Scripture Verse

I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 30:17

Introduction

portrait
Samuel Longfellow (1819–1892)

Words: Sam­uel Long­fel­low, cir­ca 1886.

Music: Hes­per­us Hen­ry Bak­er, 1854. First pub­lished in A Hym­nal for Use in the Eng­lish Church, by John Grey, 1866 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Thou, Lord of life, our saving health,
Who mak’st Thy suffering ones our care;
Our gifts are still our truest wealth,
To serve Thee our sincerest prayer.

As on the river’s rising tide
Flow strength and coolness from the sea,
So through the ways our hands provide,
May quickening life flow in from Thee;

To heal the wound, to still the pain,
And strength to failing pulses bring,
Till the lame feet shall leap again,
And the parched lips with gladness sing.

Bless Thou the gifts our hands have brought!
Bless Thou the work our hearts have planned,
Ours is the faith, the will, the thought;
The rest, O God, is in Thy hand.