Lyrics
Verse 1
I've found a friend in Jesus, He's everything to me,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He's my comfort, in trouble He's my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.
Refrain
He's the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
Verse 2
He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He's my strong and mighty tow'r;
I've all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now He keeps me by His pow'r.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal.
Verse 3
He'll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I've nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"The Lily of the Valley" borrows its central title directly from a well-known biblical love poem's description of a flower, applying that image personally to describe Jesus as "the fairest of ten thousand" to the singer's soul. That inherited imagery frames the entire hymn's language of comfort and devotion.
Its verses list specific roles Jesus fills, comfort in sorrow, refuge in trouble, strength in temptation, describing forsaken idols and torn-out attachments as the cost of that exclusive devotion. The refrain adds a second title, the Bright and Morning Star, pairing an image of nearness with one of guiding light.
Written within nineteenth-century hymn tradition, the hymn moves toward eschatological hope in its final verse, describing a wall of fire for protection, manna for sustenance, and an eventual sweeping up to see Jesus's face amid rivers of delight. Its accumulated titles and promises build toward that final vision, treating present provision as continuous with future glory.
Related Scripture
- Song of Solomon 2:1 Describes a lily of the valleys, directly echoed in the hymn's title and central image.
- Hebrews 13:5 Promises never to leave or forsake, directly echoed in the hymn's third verse.