Scripture Verse

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:10

Introduction

Words: Flo­ra Kirk­land, 1901.

Music: Tbil­i­si George C. Steb­bins, 1901 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
George C. Stebbins (1846–1945)

Lyrics

There is rap­ture tonight in yon ci­ty so fair,
Where the ri­ver of life flow­eth free;
And a touch of the joy that is ring­ing up there,
Falleth soft­ly on you and on me.

Refrain

There is joy in the pre­sence of angels to­night,
There is rap­ture to mor­tals untold;
For the Fa­ther and Shep­herd in Hea­ven rejoice
Over one who returns to the fold.

We can fan­cy we hear the sweet an­them of joy
That the an­gels are sing­ing to­night;
For we know that the low­lands of earth have a place
In the thoughts of the dwell­ers in light.

Refrain

They must watch us with pi­ty­ing love in their eyes,
As in sin and in sor­row we stray;
For we know there is rap­tur­ous joy in the skies,
When a lost one re­turns to the Way.

Refrain

For the Mas­ter hath lift­ed the veil from our eyes,
And our faith-strength­ened vi­sion dis­cerns
How the hea­ven­ly ci­ty is thrill­ing with joy,
Over one who re­pents and re­turns.

Refrain