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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.

Thou, Lord, to God art precious

Praise of the Lord His Sweetness

English169
1
Thou, Lord, to God art precious,
His chosen, His delight;
With oil of joy, anointed,
How comely in His sight.
 
We treasure with affection
Thy perfect comeliness,
Thy sweetness and Thy fragrance,
And all Thy loveliness.
2
The altogether lovely,
The fairest of the fair,
Thy mouth with grace o’erfloweth;
Our hearts their love declare.
3
The wise men offered treasures
And honored Thee at birth;
Thou wast by noble buried,
Still lovable in death.
4
Thy head has been anointed,
The lovely One Thou art;
Thy feet anointed also,
Beloved in every part.
5
Thy death as myrrh in sweetness
Man’s spirit comforteth;
Thy resurrection fragrance
God’s longing answereth.
6
As henna flow’rs, Thy beauty
In loveliness complete;
As apple trees that flourish,
Thy fruit abundant, sweet.
7
Sweet wine Thy love surpasseth,
Thy name an ointment is;
We take Thee as our love feast
And taste the sweetest bliss.
8
As on Thyself we ponder
And all Thy beauty trace,
We taste to full Thy sweetness
And rest in Thine embrace.

Copyright Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.

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Tres Hermanos

Fairdih, Ohio, United States

Mar 22, 2026

Amen

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Nicole Ho

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Jun 29, 2025

Lord, You are ever so sweet to us!

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Rebekah Mohamed

United Kingdom

Sep 17, 2024

Oh Lord, I love you. You are marvellous and all your love is so sweet for us. Your life is precious and you give us life by your death and resurrection

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Christopher Burk

Seattle, Washington, United States

Nov 5, 2022

Thy head has been anointed, The lovely One Thou art; Thy feet anointed also, Beloved in every part.

Amen!

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Chidiebere Ezeka

Lagos, Nigeria

Dec 11, 2019

Oh Lord, you're precious, and I love for coming for me.

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Sister Sue

China

Oct 20, 2019

Oh Lord, I love you! I treasure your life giving spirit. Thank you for your coming to love me!

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Zoe

Rohnert Park, CA, United States

Aug 30, 2018

"The more we tell the Lord that we love Him, the more He will show us how lovely He is until we realize that He is altogether lovely."

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Viciyu

China

Jun 30, 2016

God is precious, nothing can compete with Him, He is our best love. I love You more and more each day. Lord, thank You for Your everlasting love.

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