How tedious and tasteless the hours

1
How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see!
Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flow’rs,
Have all lost their sweetness to me.
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay;
But when I am happy in Him
December’s as pleasant as May.
2
His name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music His voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice.
I should, were He always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear;
No mortal so happy as I;
My summer would last all the year.
3
Content with beholding His face,
My all to His pleasure resigned;
No changes of season or place,
Would make any change in my mind.
While blessed with a sense of His love,
A palace a toy would appear;
And prisons would palaces prove,
If Jesus would dwell with me there.
4
My Lord, if indeed I am Thine,
If Thou art my sun and my song,
Say, why do I languish and pine?
And why are my winters so long?
Oh, drive these dark clouds from the sky,
Thy soul-cheering presence restore;
Or take me to Thee up on high,
Where winter and clouds are no more.
29
Edward Makokha

Kitale, Trans Nzoia, Kenya

A good resource. Please include solfa notation


Julia

Canada

content with beholding His face,

our all to His pleasure resigned.

no changes of season or place,

would make any change in our mind.


Miriam

Houstom, TX, United States

So true! Longing for His presence, although I know He is near!


Anonymous

Philippines

"How tedious and tasteless the hours when Jesus no longer I see! (... ) But when I am happy in Him December’s as pleasant as May."

It's true that whenever we do not have the Lord's presence, everything seems to be just tedious and tasteless. But as long as we have His smile, His presence, we always have a sense joy and peace inside even if we're down and walking through a valley.

"I am afraid of only one thing—that I would lose the presence of my Lord." -W. Lee

Like this brother, may we also be afraid of losing the smile, the presence, of our Lord whom we love.


Maurice Ward

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Singing this hymn really caused me to touch the Lord in my spirit. Oh how sweet it is that He disperses our gloom. We are the happiest people in the world when we truly touch the Lord! He is life!


Eric

Canada

Judy, it means that the Lord’s love is incomparable. When we sense His love, even a palace would seem to us like a toy, and a prison like a palace.


Judy

Manhattan, KS, United States

I bet one of you wise folks commenting on this song could help me out with this. I love singing this song, but am always confused by this line. What does it mean to you?

While blessed with a sense of His love,

A palace a toy would appear;


Anonymous

Have fallen into depression. These words came to me after long forgotten years. Yes Lord, I long for your Presence.


Ronald Coleman

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Wonderful words!


Diane

Quoted by Dallas Willard in

The Spirit of the Disciplines.

Wonderful hymn