Abide with Me: words for a funeral order of service
5 verses, 20 lines. Henry Francis Lyte (died 1847). Out of copyright in the UK.
Put these words straight into an A5 order of service booklet.
Add to my order of serviceAbide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.
I need thy presence every passing hour;
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
I fear no foe with thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.
Hold thou thy Cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!
At a glance
| Verses | 5 |
|---|---|
| Lines | 20 |
| Words | 164 |
| Fits one A5 page at 11 pt | Yes, about 70% of the page |
| Fits one A5 page at 12.5 pt (larger print) | Yes, about 79% of the page |
| Words | Henry Francis Lyte (died 1847) |
| Usual tune | Eventide (William Henry Monk, died 1889) |
| UK copyright in the words | Out of copyright The writer died more than 70 years ago. |
| Text taken from | The English Hymnal (Oxford, 1906), no. 363, scanned at the Internet Archive |
Hymn books differ in small ways: a word here, a comma there, sometimes a verse left out. Check these words against the hymn book or sheet your organist will use, and edit them in the builder if they differ.
Questions
- Can I print the words of Abide with Me in a funeral order of service in the UK?
- The words are by Henry Francis Lyte, who died in 1847. UK copyright in a writer's words lasts no longer than 70 years after the end of the year the writer died, so these words are out of copyright. This is information, not legal advice.
- How many verses does Abide with Me have?
- The version on this page has 5 verses and 20 lines (164 words).
- Does Abide with Me fit on one A5 page?
- At 11 point type on an A5 page with 14 mm margins: yes, it takes about 70% of the page. At 12.5 point: yes, about 79% of the page.
This page gives information, not legal advice. Facts were checked on 10 November 2026.