Skip to content
hymnal.net
hymnal.net
My Songs

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.

What a Friend we have in Jesus

Prayer Telling the Lord

English789
1
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

Delete Comment

Delete this comment? This cannot be undone.
Modupe

Baltimore, Maryland, Nigeria

Oct 5, 2022

Lord thank you for being our friend. We know You can never disappoint us. Let us continue to keep our gaze on You. We look up to you in our difficult situation, and you will not abandon us. Thank you Jesus.

Read more
C Desclox

Battle Ground, Washington, United States

Oct 5, 2022

I've been deaf since 1975, at age 19. I can still hear in this sung, with instrumentation, my mind.

Mustve listened to it 'on the ray-dee-oh' in study hall ..... one of my favorites

Read more
Fortune

Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria

Sep 29, 2022

Christ is indeed a friend

Read more
Laweibakordor

Shillong, Meghalaya, India

Sep 26, 2022

Love this song so much Praise You Lord Jesus💕

Read more
Makplang

Jos, Plateau, Nigeria

Sep 24, 2022

Great

Read more
Gabby

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Sep 23, 2022

Praise God

Read more
Atabuga Michael

Kampala, Adjumani, Uganda

Sep 21, 2022

The word for the Lord to be praised

Thanks to God

Read more
Bismarck

Ghana

Sep 10, 2022

Really in love with all the stanzas

Read more
Dabo

Plateau, Jos, Nigeria

Aug 29, 2022

it really inspired me I love this more

Read more
Steve Miller

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Aug 24, 2022

There is a 4th stanza, usually omitted:

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer
Soon in glory bright, unclouded
There will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there
----

The reason this 4th stanza is usually omitted is because line 6 says that in the next age there will be no need for prayer. That is not accurate. We will be working for and with the Lord in the next age, and we will need to pray for guidance, and to fellowship with the Lord. Scriven's thought is that we need to experience the prayer of bringing our problems to the Lord now because in the next age we will not have that kind of prayer anymore. That is precious. I would change line 6 of stanza 4 to "There will be no suff'ring prayer."

Read more