Verse 1
Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee; E'en though it be a cross That raiseth me; Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee!
Verse 2
Though like the wanderer, The sun gone down, Darkness be over me, My rest a stone; Yet in my dreams I'd be, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee!
Verse 3
There let the way appear Steps unto heaven; All that thou sendest me, In mercy given; Angels to beckon me, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee!
Verse 4
Then, with my waking thoughts Bright with thy praise, Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise; So by my woes to be Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee!
Verse 5
Or if on joyful wing Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upwards I fly, Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer, my God, to thee, Nearer to thee!
Public Domain Information
- Text
- Public Domain
- Tune
- Not verified (melody not provided)
- Verified
- October 3, 2026
- Verification sources
- The Army and Navy Hymnal (Public Domain Archive)
Public Domain status verified for the listed text/source.
Rights & Sources
- Text Rights
- Public Domain The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920), hymn no. 87, scan page 108 (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:The_Army_and_Navy_Hymnal.djvu/108). Credit as printed: Sarah F. Adams, 1841. Text author: Sarah Fuller Flower Adams (1805–1848; dates from Wikidata Q269879, linked from the Wikisource author page). Published in the United States before 1931 and the author died more than 70 years ago (1848): public domain.
- Tune Rights
- Not verified — not provided
- Translation Rights
- Not applicable (original-language text)
- Arrangement Rights
- No BibleSlide arrangement provided
- Recording Rights
- No recording provided
- Score / sheet music Rights
- No sheet music provided