Jesus, the very thought of thee

General information

Lyricist: Edward Caswall. A metrical translation of Jesu dulcis memoria.

Notes on selected settings

• Edward Bairstow SATB (v. 1 only)
• Richard Redhead SATB

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Edward Bairstow — Jesu, the very thought of thee  English SATB
• William Daman — Jesus, the very thought of thee  English SATB
• John Bacchus Dykes — Jesus, the very thought of thee  English SATB

Text and translations

English text 1  Jesus, the very thought of Thee With sweetness fills my breast; But sweeter far Thy face to see, And in Thy presence rest. 2  Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame Nor can the memory find A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name, O Saviour of mankind! 3  O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, To those who fall how kind Thou art, good to those who seek!

4  But what to those who find? Ah this Nor tongue nor pen can show; The love of Jesus, what it is None but His loved ones know. 5  Jesus, our only joy be Thou, As Thou our prize wilt be; Jesus, be Thou our glory now, And through eternity.