Saturday, September 14, 2024

Jesus, Priceless Treasure

220 Jesus, Priceless Treasure

1 Jesus, priceless treasure,
   source of purest pleasure,
   friend most sure and true:
   long my heart was burning,
   fainting much and yearning,
   thirsting, Lord, for you.
   Yours I am, O spotless Lamb,
   so will I let nothing hide you,
   seek no joy beside you!

2 Let your arms enfold me:
   those who try to wound me
   cannot reach me here.
   Though the earth be shaking,
   every heart be quaking,
   Jesus calms my fear.
   Fires may flash and thunder crash;
   yea, though sin and hell assail me,
   Jesus will not fail me.

3 Hence, all worldly treasure!
   Jesus is my pleasure,
   Jesus is my choice.
   Hence, all empty glory!
   What to me your story
   told with tempting voice?
   Pain or loss or shame or cross
   shall not from my Savior move me,
   since he chose to love me.
                         Johann Franck
                         Trans. by Catherine Winkworth
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Hymnary.org adds a few verses:

2. Banish thoughts of sadness,
   for the Lord of gladness,
   Jesus, enters in;
   though the clouds may gather,
   those who love the Savior
   still have peace within.
   Though I bear much sorrow here,
   still in you lies purest pleasure,
   Jesus, priceless treasure!

3. Satan, I defy thee;
   Death, I now decry thee;
   Fear, I bid thee cease.
   World, thou shalt not harm me
   Nor thy threats alarm me
   While I sing of peace.
   God’s great pow’r guards every hour;
   Earth and all its depths adore Him,
   Silent bow before Him.

4. Evil world, I leave thee;
   Thou shalt not deceive me,
   Thy appeal is vain.
   Sin that once did bind me,
   Get thee far behind me,
   Come not forth again.
   Past thy hour, O pride and pow’r;
   Sinful life, thy bonds I sever,
   Leave thee now forever.

5. Hence, all earthly treasure!
   Jesus is my pleasure;
   Jesus is my choice.
   Hence, all empty glory!
   What to me thy story
   Told with tempting voice?
   Pain or loss or shame or cross
   Shall not from my Savior move me,
   Since He chose to love me.

</idle musing>

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