1 Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
2 Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
yet in my dreams I'd be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
3 There let the way appear, steps unto heaven;
all that thou sendest me, in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
4 Then, with my waking thoughts bright with thy praise,
out of my stony griefs Bethel I'll raise;
so by my woes to be
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
5 Or if, on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to thee;
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
Sarah F. Adams
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
Well, after a bunch of hymns that aren't very popular, this one is the exact opposite, occurring in over 2400 hymnals! Interestingly, she was Unitarian, but I don't see much Unitarian theology in this hymn, except perhaps the lack of mention of Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
Cyberhymnal, as well as a few others, adds a sixth verse:
6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,</idle musing>
There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;
Age after age to be, nearer my God to Thee.
nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
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