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Hymns of my Youth: Jesus, Priceless Treasure

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

—Matthew 13:45–46

163 Jesus, Priceless Treasure

Jesus, priceless Treasure,
   Source of purest pleasure,
   Truest Friend to me.
Ah, how long I’ve panted
   And my heart hath fainted,
   Thirsting, Lord, for Thee
Thine I am, O spotless Lamb!
   I will suffer naught to hide Thee,
   Naught I ask beside Thee.

In Thine arms I rest me;
   Foes who would molest me
   Cannot reach me here;
Tho’ the earth be shaking,
   Ev’ry heart be quaking,
   Jesus calms my fear;
fires may flash and thunder crash,
   Yea, and sin and hell assail me,
   Jesus will not fail me.

Hence with earthly treasure!
   Thou art all my pleasure,
   Jesus all my choice;
Hence, thou empty glory!
   Naught to me thy story,
   Told with tempting voice;
Pain or loss, or shame, or cross,
   Shall not from my Savior move me,
   Since He deigns to love me.

Fare thee well that errest,
   Thou that earth preferrest,
   Thou wilt tempt in vain;
Fair thee well transgression,
   Hence abhorred transgression,
   Come not forth again.
Past your hour, O pride and pow’r,
   Worldly life, thy bonds I sever,
   Fare thee well forever!

Hence, all fear and sadness!
   For the Lord of gladness,
   Jesus, enters in;
Those who love the Father,
   Though the storms may gather,
   Still have peace within;
Yea, whate’er I here must bear,
   thou art still my purest pleasure,
   Jesus, priceless Treasure.

—The Concordia Hymnal (Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

I couldn’t find a performance of the Concordia tune, Lindeman. You can hear a MIDI of it at cyberhymnal.org. The following is the traditional tune, Jesu, Meine Freude. It is a far more beautiful melody by itself, in my opinion, but its haunting mood seems inappropriate for this hymn. Listen to both and judge for yourself.

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Hymns of my Youth: Jesus, Priceless Treasure

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