Scripture Verse

I will give you…authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours. Luke 4:5

Introduction

Words: Co­ra M. Tur­rell, in The Ideal Song and Hymn Book, by Da­ni­el Tow­ner (New York: Flem­ing H. Re­vell, 1909), num­ber 64.

Music: Da­ni­el B. Tow­ner (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Daniel B. Towner (1850–1919)

Lyrics

illustration
Satan Tempts Jesus at the Temple
James Tissot (1836–1902)

The Sav­ior and Satan, my bro­ther,
Each of­fer a price for thy soul;
Desiring just now to pos­sess it,
In or­der thy life to con­trol.

Refrain

Which bid, my bro­ther?
Which bid, my bro­ther?
Which bid are you go­ing to take?
The Sav­ior and Satan each of­fer,
Which bid are you go­ing to take?

One of­fers thee rich­es al­lur­ing,
Which tempt thee to gra­ti­fy pride;
The oth­er to all His co­work­ers,
Permission to toil by His side.

Refrain

One of­fers thee plea­sures en­tic­ing,
Which sa­tis­fy car­nal de­sires,
The oth­er to lead up the path­way,
E’er sought by the soul that as­pires.

Refrain

One of­fers thee earth­ly en­chant­ments,
In ev­en ex­change for thy soul;
The oth­er His life-blood hath giv­en,
With Hea­ven at last for thy goal.

Refrain