Hymns by theme
Hymns of comfort
Some hymns are sung most at the hardest moments: by a hospital bed, after a diagnosis, beside a grave, in the long weeks of grief. Hymns of comfort speak to God's nearness in trouble, his care for the weary and his promise of rest, and they often say what a sufferer cannot find words for.
Many were written out of suffering. They are gentle to sing, often with familiar, slow-moving tunes, and many people know them by heart. Use them at funerals and memorial services, in pastoral visits, at care homes, or on a Sunday when your congregation is carrying sorrow. The most widely sung are listed first. All are in the public domain, so you may print them for a visit or a service sheet.
When visiting someone who is ill or grieving, a printed hymn they can keep is often welcome; open any hymn on this page and print it in large type. Many people find that simply reading a familiar hymn aloud brings comfort when singing is too hard.
Print all lyricsBuild an order of service
The best-known hymns
The full list
- How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds — How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
- How Gentle God's Commands — How gentle God's commands,
- My God, my Father, while I stray
- I Must Tell Jesus — I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
- O Thou, From Whom All Goodness Flows — O Thou, from whom all goodness flows,
- Absence from God — O Thou, whose tender mercy hears
- The Soul's Only Refuge — DEAR Refuge of my weary soul,
- Christ's Invitation to Sinners, or Humility and Pride — Come hither, all ye weary souls,
- Pardon and Rest for the Weary Soul — Come, weary souls with sin distressed,
- O Love Divine, that stooped to share — O Love divine, that stooped to share
- Come Unto Me — Come unto me when shadows darkly gather,
- Come unto Me, Ye Weary — "Come unto Me, ye weary,
- O Safe to the Rock That Is Higher Than I — O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
- Safety in God — When, overwhelmed with grief,
- Does Jesus Care? — Does Jesus care when my heart is pain'd
- Call Jehovah Thy Salvation — Call Jehovah thy salvation,
- Thou Only Solace in Sorrow — O thou who driest the mourner's tear!
- Where high the heavenly temple stands — Where high the heavenly temple stands,
- As when the weary traveler gains — As, when the weary traveler gains
- Cast Thy Burden on the Lord — Cast thy burden on the Lord,
- Through Sorrow's Night And Danger's Path — Through sorrow's night and danger's path,
- Jesus Will Give You Rest — Will you come, will you come, with your poor broken heart,
- Peace, Troubled Soul — Peace, troubled soul, whose plaintive moan
- Looking Oft Unto Jesus — O eyes that are weary, and hearts that are sore,
- Comfort, comfort ye my people — Comfort, comfort ye My people,
- When the Weary, Seeking Rest — When the weary, seeking rest,
- Now let our mourning [drooping] hearts revive — Now let our drooping hearts revive,
- When musing sorrow weeps the past — When musing sorrow weeps the past,
- Distress of Soul — Mine eyes are my desire
- Who Is This? — Jesus wept! those tears are over,
- A Song of Deliverance from Great Distress — I Waited patient for the Lord,
Questions about hymns of comfort
What hymns bring comfort in grief?
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” “Abide with Me,” “Nearer, My God, to Thee” and “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” are among the most loved. All are on this page.
Can I print a hymn to take on a hospital or care-home visit?
Yes. Open the hymn and print it, or print several at once from this page. The words are in the public domain.