Piano Demo
0:00
Hymnal Number
189Resource Type:
Keys included:
G
About this Hymn
Scottish pastor Horatius Bonar, in a stroke of brilliant pastoral writing, highlights three promises of Christ for rest (Matt. 11:28–30), for living water (John 4:10–14), and for light (John 8:12), but he puts the quest for these things on our own lips, in our own hearts: "I heard the voice of Jesus say," so I came, I found, I drank, I live, I looked, and I will walk. May this be our experience and our testimony. The melody of this hymn, known in Northern Ireland as the "Star of County Down," is haunting and gives appropriate weight to the struggle to rest in God that all of us experience. – Keith Getty
Lyrics
Verse 1
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto me and rest; lay down, thou weary one, lay down thy head upon my breast." I came to Jesus as I was: weary, and worn, and sad; I found in him a resting place, and he has made me glad.
Verse 2
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give the living water, thirsty one; stoop down and drink, and live." I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream; my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in him.
Verse 3
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's Light; look unto me; thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright." I looked to Jesus, and I found in him my Star, my Sun; and in that light of life I'll walk till trav'ling days are done.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto me and rest; lay down, thou weary one, lay down thy head upon my breast." I came to Jesus as I was: weary, and worn, and sad; I found in him a resting place, and he has made me glad.
Verse 2
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give the living water, thirsty one; stoop down and drink, and live." I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life-giving stream; my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in him.
Verse 3
I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's Light; look unto me; thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright." I looked to Jesus, and I found in him my Star, my Sun; and in that light of life I'll walk till trav'ling days are done.
Copyrighted lyrics may be used in corporate worship in accordance with a valid CCLI license. Lyrics should be displayed unaltered and include author and copyright information. All other uses require permission from the copyright holder.
Attribution & Copyright
Words: Horatius Bonar, 1850
Music: English melody; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906
Music: English melody; harm. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906