Lord, My Weak Thought in Vain Would Climb

Representative Text

1 Lord, my weak thought in vain would climb
to search the starry vault profound;
in vain would wing her flight sublime
to find creation's utmost bound.

2 But weaker yet that thought must prove
to search thy great eternal plan,
thy sov'reign counsels, born of love
long ages ere the world began.

3 When my dim reason would demand
why that, or this, thou dost ordain,
by some vast deep I seem to stand,
whose secrets I must ask in vain.

4 When doubts disturb my troubled breast,
and all is dark as night to me,
here, as on solid rock, I rest
that so it seemeth good to thee.

5 Be this my joy, that evermore
thou rulest all things at thy will;
thy sov'reign wisdom I adore,
and calmly, sweetly, trust thee still.

Source: Trinity Psalter Hymnal #225

Author: Ray Palmer

Ray Palmer (b. Little Compton, RI, 1808; d. Newark, NJ, 1887) is often considered to be one of America's best nineteenth-century hymn writers. After completing grammar school he worked in a Boston dry goods store, but a religious awakening prodded him to study for the ministry. He attended Yale College (supporting himself by teaching) and was ordained in 1835. A pastor in Congregational churches in Bath, Maine (1835-1850), and Albany, New York (1850-1865), he also served as secretary of the American Congregational Union (1865-1878). Palmer was a popular preacher and author, writing original poetry as well as translating hymns. He published several volumes of poetry and hymns, including Sabbath Hymn Book (1858), Hymns and Sacred Pieces (1865… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Lord, my weak thought in vain would climb
Title: Lord, My Weak Thought in Vain Would Climb
Author: Ray Palmer (1858)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

CANONBURY

Derived from the fourth piano piece in Robert A. Schumann's Nachtstücke, Opus 23 (1839), CANONBURY first appeared as a hymn tune in J. Ireland Tucker's Hymnal with Tunes, Old and New (1872). The tune, whose title refers to a street and square in Islington, London, England, is often matched to Haver…

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HAMBURG

Lowell Mason (PHH 96) composed HAMBURG (named after the German city) in 1824. The tune was published in the 1825 edition of Mason's Handel and Haydn Society Collection of Church Music. Mason indicated that the tune was based on a chant in the first Gregorian tone. HAMBURG is a very simple tune with…

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LOUVAN


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #3870
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 58 of 58)
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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #193

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d523

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Christian Chorals #299

Christian Hymnal #d280

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College Hymnal #159

Gloria in Excelsis #d383

Gloria in Excelsis #d233

Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home and Services for Congregational Worship. Rev. ed. #d375

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Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home. (Rev. ed.) #234

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Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church #191

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Hymni Ecclesiae #43

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Edition #322

Hymns for Him. 1st ed. #d38

Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d662

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Hymns of the Kingdom of God #229

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Hymns of the Kingdom of God #229

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Hymns of the Kingdom of God #255

Immanuel Hymnal #d261

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Laudes Domini #155

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Laudes Domini #258

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Laudes Domini #136

Lyra Sacra Americana #d112

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Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #401

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Sacred Songs for School Use #22

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Services for Congregational Worship. The New Hymn and Tune Book #238

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Songs for the Lord's House #71

Songs for the New Life #d374

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Songs of Praise #294

Songs of praise #563

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Sursum Corda #92a

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Sursum Corda #92b

The Advent Christian Hymnal #d503

The Book of Praise #d443

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The Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs #158

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The Canadian Baptist Hymn Book #116

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The Christian Hymn Book #26

The Church of God Selection of Spiritual Songs for the Church and Choir #d519

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The Church Praise Book #346

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #3870

The Gospel Hymnal #d352

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The Hymnal #109a

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The Hymnal #109

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The Manual of Praise for Sabbath and Social Worship #384

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The New Laudes Domini #276

The Oxford American Hymnal for Schools and Colleges #d190

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The Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book #241c

The Sabbath Hymn Book. Baptist ed. #d607

The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d511

The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d327

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The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book #65

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The Treasury of American Sacred Song with Notes Explanatory and Biographical #46

The Vestry Hymn and Tune Book #d273

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Trinity Hymnal #93

TextPage Scan

Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #109

Text

Trinity Psalter Hymnal #225

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University Hymns #241

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Worship in the School Room #19

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Worship Song #20

Exclude 55 pre-1979 instances
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