I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

Voicing: SATB
Accompaniment: Piano or organ and optional cello and flute
Text: Original lyrics by Horatio Bonar (b.1808)
Additional lyrics by Kyle Pederson

Text:

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Come unto me and rest;
In me your soul will find its peace, in me you draw each breath.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary and so worn;
I found in him a resting place,
where peace and hope are born. 

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold I freely give; 
I am the living water, quench your thirst, come drink and live.” 
I came to Jesus and I drank of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul renewed, and now I live in Him.

Speak now, Spirit. 

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light; 
look unto me and night will fade,
and all your mornings rise.” 

I come to Jesus and I find in him
my star, my sun;
And in that light of life I’ll walk
‘til trav’ling days are done.

COMPOSER NOTE:

Of the six hundred hymns Horatius Bonar penned, this is perhaps the most well-known. In this setting, a newly adapted text invites us to listen to the voice of peace, hope and life…a voice that is always present and always calling us forward.