O Love Divine, How Sweet Thou Art!

O love divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my willing heart
All taken up by Thee?
I thirst, I faint, I die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
The love of Christ to me.

Stronger His love than death or hell;
Its reaches are unsearchable.
The first-born sons of light
Desire in vain its depths to see;
They cannot reach the mystery,
The length, and breadth, and height.¹

God only knows the love of God;
O that it now were shed abroad
In this poor stony heart!
For love I sigh, for love I pine;
This only portion, Lord, be mine,
Be mine this better part!

O that I could forever sit
With Mary at the Master’s feet!
Be this my happy choice,
My only care, delight, and bliss,
My joy, my heaven on earth, be this –
To hear the Bridegroom’s voice!

O that, with humbled Peter, I
Could weep, believe, and thrice reply,
My faithfulness to prove.
Thou know’st, (for all to Thee is known),
Thou know’st, O Lord, and Thou alone,
Thou know’st that Thee I love.

O that I could, with favored John,
Recline my weary head upon
The dear Redeemer’s breast!
From care, and sin, and sorrow free,
Give me, O Lord, to find in Thee
My everlasting rest.

To discover more hymns, visit our growing list of Powerful Poetry.