Scripture Verse

Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost who is in you. 1 Corinthians 6:19

Introduction

Words: Sar­ah G. Stock (1838–1898). Ap­peared in The Ab­ing­don Hym­nal, ed­it­ed by Earl En­yeart Harp­er (1895–1967) (New York: Ab­ing­don Press, 1928), num­ber 221, alt.

Music: St. Sun­ni­va Sar­ah G. Stock, based on a Nor­we­gian folk tune. Ar­ranged by Ma­ry S. Dick­ie, 1928 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Stock or Dick­ie (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

The bo­dy, Lord, is ours to keep
In glow­ing health and strength for Thee,
That thro’ its life Thy life may live,
Thy will more strong and swift and free.
My bo­dy, Lord, is Thine to keep,
Strong and swift and free.

The mind, O Lord, is ours to keep
In clean­li­ness and pur­ity,
That ev­ery thought and word and deed
May own it­self akin to Thee.
My mind, O Lord, is Thine to keep,
Clean and pure and free.

The soul, O Lord, is ours to keep
In close com­pan­ion­ship with thee,
The soul is bo­dy, mind and heart,
And these are but a uni­ty!
My soul, O Lord, is Thine to keep
Companion with Thee.