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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MATTIE


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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

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A Collection of Hymns and A Liturgy #273

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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. 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 #37

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

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

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Carmina Sacra #125b

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

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Christian Hymns #177

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Church Choral-Book #177

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Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #686

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Crystal Gems for the Sabbath School #35

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Devotional hymns #S132

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Gospel Hymn and Tune Book #396

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

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

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Hymnal #222

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Hymnal #222

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

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Hymns for Children, Selected and Altered #20

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Hymns for Schools #143

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Hymns for Sunday Schools, Youth, and Children #222

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Hymns for Youth, Suitable to be Used in Sabbath and Parochial Schools #232

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Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #686

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Hymns Recommended for use in the Reformed Episcopal Church #185

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Juvenile Choir #34

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Living Fountain #S12

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Manual of Devotion #50

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Palm Leaves #53

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Prayer Book and Hymnal for the Sunday School #85

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Precious Gems No. 1 #234

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Psalms and Hymns, for Christian Use and Worship #H381

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Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #B206

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Sabbath-School Hymn-Book #P14

Sacred Songs and Solos #632

Text

Scottish Psalter and Paraphrases #R11

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Select Hymns #455

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Selections from the Psalms of David in Metre #H204

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Songs for Social and Public Worship #380

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Songs of Gladness for the Sabbath School #158b

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The American Baptist Sabbath-School Hymn-Book #222

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The American School Hymn Book #XV

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The American School Hymn Book. (New ed.) #XV

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The American Vocalist #66b

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for Public Worship #858

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship #262.858

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The Book of Worship #248

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The Boston Sunday School Hymn Book #85

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The Choice #H61

The Choice #H61

The Christian Harmony #66A

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The Christian Hymn Book #1216

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The Christian Melodist #T32

The Christian Minstrel #d224

The Dominion Hymnal #248

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The Harp #480

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The Harp. 2nd ed. #a480

The Hymnal #75

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The Hymnal #222

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The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook #R11

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The Lecture-Room Hymn-Book #H204

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The Lecture-Room Hymn-Book #T33

The Morning Light, Enlarged #167a

The Morning Light #119a

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The New Hymn Book, Designed for Universalist Societies #367

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The New Hymn Book, Designed for Universalist Societies #367

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The Palm #383b

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The Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book #296b

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The Sabbath School Hymn and Tune Book #175

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The Sabbath School Lyre #39

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The Service Hymnal with an introductory service #104

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The Shining Star #97

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The Song Companion to the Scriptures #262

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The Springfield Collection of Hymns for Sacred Worship #310

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The Sunday School Service and Tune Book #110

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The Union Singing Book #96

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The Universalist Hymn-Book #377

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The Voice of melody #50b

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Vestry Harmonies #139a

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Hymns for the Sanctuary #300

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The Congregational Hymn Book #703

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The Public School Hymnal #174

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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

Pages

Exclude 293 pre-1979 instances
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