Scripture Verse

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Introduction

portrait
Charles C. Converse (1834–1918)

Words: Jo­seph M. Scri­ven, 1855. Scri­ven wrote this hymn to com­fort his mo­ther, who was across the sea from him in Ire­land. It was orig­in­al­ly pub­lished ano­ny­mous­ly, and Scri­ven did not re­ceive full cre­dit for al­most 30 years.

Music: Er­ie Charles C. Con­verse, 1868 (🔊 pdf nwc). In World War I, the tune was paired with the words to When This Bloody War is Ov­er.

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Scri­ven,

portrait
Joseph M. Scriven
1819–1886

Lyrics

What a friend we have in Je­sus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a pri­vi­lege to carry
Everything to God in pray­er!
O what peace we oft­en for­feit,
O what need­less pain we bear,
All be­cause we do not car­ry
Everything to God in pray­er.

Have we tri­als and temp­ta­tions?
Is there trou­ble any­where?
We should ne­ver be dis­cour­aged;
Take it to the Lord in pray­er.
Can we find a friend so faith­ful
Who will all our sor­rows share?
Jesus knows our ev­ery weak­ness;
Take it to the Lord in pray­er.

Are we weak and hea­vy la­den,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Sav­ior, still our re­fuge,
Take it to the Lord in pray­er.
Do your friends des­pise, for­sake you?
Take it to the Lord in pray­er!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you;
You will find a sol­ace there.

Blessèd Sav­ior, Thou hast pro­mised
Thou wilt all our bur­dens bear
May we ev­er, Lord, be bring­ing
All to Thee in ear­nest pray­er.
Soon in glo­ry bright uncloud­ed
There will be no need for pray­er
Rapture, praise and end­less wor­ship
Will be our sweet por­tion there.