Scripture Verse

We…joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:11

Introduction

Words: Will Bes­sey, in The Re­vi­valist, by Jo­seph Hill­man (New York: Jo­seph Hill­man, 1868).

Music: Da­ni­el B. Tow­ner, The Gos­pel Hymn Book (Day­ton, Ohio: Lo­renz Pub­lish­ing, 1903), num­ber 63 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Daniel B. Towner (1850–1919)

Lyrics

Now I know what makes me hap­py,
As I know what made me sad;
Christ has all my sins for­giv­en,
And His Spi­rit makes me glad!
Happy, al­ways hap­py,
Joy in health and joy in pain!
Live your dai­ly life with Je­sus,
And your joy will e’er re­main.

Now I know what makes me hap­py;
Not my com­fort or my ease,
For I simp­ly walk with Je­sus,
Choose my bless­èd Lord to please.
Happy, al­ways hap­py,
Joy in loss­es, joy in gain!
Joy in God’s most pre­cious pro­mise,
And your joy will e’er re­main.

Now I know what makes me hap­py,
For He fills me with de­light
By His ut­ter­most sal­va­tion,
And His strength to do the right.
Happy, al­ways hap­py,
Joy in dark­ness just the same,
As you walk out on His pro­mise,
Blessèd joy will e’er re­main.

Now I know what makes me hap­py;
His own pre­sence in my breast,
As with joy I do His bid­ding,
And with Je­sus leave the rest.
Happy, al­ways hap­py,
Earthly loss is heav’n­ly gain;
Joy in His de­light­ful la­bor,
Joy in His eter­nal reign.