One Thing's Needful

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One thing's needful; Lord, this treasure

Translator: Frances Elizabeth Cox; Author: Johann Heinrich Schröder
Tune: EINS IST NOT (Layritz)
Published in 6 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 One thing’s needful; Lord, this treasure
teach me highly to regard.
All else, though it first give pleasure,
is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
no true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
This one thing is needful; all others are vain—
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain.

2 How were Mary’s thoughts devoted
her eternal joy to find
as intent each word she noted
at her Savior’s feet reclined!
How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling
while hearing the lessons that Christ was revealing!
All earthly concerns she forgot for her Lord
and found her contentment in hearing his Word.

3 Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure,
Jesus, is revealed in you.
Let me find in you my pleasure;
make my will and actions true,
humility there and simplicity reigning,
in paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
the blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #645

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Translator: Frances Elizabeth Cox

Cox, Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. George V. Cox, born at Oxford, is well known as a successful translator of hymns from the German. Her translations were published as Sacred Hymns from the German, London, Pickering. The 1st edition, pub. 1841, contained 49 translations printed with the original text, together with biographical notes on the German authors. In the 2nd edition, 1864, Hymns from the German, London, Rivingtons, the translations were increased to 56, those of 1841 being revised, and with additional notes. The 56 translations were composed of 27 from the 1st ed. (22 being omitted) and 29 which were new. The best known of her translations are "Jesus lives! no longer [thy terrors] now" ; and ”Who are these like stars appeari… Go to person page >

Author: Johann Heinrich Schröder

Schröder, Johann Heinrich, was born Oct. 4,1667, at Springe (Hallerspringe) near Hannover. He studied at the University of Leipzig, where he experienced the awakening effects of A. H. Francke's lectures. In 1696 he was appointed pastor at Meseberg, near Neuhaldensleben; and in the registers there records of himself (writing in the third person), " 1696, on the 17th Sunday after Trinity, viz. on Oct. 4, on which day he was born, with the beginning of his 30th year, he entered on the pastorate of this parish." He died at Meseberg, June 30, 1699 (Koch, iv., 381; Blatter für Hymnologie, 1883, p. 192, &c). Schröder is best known by the four hymns which he contributed to the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1697; and which are repeated in the… Go to person page >

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First Line:	One thing's needful; Lord, this treasure
Title:	One Thing's Needful
German Title:	Eins ist not; ach Herr, dies Eine
Translator:	Frances Elizabeth Cox
Author:	Johann Heinrich Schröder
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	8.7.8.7.12.12.11.11
Copyright:	Public Domain