Nearer, My God, To Thee | Songs and Everlasting Joy

"Nearer, My God, To Thee"

It is said that the title of this hymn was inspired by the story of a Christian martyr who was being mocked by a Roman soldier nailing the sufferer to a cross. "We will lift you a little nearer to your God," he jeered, only to receive the reply "You are raising me nearer than you think."

May the words and experience portrayed in this hymn, raise you nearer to our God as you listen.

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, daylight all gone,
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 up to 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!