The Hymnal ‎#239

239. I could not do without Thee

I could not do without Thee,
O Savior of the lost,
Whose precious blood redeemed me
At such tremendous cost;
Thy righteousness, thy pardon,
Thy precious blood, must be
My only hope and comfort,
My glory and my plea.

I could not do without thee,
I cannot stand alone,
I have no strength or goodness,
No wisdom of my own;
But thou, beloved Savior,
Art all in all to me,
And weakness will be power
If leaning hard on thee.

I could not do without thee,
For O the way is long,
And I am often weary,
And sigh replaces song:
How could I do without thee?
I do not know the way;
Thou knowest, and thou leadest,
And wilt not let me stray.

I could not do without thee,
O Jesus, Savior dear;
E'en when my eyes are holden,
I know that thou art near.
How dreary and how lonely
This changeful life would be,
Without the sweet communion,
The secret rest with thee!

I could not do without thee;
No other friend can read
The spirit's strange deep longings,
Interpreting its need;
No human heart could enter
Each dim recess of mine,
And soothe, and hush, and calm it,
O blessed Lord, but thine.

I could not do without thee,
For years are fleeting fast,
And soon in solemn loneness
The river must be passed;
219
But thou wilt never leave me,
And though the waves roll high,
I know thou wilt be near me,
And whisper, "It is I."

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: I could not do without Thee
• Author: Frances R. Havergal (1873)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6 D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1916
• Topic: Sundays after Trinity: The Divine Mercy; Parochial Missions

Tune Information

• Name: MAGDALENA
• Composer: John Stainer (1868)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6 D.
• Incipit: 51765 22325 56772
• Key: E♭ Major