Sunday's Hymn: Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Jesus, the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far thy face to see,
And in thy presence rest.


Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the mem'ry find,
A sweeter sound than thy blest Name,
O Saviour of mankind.


O Hope of ev'ry contrite heart,
O Joy of all the meek,

To those who fall, how kind though art!

How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this

Nor tongue nor pen can show:

The love of Jesus, what it is

None but his loved ones know.

Jesus, our only Joy be thou,

As thou our Prize wilt be;

Jesus, be thou our Glory now,

And through eternity.

Anon., Latin, 11th century

Tr. by Edward Caswall, 1849

Tune: St. Agnes, John B. Dykes, 1866