Take my Hands and Make Them as Your Own

This hymn about surrendering yourself to doing God's will was written by South African born lay-Franciscan Sebastian Temple (1928-1997).

It was included in the 20th Century Folk Hymnal Volume 1, and various other books published in the 1970s, and is often suggested as an Offertory hymn.

Sheet music is still available from OCP, and the song is also in hymn-books including McCrimmon's Celebration Hymnal for Everyone 2012 edition, which is still in-print..

Like most of Temple's work it is not covered by CCLI licensing.

The words are set to an un-named tune, also by Temple. The original publication was in the key of E, 4/4 time signature, and the first few notes are E B, AGFE.

Image adapted from a work by Artotem - used and shared under a Creative Commons licence,

Downloads

Examples

Solo singer with guitar:

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on page 27 of this document. Tuitar chords are available here.

The song has three verses. Each is four lines long - but to make sense, the 3rd and 4th lines need to run together. A rough outline is:

1 Take my hands and make them as your own, ...

2 Take my hands, they speak now for my heart ...

3 Take my hands; I give them to you, Lord ...