck. So I say to thee, poor sin­ner, Up with thy hands to Je­sus, or he can not save thee.

Miss Sar­ah Smil­ey, quoted in Sun­shine for Sun­day Schools, 1873, p. 93

Lyrics

Up with thy hands to Jesus,
Oh, guilty tempest-tossed;
Up with thy hands to Jesus,
Or, sinner, thou art lost.
The waves are wildly dashing,
Thy boat is light and frail,
The lightnings sharp are flashing,
And fiercely sweeps the gale.

Refrain

Then up with thy hands to Jesus,
Oh guilty tempest-tossed,
Up with thy hands to Jesus,
Or, sinner, thou art lost.

Up with thy hands to Jesus,
He walks upon the sea;
Up with thy hands to Jesus,
He stoopeth now for thee.
Say not thy hands are feeble,
Thy fingers can not cling;
His mighty grasp shall hold thee,
And sure salvation bring.

Refrain

Up with thy hands to Jesus,
He hears thy piteous cry;
Up with thy hands to Jesus,
No other help is nigh.
Even now thy bark is sinking,
The billows o’er thee roll,
Up with thy hands to Jesus,
Oh, sinner, save thy soul.

Refrain

Up with thy hands to Jesus,
He ruleth wind and wave;
Up with thy hands to Jesus,
His love now yearns to save.
Oh, if thou wilt but trust Him,
His help He’ll quickly give;
Haste, then, no longer doubting,
Up with thy hands, and live.

Refrain