The Cyber Hymnal ‎#5657

5657. Precious Bible! What a Treasure

1. Precious Bible! what a treasure
Does the Word of God afford?
All I want for life or pleasure,
Food and med’cine, shield and sword:
Let the world account me poor,
Having this I need no more.

2. Food to which the world’s a stranger,
Here my hungry soul enjoys;
Of excess there is no danger,
Though it fills, it never cloys:
On a dying Christ I feed,
He is meat and drink indeed.

3. When my faith is faint and sickly,
Or when Satan wounds my mind,
Cordials, to revive me quickly,
Healing med’cines here I find:
To the promises I flee,
Each affords a remedy.

4. In the hour of dark temptation
Satan cannot make me yield;
For the Word of consolation
Is to me a mighty shield
While the scripture truths are sure,
From his malice I’m secure.

5. Vain his threats to overcome me,
When I take the Spirits’ sword;
Then with ease I drive him from me.
Satan trembles at the word:
’Tis a sword for conquest made,
Keen the edge, and strong the blade.

6. Shall I envy then the miser
Doting on his golden store?
Sure I am, or should be, wiser,
I am rich, ’tis he is poor:
Jesus gives me in his word,
Food and med’cine, shield and sword.

Text Information

• First Line: Precious Bible! what a treasure
• Title: Precious Bible! What a Treasure
• Author: John Newton (1779)
• Meter: 87.87.77
• Language: English
• Source: Olney Hymns (London: W. Oliver, 1779)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Al­ter­nate tune: IRBY, Hen­ry J. Gaunt­lett, 1849

Tune Information

• Name: ALL SAINTS OLD
• Meter: 87.87.77
• Incipit: 15663 15671 76651
• Key: C Major
• Copyright: Public Domain