1 'Tis hard, from those we love, to go,
Who weep beside our bed,
Whose tears bedew our burning brow,
Whose arm supports our head:
2 When fading from the dizzy view,
I sought their forms in vain;
The bitterness of death I knew,
And groan'd to live again.
3 'Tis dreadful when th'accuser's pow'r
Assails the sinking heart,
Recalling ev'ry wasted hour,
And each unworthy part.
4 Yet, Jesus, in that mortal fray,
Thy blessed comfort stole,
Like sunshine in an autumn day,
Across my darken'd soul.
5 When soon, or late, this feeble breath
No more to thee can pray,
Support me thro' the vale of death,
And in the darksome way.
6 When cloth'd in fleshly weeds again,
I wait thy dread decree;
Judge of the world, remember then
That thou hast died for me.
Source: A Collection of Hymns and Prayers, for Public and Private Worship #431
Reginald Heber was born in 1783 into a wealthy, educated family. He was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English verse by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. After his graduation he became rector of his father's church in the village of Hodnet near Shrewsbury in the west of England where he remained for 16 years. He was appointed Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and worked tirelessly for three years until the weather and travel took its toll on his health and he died of a stroke. Most of his 57 hymns, which include "Holy, Holy, Holy," are still in use today.
-- Greg Scheer, 1995… Go to person page >
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files