How Sweet/Good the Name of Jesus Sounds

This hymn by John Newton was originally published in 1779 as "How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds" - but some publications present it as "How Good ..." with modern English lyrics, as given below.

With Common Meter, tunes that it has been set to include:

• ST PETER (Reinagle), Alexander R. Reinagle, Psalm Tunes for the Voice and Pianoforte (Oxford, England: 1836)
• HEBER George Kingsley, 1838
• ORTONVILLE, Thomas Hastings, 1837

Files for Download:

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Samples:

Lyrics:

Modern

How good the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes all sorrows, heals all wounds,
And drives away all fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear name, the rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

By You my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin, defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

Jesus! my shepherd, husband, friend,
O prophet, priest and king,
My Lord, my life, my way, my end,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see You as You art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would You love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Your Name
Refresh my soul in death!

Traditional:

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!