Abide With Me | Songs and Everlasting Joy

This hymn was written by Henry F. Lyte. It was inspired by an experience he had while sitting with a dying friend who constantly repeated the words, “abide with me.” The lyrics of the song should remind us to think about how much we need God’s presence every hour of our lives, whether knowingly near to death or not. May we all choose to have the Lord abiding with us in all stages of life, as we never know when our final chapter will be written.

Abide With Me

Verse 1
Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Verse 2
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;

Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Verse 3
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Verse 4
I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.