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.

The Hand That Lifts Me

Representative Text

1 When the mountain of sin rose above me,
And I could not scale its black heights,
Its dark shadows were falling upon me,
And gathering the blackness of night;
Then a hand took me over the mountain
To my home which was far out of sight.

2 When I sank in the horrible dungeon,
That horrible pit where I lay,
When the terrors of death were upon me,
And nothing my fears could allay;
Then a hand underneath me upbore me
To the brightness and gladness of day.

3 When I’m sinking in death’s gloomy river,
And down in the surges I lie,
Then this hand is extended to rescue,
And lift to my home in the sky;
’Tis the hand of my Savior that takes me,
And will lift me to dwell upon high.

4 Unto Him who thus graciously saves me,
From sorrow, and sadness and sin,
I will cling till in love He shall bring me,
Where never a sorrow has been;
And when He at the door will be waiting,
To lift me, a poor wanderer, in.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #8882

Author: J. Byington Smith

(no biographical information available about J. Byington Smith.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: When the mountains of sin rose above me
Title: The Hand That Lifts Me
Author: J. Byington Smith (1874)
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #8882
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #8882

Include 2 pre-1979 instances
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.