I Hear the Savior Say Hymn with Lyrics

 I. hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."

Refrain:
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

2. Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow'r and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone. [Refrain]

3. For nothing good have I
Where-by Thy grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv'ry's Lamb. [Refrain]

4. And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat. [Refrain]

Scripture; Isaiah 1:18, Ezekiel 11:19, Matthew 8:2-3, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

The hymn “I Hear the Savior Say” — more commonly known by its refrain “Jesus Paid It All” — has a beautiful and humble backstory rooted in a personal moment of reflection and faith.

---

✍️ Background of the Hymn

• Title: I Hear the Savior Say / Jesus Paid It All

• Lyricist: Elvina M. Hall (1820–1889)

• Composer: John T. Grape (1835–1915)

• Year: 1865

• Location: Monument Methodist Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland

---

📖 The Story Behind the Hymn

Elvina Hall was a widow and a longtime member of the Monument Street Methodist Church. One Sunday morning during a long pastoral prayer, her thoughts drifted toward the cross of Christ and the price of redemption. Inspired, she began composing the words of a poem on the flyleaf of her hymnal. The lines expressed deep gratitude for the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Later, Elvina shared the poem with her pastor, Rev. George W. Schreck, who was struck by its sincerity and theological weight.

In a beautiful coincidence, the church organist John T. Grape, a successful coal merchant and amateur musician, had just composed a new tune titled "All to Christ I Owe." When the pastor saw the poem and heard the music, he realized they fit perfectly together.

Thus, the hymn was born: lyrics by Elvina Hall and music by John Grape. It was first published in 1865 in Sabbath Carols, a hymnal compiled by Professor Theodore Perkins.

---

🎵 Refrain (Most Famous Line)

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.