Scripture Verse

I will guide thee with Mine eye. Psalm 32:8

Introduction

Words: Na­than­iel Niles, in Sun­shine for Sun­day Schools (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: John Church & George F. Root and Sons, 1873), page 85.

Music: Phi­lip P. Bliss (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876)

Origin of the Hymn

This well-known hymn was writ­ten by Mr. Na­tha­ni­el Niles, a re­si­dent of Mor­ris­town, N. J., and at that time a law­yer in New York Ci­ty…The vers­es were com­posed on the mar­gin of a news­pa­per in the rail­way car one morn­ing while on his way to bu­si­ness.

The tune was writ­ten by P. P. Bliss, and pub­lished in his Gos­pel Songs in 1874, and lat­er fur­nished by him for Gos­pel Hymns.

I soon af­ter­ward pub­lished it in Sac­red Songs and So­los, in Eng­land, where it be­came one of the most use­ful hymns in con­nec­tion with our meet­ings.

Mr. Moo­dy oft­en re­quest­ed it to be sung in con­nec­tion with his lec­tures on The Pre­cious Prom­is­es.

Sankey, p. 335

Lyrics

Precious pro­mise God has giv­en
To the wea­ry pass­e­rby,
On the way from earth to Hea­ven,
I will guide thee with Mine eye.

Refrain

I will guide thee, I will guide thee,
I will guide thee with Mine eye
On the way from earth to Hea­ven,
I will guide thee with Mine eye.

When temp­ta­tions al­most win thee
And thy trust­ed watch­ers fly,
Let this pro­mise ring with­in thee,
I will guide thee with Mine eye.

Refrain

When thy sec­ret hopes have per­ished
In the grave of years gone by,
Let this pro­mise still be cher­ished,
I will guide thee with Mine eye.

Refrain

When the shades of life are fall­ing
And the hour has come to die,
Hear thy trus­ty pi­lot call­ing,
I will guide thee with Mine eye.

Refrain