414: JESUS, the very thought of Thee

414: JESUS, the very thought of Thee

by Bernard of Clairvaux
Based on Bernard of Clairvaux, tr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

1 JESUS, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see,
And in Thy presence rest.

2 No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the mind conceive,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' name
To sinners who believe.

3 O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall how kind Thou art!
How 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;
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.