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Advent Hymnals

The One Thing Needful

The same words as 2 hymnals printed them. Pick two versions to see every change between them: words added, dropped or altered, and verses left out.

1 stanza only in Hymns and Tunes 1886 #180

Hymns and Tunes 1886 #180 · 1886Christ in Song #581 · 1900

Verse 2

The Spirit breathes upon the word, And brings the truth to sight; Precepts and promises afford A sanctifying light.

Verse 1

The Spirit breathes upon the word, And brings the truth to sight; Precepts and promises afford A sanctifying light.

Verse 1

A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun; It gives a light to every age, It gives, but borrows none.

Verse 2

A glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun; It gives a light to every age, It gives, but borrows none.

Verse 3

The hand that gave it still supplies The gracious light and heat; His truths upon the nations rise, They rise, but never set.

Verse 3

The hand that gave it still supplies The gracious light and heat; His truths upon the nations rise, They rise, but never set.

Verse 4

Let everlasting thanks be thine,
For such a bright display
As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.

Not in this version