You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

The Joyful Message

Representative Text

1 Joyful the mes­sage of Gos­pel grace,
Calling ev­ery na­tion;
Come to the Sav­ior and seek His face,
Here’s a full sal­va­tion;
Behold the way that leads from sin,
Brightly, bright­ly shin­ing,
And He that be­lieveth shall walk there­in,
And dwell in the beau­ti­ful land.

Refrain:
Come, O come ye, come ye to the wa­ters!
Ho! ev­ery one that thirst­eth,
O come with­out mo­ney and buy!
Come, O come ye, come ye to the wa­ters!
Ho! ev­ery one that thirs­teth,
O come with­out mon­ey and buy!

2 God is the re­fuge and strength of all,
He a sure foun­da­tion;
They that will trust Him shall nev­er fall,
He’s our great sal­va­tion;
O, come, and be for­ev­er blest,
Seek, and ye shall find Him;
There’s rest for the wea­ry, eter­nal rest,
A home in the beau­ti­ful land. [Refrain]

3 Happy the peo­ple that know the Lord,
In His truth con­fid­ing;
Happy the peo­ple that love His word,
In His law abid­ing;
The Lord, our buckl­er and our shield,
Giveth grace and glo­ry,
And He will no good thing from them with­hold,
Who walk in the light of His love. [Refrain]


Source: The Cyber Hymnal #16488

Author: Fanny J. Crosby

Pseudonymns: A.V., Mrs. A. E. Andrews, Mrs. E. A. Andrews, Mrs. E. L. Andrews, James L. Black, Henrietta E. Blair, Charles Bruce, Robert Bruce, Leah Carlton, Eleanor Craddock, Lyman G. Cuyler, D.H.W., Ella Dare, Ellen Dare, Mrs. Ellen Douglass, Lizzie Edwards. Miss Grace Elliot, Grace J. Frances, Victoria Frances, Jennie Garnett, Frank Gould, H. D. K., Frances Hope, Annie L. James, Martha J. Lankton [Langton], Grace Lindsey, Maud Marion, Sallie Martin, Wilson Meade, Alice Monteith, Martha C. Oliver, Mrs. N. D. Plume, Kate Smiley, Sallie Smith, J. L. Sterling, John Sterling, Julia Sterling, Anna C. Storey, Victoria Stuart, Ida Scott Taylor, Mary R. Tilden, Mrs. J. B. Thresher, Hope Tryaway, Grace Tureman, Carrie M. Wilson, W.H.D. Frances… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Joyful the message of gospel grace
Title: The Joyful Message
Author: Fanny J. Crosby
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Come, O come ye, come ye to the waters
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #16488
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #16488

Include 6 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.