O happy is the man who hears

Representative Text

1 How happy are all they who hear
true Wisdom's guiding voice;
and who her understanding make
their early, only choice.

2 For she has treasures greater far
than east or west unfold;
and her rewards more precious are
than all their stores of gold.

3 In her right hand she holds to view
a length of happy days;
and riches with great honours joined
are what her left displays.

4 She guides the young with innocence,
in pleasure's paths to tread;
a crown of glory she bestows
upon the hoary head.

5 According as her labours rise,
so her rewards increase;
her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.

Source: Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #686

Author: Michael Bruce

Bruce, Michael, son of a Scottish weaver, was born at Kinnesswood, Portmoak, Kinrossshire, Scotland, March 27,1746, and educated at the village school, Edinburgh University (where he first became acquainted with John Logan), and the Theological Hall of the Associate Synod, held at Kinross, under the Rev. John Swanston, intending ultimately to enter the ministry, a hope which was frustrated by his untimely death. To assist in procuring University fees and maintenance he for some time conducted a school, during the recess, at Gairney Bridge, and subsequently at Forrest Mill, near Tillicoultry. Whilst yet a student he died at Kinnesswood, July 5th, 1767. [Also, see Logan, John] The names of Michael Bruce and John Logan are brought together… Go to person page >

Notes

O happy is the man who hears. M. Bruce. [Wisdom.] From evidence set forth in our biographical sketch of M. Bruce, we believe the original of this hymn to have been written by M. Bruce about 1764, and that the manuscript of the same was handed to J. Logan by Bruce's father a short time after Bruce's death in 1767. It was published by Logan as his own in his Poems, 1781, p. 104, No. 4, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. In the same year, a slightly altered version of the text was given in the new and revised edition of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, as No. xi., and this has been in authorised use in the Church of Scotland for more than 100 years. It is also found in many English and American collections. The nearest approach to the original text is given in Dr. Mackelvie's Lochleven and other Poems, &c, 1837, p. 258 ; and Dr. Grosart's Works of M. Bruce, 1865, p. 133. The text of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, 1781, has been altered in several modern collections to (1) "How blest the man that bends the ear;" (2) "How happy is the child who hears;" (3) "How happy is the youth who hears;" and (4) "Wisdom has treasures greater far."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

BALERMA (Barthélemon)


ST. PETER (Reinagle)

Composed by Alexander R. Reinagle (b. Brighton, Sussex, England, 1799; d. Kidlington, Oxfordshire, England, 1877), ST. PETER was published as a setting for Psalm 118 in Reinagle's Psalm Tunes for the Voice and Pianoforte (c. 1836). The tune first appeared with Newton's text in Hymns Ancient and Mode…

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Media

The Cyber Hymnal #4972
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Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 299)
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A Book of Hymns and Tunes #90

A Book of Worship for the Use of the Evangelical Lutheran Church ... of the Church of the Redeemer, Richmond, Virginia #d126

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches #273

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy #273

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A Collection of Hymns and A Liturgy #273

A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship approved by the Presbytery of Charleston #d117

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A Collection of Hymns #287

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship #280

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (10th ed.) #280

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (6th ed.) #280

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (3rd ed.) #280

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (45th ed.) #280

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. 16th ed. #280

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Sanctuary #424

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Use of Universalist Societies and Families 16ed. #449

A Collection of Psalms and Hymns Suited to the Various Occasions of Public Worship #d234

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship #211

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #581

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #37

A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs Suited to the Various Occasions of Public Worship. 2nd ed. #d241

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #37

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #37

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #224

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A Manual of Devotion and Hymns for the House of Refuge, City of New York #178

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A Manual of Worship #142

A New Service and Tune Book for Sunday Schools. New ed. #d95

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms for Social and Private Worship (6th ed.) #366

A Selection of Hymns and Psalms, for Social and Private Worship. (11th ed.) #366

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms #354

A Selection of Hymns, from the Best Authors, Designed as a Supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns #d445

A Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, from the Most Approved Authors ... of the Church of Christ #d221

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #581

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #581

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A Selection of Sacred Songs. 2nd ed. #142

Apples of Gold in Pictures of Silver #d181

Asaph #d177

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Bible School Hymns and Sacred Songs for Sunday Schools and Other Religious Services #8b

Boston Sunday School Hymn Book. 5th ed. #d58

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Bradbury's Golden Chain of Sabbath School Melodies #123

Canadian Sabbath-School Hymn Book #d113

Cantica Laudis #d222

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Carmina Sacra #125b

Chapel Hymns #d233

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Children's Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada #64

Children's Praise #d104

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Children's Praise #110

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Christian Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #503

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Christian Hymns for Public and Private Worship #438

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Christian Hymns #177

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d667

Christian Science Hymnal (Rev. and enl.) #215

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Church and Sunday School Hymnal with Supplement #367

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Church Book #377

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Church Book #377

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Church Choral-Book #177

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Church Harmonies #515

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Church Hymnal, Mennonite #480

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #480

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #d380

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Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #686

Conference Hymns and Tunes #d74

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Crystal Gems for the Sabbath School #35

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Deutsches Lieder- und Melodienbuch #a321

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Devotional hymns #S132

Faith and Hope Hymns #d32

Family Singing Book. Rev ed. with Supplement #d202

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Gospel Hymn and Tune Book #396

Grammar School Hymn Book #d182

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship #481

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship. 8th ed. #a481

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church #523

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (11th ed.) #523

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Hymn Book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (2nd ed.) #682

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Hymn book of the Methodist Protestant Church. (4th ed.) #682

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Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music (Gilbert & Goodrich) #222

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Hymnal and Order of Service #308

Hymnal for Sunday School and Social Worship #d151

Hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church #d79

Hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church, adopted in General Council, Chicago, May 1879 #d212

Text

Hymnal #222

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Hymnal #222

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Hymnal #308

Hymns and Tunes for Home Worship #d161

Hymns and Tunes for the Sunday School, the Congregation and the Home #d122

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Hymns and Tunes #321

Hymns for Children and Young Persons #d309

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Hymns for Children, Selected and Altered #20

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Hymns for Christian Devotion #404

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Hymns for Christian Devotion #404

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Hymns for Christian Melody #360

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Hymns for Public Worship #349

Hymns for Schools and Families #d354

Pages

Exclude 293 pre-1979 instances
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