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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.

Oh! the joy

Experience of Christ His Overflowing Satisfaction

New Songs27
1
Oh! the joy of having nothing,
Being nothing, seeing nothing
But a living Christ in glory
And being careful for nothing.
Oh! the joy of having nothing,
Being nothing, seeing nothing
But a living Christ in glory
And His interest here on earth!

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Chris Condon

Fargo, ND, United States

Apr 23, 2025

1 Corinthians. 1:28. "we are not". This means we are nothing. What a joy. What a glory to the Chooser. We are learning to see nothing but our living Christ..

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Grace May Talig

Alabel, Sarangani, Alabel, Philippines

Oct 31, 2024

O the Joy!

What a joy!

Having nothing, seeing nothing and being nothing yet joyful? Aren't that crazy? To others it is. But to us, O the Joy! Seeing Christ in glory. Caring Christ' interest here on earth. A privilege beyond compare.

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Kathryn Mathison

Midland, Texas, United States

Oct 16, 2024

The first time I heard this beautiful song was when a group of young saints from Korea visited our locality and sang it to us. This was about 30 years ago. Dear saints, believers from all the nations, we must experience the unsearchable riches of Christ until this is our full reality. The enjoyment of this One is worth everything for the building up of His Body and His coming for His bride!

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Michael A Such

Gainesville, Florida, United States

Mar 17, 2019

Beautiful words and melody.

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Rudolf

Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

Jun 23, 2017

Oh! the joy of having nothing,
Being nothing, seeing nothing
But a living Christ in glory
And being careful for nothing.

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Huilin

China

Dec 21, 2016

Praise the Lord for the joy of having nothing!

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Jie

Coburg, Victoria, Australia

Aug 26, 2012

Amen, praise the Lord! How great that we could be nothing, see nothing but the living Christ in glory, and be careful for nothing. Lord, please live in us more, change us day by day. Make us as Your "器皿". Amen!

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Loyda

Mexicali, BC, Mexico

Mar 31, 2012

Oh the joy es Christ!!! What Salvation we have in only Him!!! He is the way, the reality and the life!!!

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Steven Tan

Bayan Lepas, Penang, Malaysia

Jan 18, 2011

All the trainings in the recovery are not for us to gain something but to make us NOTHING. When we have nothing, be nothing and see nothing we can enjoy the Christ in glory. Praise the Lord that Christ is everything, He is all-inclusive and all-extensive!

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Lemuel Ian B. Cua

Zamboanga City, Philippines

Mar 9, 2010

I heard the tune of this song since I was 5 years old, but praise the Lord I am able to hear it again. A normal Christian does not care for anything in this world, but cares for God's interest, God's motive, and God's plan: God's economy....(^_^)....

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