Scripture Verse

I rejoice at Thy Word. Psalm 119:162

Introduction

Words: Nils Fryk­man, in Pil­grims­ton­er, 1886 (Den hög­sta lycka pä vår jord). Trans­lat­ed from Swe­dish to Eng­lish by Sig­ne L. Ben­nett & An­drew T. Fryk­man, 1928. Pub­lished in The Co­ve­nant Hym­nal (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Co­ve­nant Book Con­cern, 1931), num­ber 124.

Music: Aman­da S. Waes­ter­berg (1842–1918), ap­par­ent­ly com­posed for this text (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ben­nett or Waes­ter­berg (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Nils Frykman
1842–1911

Lyrics

The highest joy that can be known
To those who heav’nward wend—
It is the Word of Life to own,
And God to have as friend;
It is the Word of Life to own,
And God to have as friend.

The Word doth give me wealth untold,
All good it has in store;
My deepest sorrows lose their hold
To joys forevermore;
My deepest sorrows loose their hold
To joys forevermore.

How often when in deep despair
My soul has been restored,
And when the tempter would ensnare
’Twould strength to stand afford;
And when the tempter would ensnare
’Twould strength to stand afford.

It tells me of a love divine,
How Jesus’ blood was shed;
Each day this joyous song is mine
As paths of grace I tread;
Each day this joyous song is mine
As paths of grace I tread.

When stars above shall shine no more
God’s Word is still my light;
When pleasures of this world are o’er,
My joys shall reach their height;
When pleasures of this world are o’er,
My joys shall reach their height.