My Hope is Built on Nothing Less (On Christ The Solid Rock)

This is a hymn about trust in Jesus, the source of all hope.

It was written by English cabinet-maker, and in later life Baptist pastor, Edward Mote (1797-1874) in 1834. His original intention was to write a hymn about the “Gracious Experience of a Christian.”

It has been published in different format over the years, either with or without the chorus: Most modern arrangements do include a chorus.

With meter 8.8.8.8.8.8.8, tunes it has been set to include:

SOLID ROCK, which was written for the text by American organist and composer William B. Bradbury in 1863, and is most-commonly used
MELITA by John B Dykes (1823–1876).

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides

SATB arrangement by John Ferguson, based on MELITA

Leadsheet, arranged for ukulele / voice

Examples

Small group with piano - professional recording:

Virtual choir, acapella arrangement:

Lead and backing singers, with piano-led band, professional recording:

Large choir with organ:

Congregation with organ - unidentified tune:

Small congregation with organ:

Lyrics

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Chorus
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand,
all other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in ev'ry high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil.

3 His oath, his covenant, his blood
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay.

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found,
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.