The words were written by English-born, slave-ship captain turned evangelical Anglican priest, John Newton (1725-1807). It 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 (8.6.8.6), tunes that it has been set to include:
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!
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!
With common meter (8.6.8.6), tunes that it has been set to include:
- ST PETER (Reinagle) by Alexander R. Reinagle, published in Psalm Tunes for the Voice and Pianoforte (Oxford, England: 1836)
- HEBER by George Kingsley, 1838
- ORTONVILLE by Thomas Hastings, 1837
- RACHEL by British Christian songwriter and Charismatic worship leader, Chris Bowater (b 1947)
Downloads
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Examples
Congregation with organ:
Worship pastor with chorus, piano accompaniment:
Choir with organ, words on-screen, tune ST PETER
Duet with band:
Singer with guitar, tune ST PETER (Reinagle)
Large choir at a conference, with piano:
Singer with piano:
Instrumental - organ. Tune RACHAEL
Lyrics
Modern
How good the name of Jesus soundsIn 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 soundsIn 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!
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