You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

355a. When human voices cannot sing

1 When human voices cannot sing
and human hearts are breaking,
we bring our grief to you, O God,
who knows our inner aching.

2 Set free our spirits from all fear —
the cloud of dark unknowing,
and let the light, the Christ-light show
the pathway of our going.

3 Make real for us your holding love,
the love which is your meaning,
the power to move the stone of death,
the hope of Easter morning.

4 And let the one we love now go
where we, in faith, shall follow,
to travel in the Spirit's peace,
to make an end to sorrow.

Text Information
First Line: When human voices cannot sing
Author: Shirley Erena Murray (b. 1931)
Meter: 87 87
Language: English
Publication Date: 2013
Scripture: ; ;
Topic: Church Year: Easter; Death and Bereavement; Funerals and The Departed (5 more...)
Copyright: © 1992, Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188, USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Tune Information
Name: BARBARA ALLEN
Arranger: Noël Tredinnick (b. 1949)
Meter: 87 87
Key: D Major
Source: English Folk Melody
Copyright: Arrangement: © Noël Tredinnick / The Jubilate Group. Administered by The Jubilate Group, Kitley House, St Katherines Road, Torquay TQ1 4DE Used by permission.



Media
More media are available on the tune authority page.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.