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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Durham, NC, United States
Lord make everything apart from you tedious and tasteless. May you be the reality of everything that brings forth sweetness and riches. That I would continuously behold you with an unveiled face. Thy soul-cheering presence restore or take me to Thee up on high!
Kitale, Trans Nzoia, Kenya
A good resource. Please include solfa notation
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.
Houstom, TX, United States
So true! Longing for His presence, although I know He is near!
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.
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!
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.
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;
Have fallen into depression. These words came to me after long forgotten years. Yes Lord, I long for your Presence.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Wonderful words!