If I Gained the World

If I gained the world, but lost the Savior

Author: Anna Ölander (1904)
Tune: [If I gained the world, but lost the Savior] (Swedish)
Published in 24 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour,
Were my life worth living for a day?
Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort
In the things that soon must pass away?
If I gained the world, but had no Saviour,
Would my gain be worth the lifelong strife?
Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing
For a moment with a Christ-filled life?

2 Had I wealth and love in fullest measure,
And a name revered both far and near,
Yet no hope beyond, no harbor waiting,
Where my storm-tossed vessel I could steer;
If I gained the world, but had no Saviour,
Who endured the cross and died for me,
Could then all the world afford a refuge,
Whither, in my anguish, I might flee?

3 O what emptiness!— without the Savior
’Mid the sins and sorrows here below!
And eternity, how dark without Him!
Only night and tears and endless woe!
What, tho' I might live without the Saviour,
When I come to die, how would it be?
O to face the valley’s gloom without Him!
And without Him all eternity!

4 O the joy of having all in Jesus!
What a balm the broken heart to heal!
Ne’er a sin so great, but He’ll forgive it,
Nor a sorrow that He does not feel!
If I have but Jesus, only Jesus,
Nothing else in all the world beside—
O then ev'rything is mine in Jesus;
For my needs and more He will provide.

Source: His Fullness Songs #293

Author: Anna Ölander

Ölander, Anna. (Linköping, Sweden, December 15, 1861--October 23, 1939, Linköping). Swedish Covenant. Daughter of teacher and pastor. Began to write poetry and stories at an early age. First collection, I skymningsstunden (1896) (In the Twilight Hour). Followed by three more volumes, 1906-1920. Wrote a number of original texts and translated several hymns for the first hymnal of the Swedish YMCA. In the tradition of revival, renewal, and consecration. --J. Irving Erickson, DNAH Archives Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: If I gained the world, but lost the Savior
Title: If I Gained the World
Swedish Title: Om jag ägde allt, men icke Jesus
Author: Anna Ölander (1904)
Source: Translation Composite
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #2777
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #2777

Praise! Our Songs and Hymns #285

Page Scan

Soul-stirring Songs and Hymns (Rev. ed.) #251

Ambassador Hymnal #556

Include 20 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us