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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.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord

Assurance and Joy of Salvation A Firm Foundation

English339
1
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2
“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.”
3
“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.”
4
“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”
5
“E’en down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when grey hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.”
6
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!”

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Brian Musebule

Kampala, Uganda

Mar 6, 2020

Allan Ashurst is right. There is a second verse missing.

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Allan Ashurst

Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

Jan 29, 2020

An extra verse. It comes second in "Favourite Songs Of The Church" ISBN0 9514459 1 4. There the hymn's author is given as R. Keene.

2. In every condition - in sickness and health,
In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,
At home and abroad, on the land or the sea,
As your days may demand, so your succour shall be.
Has anyone seen this elsewhere?

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Robyn Douglas

Greenwood, South Carolina, United States

Jan 27, 2020

In response to Wayne Anderson.
Scripture References:
st. 1 = 1 Cor. 3:11
st. 2 = Isa. 41:10
st. 3-4 = Isa. 43:2
st. 5 = Rom. 8:35-39, Heb. 13:5, Deut. 31:6

I am sorry for your diagnosis, may the Lord be ever close to you and your family!

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Dave

Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

Jan 18, 2020

These words have been set to several hymm tunes. The most common one is 'Foundation'.

As another comment has apready pointed out, it has also bee set to 'Adeste Fideles', the same tune as "O Come All Ye Faithful". More recently, a musician called Richard Simpkin composed a new tune, which is how I first heard "How Firm a Foundation".

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Wayne A Anderson

Oregonia, OH, United States

Jan 15, 2020

I was recently diagnosed with ALS and one of my favorite verses has become Isaiah 43:1-2 which is represented in the third and fourth stances. Does anyone know what versus the other stanzas reflect?

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Sheree Hughes

Syracuse, New York, United States

Jan 4, 2020

He’ll never, no, never, no never forsake! I know this to be true :)

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Julie Macfadden

Wrightsville, PA, United States

Jan 2, 2020

I love this faith building hymn!

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Jim

Decatur, Illinois, United States

Dec 2, 2019

This song resonates with me so much this morning.

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Emily Bamford

Kilsyth, United Kingdom

Nov 28, 2019

Beautiful words. Even more special when you have experienced them. Iam thy God and will still give you aid. Thank you Father for the reality of your promises

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Charlotte

Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada

Aug 25, 2019

Singing it to "O come all ye faithful" tune tonight, excited for something new!

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