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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus

Experience of Christ Loving Him

English1158
1
Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
Thou hast won each love from me;
Who like Thee—so fair and comely?
Who like Thee—so sweet and lovely?
Matchless One, unrivaled beauty,
None can e’er compete with Thee!
2
Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
Gladly will I hear Thy call;
Since Thy voice my heart hath entered,
I from all things could but sever;
Void are all my other seekings,
Every pride hath disappeared.
3
Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
How can I still stubborn be?
At Thy feet cast all my hard’nings,
And return with songs and singings;
’Tis my love to be Thy bondslave,
’Tis my joy to Thee obey.
4
Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
Thy way only will I choose;
Though in tears while I’m obeying,
Yet I would not change my standing;
All I long for is Thy pleasure,
And the peace Thy love would bring.
5
Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
When Thy presence does depart,
Seems the dawn has lost its traces,
Hidden are my smiling faces;
All I yearn for is Thy coming
And Thy presence’ sweet embrace.
6
Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
Can I tell it all to Thee?
Thou my love and satisfaction,
Thou my everlasting portion;
Thou art all that I desire,
Nothing else I would pursue.
7
Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
All I have I give to Thee;
Who like Thee—so fair and comely?
Who like Thee—so sweet and lovely?
Matchless One, unrivaled beauty,
None can e’er compete with Thee!

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Pam C

San Diego, CA, United States

Feb 21, 2026

I just revisited this wonderful hymn after listening to a winter training message. Oh, how delightful to sing/speak such a hymn to the Lord. He is so fair and comely; so sweet and lovely. Our everlasting portion. Thanking Him for the encouragement to develop and foster an affectionate relationship with Him, loving Him with the first love and giving Him the first place in all things.

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Cc

Baltic Nordic Conference, Riga, United Kingdom

Jan 31, 2026

Precious Jesus

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Tom

Richmond, VA, United States

Jul 6, 2025

It is interesting that my feeling for this song has evolved since looking at my comment in 2017. I still enjoy singing it. But I have to say it has a bittersweetness that I had not appreciated before, almost like « yes I love You Lord, but you will require difficult things from me », or « I love you so much, let me make the effort to put away the other things in my life », rather than the joyfulness of « wow I can’t believe how great you are, the joy just never quits, everything else faded!!! » that you find in a hymn like « blessed assurance » or « how sweet the name of Jesus sounds » by John newton. I believe the Lord appreciates it, as the Holy Spirit brought it to my heart this am, focusing on the intimacy with Jesus it implies, rather than any call to « tears while I’m obeying ». For this contradicts Jesus: « my yoke is easy, my burden is light » and Paul « he works the willing AND THE WORKING in us » in Philippians. If the call is not easy, I am usually putting something on myself the Lord has not asked.

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Nene O

Markham, ON, Canada

Jan 14, 2025

Lord, may each of these stanzas be my reality. You are my joy and satisfaction, nothing else compares with thee.

“ All I yearn for is Thy coming
And Thy presence’ sweet embrace”
Come Lord Jesus!

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Ann W Rasmussen

Zimmerman, Minnesota, United States

Nov 15, 2024

I am praying that my actions will always make you feel better when we can bring your blessings to Family and Friends. God/Jesus Christ Goodness’s, love 💗 encouragement blessings and prayer 🙏🤲.

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Anonymous

Jul 23, 2023

None can compete with thee!!! Hallelujah

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Sharon Wimer

Rancho Cordova, California, United States

Jul 20, 2022

Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
Can I tell it all to Thee?
Thou my love and satisfaction,
Thou my everlasting portion;
Thou art all that I desire,
Nothing else I would pursue.

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Evelyna Enriquez

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Oct 24, 2021

Dear Lord Jesus none compare to thee. All I have I give to thee, my unrivaled beautiful one!!! Lord Jesus take us all on in thee!

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Lily

St. Davids, Ontario, Canada

Feb 13, 2021

Your voice has enter my heart.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for Your presence’ sweet embrace!
Who like Thee?!!
So sweet! And so lovely!
Matchless One!
Unrivalled beauty!
None can e’er compete with Thee!!
Dear - Lord Jesus
Precious - Jesus
O Lord Jesus we love You!

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Alexzandrea

Houston, TX, United States

Aug 3, 2020

who like Thee—so sweet and lovely?
Matchless One, unrivaled beauty,
none can e’er compete with Thee!

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