Lift Him Up

Lift Him Up

Text written by May E. Warren

Hymn tune composed by D. S. Hakes

Numbers 21:8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

John 9:25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

John 12:32 "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

V. 1 Lift Him up, 'tis He that bids you,

Let the dying look and live;

To all weary, thirsting sinners, 

Living waters will He give;

And though once so meek and lowly,

Yet the Prince of heaven was He;

And the blind, who grope in darkness,

Through the blood of Christ shall see.

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 

Refrain: Lift Him up, the risen Savior,

High amid the waiting throng;

Lift Him up, 'tis He that speaketh,

Now He bids you flee from wrong.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God."

John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

V. 2 Lift Him up, this precious Savior,

Let the multitude behold;

They with willing hearts shall seek Him,

He will draw them to His fold;

They shall gather from the wayside,

Hastening on with joyous feet,

They shall bear the cross of Jesus,

And shall find salvation sweet.

Refrain

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

V. 3 Lift Him up in all His glory,

'Tis the Son of God on high;

Lift Him up, His love shall draw them,

E'en the careless shall draw nigh;

Let them hear again the story

Of the cross, the death of shame;

And from tongue to tongue repeat it;

Mighty throngs shall bless His name.

Refrain

Psalm 148:12, 13 ...young men and women, old men and children.  Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Isaiah 35:5, 6 Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

V. 4 O then lift Him up in singing,

Lift the Savior up in prayer

He, the glorious Redeemer,

All the sins of men did bear;

Yes, the young shall bow before Him,

And the old their voices raise;

All the deaf shall hear hosannah;

And the dumb shall shout His praise.

Refrain

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

The Lord Bless You and Keep You

Sung to the tune CHORAL BLESSING, composed in 1900 by Peter C. Lutkin

Numbers 6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord lift His countenance upon you, 

and give you peace, and give you peace;

The Lord make His face to shine upon you, 

and be gracious unto you, be gracious,

The Lord be gracious, gracious unto you.  Amen.

As a bonus, here is John Rutter's setting of the same words

Gracious Father, Guard Thy Children

Gracious Father, Guard Thy Children

Text is Anonymous

Sung to the hymn tune ELLESDIE, arranged from Mozart in 1873 by Hubert P. Main (1839-1926)

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Jude 24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy....

V. 1 Gracious Father, guard Thy children

From the foe's destructive power;

Save, O save them, Lord, from falling

In this dark and trying hour.

Thou wilt surely prove Thy people,

All our graces must be tried;

But Thy word illumes our pathway,

And in God we still confide.

Psalm 60:4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.

1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

Colossians 3:24 ...since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

V. 2 We are in the time of waiting;

Soon we shall behold our Lord,

Wafted far away from sorrow,

To receive our rich reward.

Keep us, Lord, till Thine appearing,

Pure, unspotted from the world;

Let Thy Holy spirit cheer us

Till Thy banner is unfurled.

Leviticus 25:10 Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan. 

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Romans 8:2 ...because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 

V. 3 With what joyful exultation

Shall the saints Thy banner see,

When the Lord for whom we've waited

Shall proclaim the jubilee!

Freedom from this world's pollutions;

Freedom from all sin and pain;

Freedom from the wiles of Satan,

And from death's destructive reign.

Lift Up Your Heads

Lift Up Your Heads

Text written in 1642 by Georg Weissel (1590-1635), translated in 1855 by Catherine Winkworth 

Sung to the tune WAREHAM, composed in 1738 by William Knapp (1698-1768)

Psalm 24:7 Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

John 4:42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Revelation 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah!

For our Lord God Almighty reigns."

V. 1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!

Behold the King of glory waits;

The King of kings is drawing near,

The Savior of the world is here.

Leviticus 8:9 Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem, on the front of it, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Isaiah 45:21 Declare what is to be, present it—let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past?

Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

V. 2 The Lord is just, a helper tried;

Mercy is ever at His side;

His kingly crown is holiness,

His scepter, pity in distress.

V. 3 O blest the land, the city blest,

Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!

O happy hearts and happy homes

To whom this King in triumph comes!

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

V. 4 Fling wide the portals of your heart;

Make it a temple, set apart

From earthly use for heaven's employ, 

Adorned with prayer, and love, and joy.

Ephesians 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being.

V. 5 Redeemer, come; I open wide

My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide.

Let me Thy inner presence feel,

Thy grace and love in me reveal.

Live Out Thy Life Within Me

Live Out Thy Life Within Me

Text written by Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)

Sung to the hymn tune AURELIA, composed in 1864 by Samuel Wesley (1810-1876)

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

V. 1 Live out Thy life within me,

O Jesus, King of kings!

Be Thou Thyself the answer

To all my questionings;

Live out Thy life within me,

In all things have Thy way!

I, the transparent medium

Thy glory to display.

Exodus 40:24 He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle.

1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.

V. 2 The temple has been yielded,

And purified of sin;

Let Thy Shekinah glory

Now shine forth from within,

And all the earth keep silence,

The body henceforth be

Thy silent, gentle servant,

Moved only as by Thee.

V. 3 Its members every moment

Held subject to Thy call,

Ready to have Thee use them,

Or not be used at all;

Held without restless longing,

Or strain, or stress, or fret,

Or chafings at Thy dealings,

Or thoughts of vain regret.

Matthew 21:3 "If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

1 Corinthians 12:20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

V.  4 But restful, calm, and pliant,

From bend and bias free,

Awaiting Thy decision,

When Thou has need of me.

Live out Thy life within me,

O Jesus, King of kings!

Be Thou the glorious answer

To all my questionings.

Dear Lord, We Come at Set of Sun

Blessed Sabbath to all

Dear Lord, We Come at Set of Sun

Text written in 1984 by Mary Speidel (1915-1985)

Sung to the hymn tune STRACATHRO by Charles Hutcheson (1792-1860), as arranged by David Evans (1874-1948)

Leviticus 23:32 "It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”

V. 1 Dear Lord, we come at set of sun,

And at Your feet we kneel

To worship You, Creator, King,

This day, Your sign and seal.

Exodus 20:9, 10 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

V. 2 Our earthly tasks we lay aside,

According to Your Word,

To enter now Your holy rest,

The Sabbath of the Lord.

Genesis 2:3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

V. 3 Sweet Sabbath rest, your sacred hours

Are as a golden chain

That reaches back to Eden's gate

And points us home again.

Isaiah 66:23 "From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord.

V. 4 And when this earth shall be renewed,

And sin and death destroyed,

Shall all redeemed each Sabbath day

Still meet to praise their God.

O for That Flame of Living Fire

O for That Flame of Living Fire

Text written in 1831 by William H. Bathurst (1796-1877)

Sung to the hymn tune MENDON, which is a German melody and was arranged in 1825 by Samuel Dyer (1785-1835)

Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 

V. 1 O for that flame of living fire

Which shone so bright in saints of old;

Which bade their souls to heaven aspire,

Calm in distress, in danger bold!

V. 2 Where is that spirit, Lord, which dwelt 

In Abram's breast, and sealed him Thine?

Which made Paul's heart with sorrow melt,

And glow with energy divine?

V. 3 That spirit which from age to age

Proclaimed Thy love, and taught Thy ways?

Brightened Isaiah's vivid page,

And breathed in David's hallowed lays?

Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 

Job 1:22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

V. 4 Is not Thy grace as mighty now

As when Elijah felt its power:

When glory beamed from Moses' brow,

Or Job endured the trying hour?

Acts 2:17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.'"

V. 5 Remember, Lord, the ancient days;

Renew Thy work, Thy grace restore;

And while to Thee our hearts we raise,

On us Thy Holy Spirit pour.

He Hideth My Soul

He Hideth My Soul

Text written by Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)

Hymn tune composed by William J. Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)

Exodus 33:22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

V. 1 A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,

A wonderful Savior to me,

He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,

Where rivers of pleasure I see.

Isaiah 32:2 Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

Refrain: He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock

That shadows a dry, thirsty land;

He hideth my life in the depths of His love,

And covers me there with His hand,

And covers me there with His hand.

Deuteronomy 33:25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.

Psalm 16:8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

V. 2 A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,

He taketh my burden away,

He holdeth me up, and I shall not be moved,

He giveth me strength as my day.

Refrain

Ephesians 3:19 ...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

V. 3 With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,

And filled with His fullness divine,

I sing in my rapture, Oh, glory to God

For such a Redeemer as mine.

Refrain

1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

V. 4 When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise

To meet Him in clouds of the sky,

His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,

I'll shout with the millions on high.

Refrain

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy

Text written in 1826 by Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

Sung to the hymn tune NICAEA, composed in 1861 by John B. Dykes (1823-1876)

Revelation 4:8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “ ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”

V. 1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

See also Revelation 4:8 (above) for scripture references in verse 2

Revelation 4:10 ...The twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne....

Revelation 5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 

V. 2 Holy, holy, holy! Angels adore Thee,

Casting down their bright crowns around the glassy sea;

Thousands and ten thousands worship low before Thee,

Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Exodus 33:20 "But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

Psalm 18:11, 30 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—

the dark rain clouds of the sky....  As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.

V. 3 Holy, holy, holy! Though darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of man Thy great glory may not see;

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in power, in love and purity.

V. 4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

May God Be With You

May God Be With You

Text is Anonymous

Sung to the hymn tune MIZPAH, composed in 1969 by Wayne Hooper (1920-  )

Genesis 31:49 It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other."

V. 1 May God be with you

Till we meet again,

May God be with you,

Keep you safe till then;

And may His blessings 

Be within your heart,

May God be with you

While we're apart,

May God be with you.

V. 2 May God be with you,

Watch you from above,

May God protect you

In His tender love;

And with the dawning

Of each bright, new day,

May God be with you,

To guide your way,

May God be with you.

Give of Your Best to the Master

Give of Your Best to the Master

Text written by Howard B. Grose (1851-1939)

Sung to the hymn tune BARNARD, composed by Charlotte A. Barnard (1830-1869)

Matthew 22:37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind."

V. 1 Give of your best to the Master,

Give of the strength of your youth;

Throw your soul's fresh, glowing ardor

Into the battle for truth.

Jesus has set the example--

Dauntless was He, young and brave;

Give Him your loyal devotion,

Give Him the best that you have.

Numbers 18:29 You must present the entire offering due the Lord from all your gifts. The best part of the tenth is to be consecrated.

Refrain: Give of your best to the Master,

Give of the strength of your youth;

Clad in salvation's full armor,

Join in the battles for truth.

Exodus 32:29 Afterward Moses said, “Today you have been dedicated to the Lord, since each man went against his son and his brother. Therefore you have brought a blessing on yourselves today.”

Luke 7:38 [Mary] stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.

John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."

V. 2 Give of your best to the Master,

Give Him first place in your heart;

Give Him first place in your service,

Consecrate every part.

Give, and to you shall be given--

God His beloved Son gave;

Gratefully seeking to serve Him,

Give Him the best that you have.

Refrain

Mark 10:45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life — a ransom for many.”

Philippians 2:8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death — even to death on a cross.

V. 3 Give of your best to the Master,

Naught else is worthy His love;

He gave Himself for your ransom,

Gave up His glory above;

Laid down His life without murmur,

You from sin's ruin to save;

Give Him your heart's adoration,

Give Him the best that you have.

Refrain

From Every Stormy Wind

From Every Stormy Wind

Text written by Hugh Stowell, 1828

Sung to the hymn tune RETREAT, composed by Thomas Hastings, 1842

Exodus 25:22 I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the testimony; I will speak with you from there about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

V. 1 From every stormy wind that blows,

From every swelling tide of woes,

There is a calm, a sure retreat;

'Tis found beneath the mercy seat.

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of joy rather than Your companions.

V. 2 There is a place where Jesus sheds

The oil of gladness on our heads,

A place than all besides more sweet;

It is the blood-bought mercy seat.

Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

V. 3 There is a scene where spirits blend,

Where friend holds fellowship with friend;

Though sundered far, by faith they meet

Around one common mercy seat.

V. 4 There, there, on angel's wings we soar,

And earthly cares molest no more,

And heaven comes down our souls to greet,

And glory crowns the mercy seat.

V. 5 Ah! whither should we flee for aid,

When tempted, desolate, dismayed?

Or how the hosts of sin defeat, 

Had suffering saints no mercy seat?

Crowning Jewel of Creation

Sabbath blessings to you.

Crowning Jewel of Creation

Text written in 1982 by Gem Fitch (1934-    )

Sung to the tune JEWEL, composed in 1984 by Wayne Hooper (1920-    )

Genesis 2:3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of creation.

V. 1 Crowning jewel of creation,

Blest and hallowed, sanctified;

Time and changes all transcending,

Shared forever, glorified.

Mark 2:27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath."

Refrain: Blessed Sabbath made for man,

Gift from the Creator's hand.

Hebrews 4:9 Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people.

V. 2 Sin and sickness, prayer and weeping

Cease at close of earthly days;

But Thy Sabbath is eternal,

Joyful thanks to Thee we raise!

Refrain

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.

Teach us, Lord, in storm or sunshine

How to truly rest in Thee,

May Thy Sabbath peace enfold us

And our shelter ever be.

Refrain

Hark! the Voice of Jesus Calling

Hark! the Voice of Jesus Calling

Text written in 1868 by Daniel March (1816-1909)

Sung to the hymn tune FILLMORE, composed in 1886 by F. E. Belden (1858-1945)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTdjFPCEV1k&list=PL154A5168413AC550

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: "Who should I send? Who will go for Us"? I said: "Here I am. Send me"."

John 4:35 “Don’t you say, ‘There are still four more months, then comes the harvest’? Listen ⌊to what⌋ I’m telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest."

V. 1 Hark! the voice of Jesus calling,

"Who will go and work today?

Fields are white, the harvest waiting,

Who will bear the sheaves away?"

Loud and long the Master calleth,

Rich reward He offers free;

Who will answer, gladly saying,

"Here am I, O Lord, send me"?

2 Corinthians 5:15 And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised.

V. 2 If you cannot cross the ocean

And the heathen lands explore,

You can find the heathen nearer,

You can help them at your door;

If you cannot speak like angels,

If you cannot preach like Paul,

You can tell the love of Jesus, 

You can say He died for all.

Exodus 17:12 When Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put ⌊it⌋ under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.

Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman over the house of Israel. When you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me."

V. 3 If you cannot be the watchman,

Standing high on Zion's wall,

Pointing out the path to heaven,

Offering life and peace to all;

With your prayers and with your bounties

You can do what Heaven demands,

You can be like faithful Aaron,

Holding up the prophet's hands.

V. 4 While the souls of men are dying,

And the Master calls for you,

Let none hear you idly saying,

"There is nothing I can do!"

Gladly take the task He gives you,

Let His work your pleasure be;

Answer quickly when He calleth,

"Here am I, O Lord, send me."

O God, Unseen, Yet Ever Near

O God, Unseen, Yet Ever Near

Text written in 1836 by Edward Osler (1798-1863)

Sung to the hymn tune MEDITATION, composed in 1890 by John H. Gower (1855-1922)

Acts 17:27 ⌊He did this⌋ so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.  

V. 1 O God, unseen, yet ever near,

Reveal Thy presence now

While we in love that hath no fear,

Before Thy glory bow.

Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it? ” because they didn’t know what it was. Moses told them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.

Isaiah 35:6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy, for water will gush in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

V. 2 Here may Thy faithful people know

The blessings of Thy love,

The streams that thro' the desert flow,

The manna from above.

V. 3 We come, obedient to Thy Word

To feast on heav'nly food,

Our meat, the body of our Lord,

Our drink, His precious blood.

V. 4 Thus may we all Thy words obey,

For we, O God, are Thine,

And go rejoicing on our way,

Renewed by strength divine.

Come, You Faithful

Come, You Faithful

Text written by John of Damascus, 8th century, and translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)

Sung to the hymn tune AVE VIRGO VIRGINUM from Leisentritt's Gesangbuch, 1584

Now is a good opportunity to suggest that as you sing a hymn, you note the punctuation in the text and try breathing where there is a punctuation mark instead of breathing where you're used to breathing (usually in the middle of a line of text).  Singing is as much about the words as it is about the music, and the words should make sense.  Read the hymn verses below and noticed how many lines don't have a punctuation mark at the end.  So you might sing the first two lines of the song like this: Come, you faithful, [breath] raise the strain [no breath] Of triumphant gladness.  See how the words have more meaning when you sing them the way you would read them?  I really try to follow the punctuation marks and make the verse make sense when I sing a hymn.  Note: If you are a church pianist or organist, following the words and phrasing the music according to the punctuation is a good idea. You can help educate your congregation in this aspect of worship!

Exodus 14:22 The sons of Israel went through the midst of the sea on the 

dry land, and the waters were like a wall to them on their right hand and 

on their left.

V. 1 Come, you faithful, raise the strain

Of triumphant gladness;

God has brought His Israel

Into joy from sadness;

Loosed from Pharoah's bitter yoke

Jacob's sons and daughters;

Led them with unmoistened foot

Through the Red Sea waters.

1 Corinthians 15:4 ...and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures....

V. 2 'Tis the spring of souls today;

Christ has burst His prison, 

And from three days' sleep in death

As a sun has risen;

All the winter of our sins,

Long and dark, is flying

From His light, to whom is giv'n

Laud and praise undying.

V. 3 Now the queen of seasons, bright
With the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts,
Comes its joy to render;
Comes to gladden faithful hearts
Which with true affection
Welcome in unwearied strain
Jesus' resurrection.

John 20:19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." 

V. 4 For today among the twelve

Christ appeared, bestowing

His deep peace, which evermore

Passes human knowing.

Neither could the gates of death,

Nor the tomb's dark portal,

Nor the watchers, nor the seal,

Hold Him as a mortal.

Revelation 19:6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns".

V. 5 "Alleluia!" now we cry

To our King immortal,

Who, triumphant, burst the bars

Of the tomb's dark portal;

"Alleluia" with the son,

God the Father praising;

"Alleluia!" yet again

To the Spirit raising.