Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah William Williams, translated by Peter Williams and William Williams, 1771
3 verses, public domain, free to print and project.
The words
Verse 1. Guide me, oh thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim thro’ this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.
Verse 2. Open now thy crystal fountain,
Whence the healing streams do flow,
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar,
Lead me all my journey thro’;
Strong deliverer,
Be thou still my strength and shield.
Verse 3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Foe to death and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side;
Songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee.
Words copied from The Otterbein Hymnal (1892). They were published in 1771, so they are in the public domain in the United States, and your church may print them, show them and sing them without a license.
The hymn library's slide and print features are made by Church Posting.
The story behind Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
William Williams of Pantycelyn wrote the Welsh original, Arglwydd arwain trwy'r anialwch, and it was published in 1745. Williams was a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist preacher who traveled Wales for decades. Peter Williams, a Methodist Bible commentator, made the first English translation, which appeared in Hymns on Various Subjects in 1771. Hymnary.org says the later stanzas come from William Williams's own English version. The images come from Exodus, with the pillar of cloud and fire, the manna and the rock that gave water, and from John 6. The first line varies. Some hymnals, including the Psalter Hymnal, print Redeemer in place of Jehovah. The usual tune is CWM RHONDDA by John Hughes. Hymnary.org dates it to 1905 in its notes and 1907 in its tune data. Hughes wrote it for a Baptist song festival at Capel Rhondda in Pontypridd. Hymnary.org adds that Welsh rugby crowds sing it. The page counts about 75 languages. Hymnals print the tune in G most often, and F appears too.
William Williams (Pantycelyn)
1717 to 1791-01-11
William Williams was born at Cefn-y-coed near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. He studied medicine, then turned to theology, and was ordained a deacon in the Church of England in 1740. He joined the Calvinistic Methodists and worked with the revivalist Daniel Rowlands, traveling through Wales to preach for decades. Welsh readers call him the Sweet Singer of Wales. He wrote most of his hymns in Welsh, including the collections Halleluiah (1744) and Y Mor o Wydr (1762). His Welsh hymn Arglwydd arwain trwy'r anialwch, published in 1745, is the source of Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.
John Hughes
1873 to 1932
John Hughes was born in Dowlais, Glamorganshire, and left school to work as a doorboy at a mining company at about age twelve. He later became an official in the traffic department of the Great Western Railway. He served as a deacon and precentor at Salem Baptist Church in Pontypridd. Hymnary.org says he composed CWM RHONDDA in 1905 for a Baptist song festival at Capel Rhondda, Pontypridd, and also lists the year 1907. He wrote two anthems, several Sunday school marches and a few other tunes. He is a different person from the John Hughes (1872 to 1914) who wrote CALON LAN.
- Hymnary.org, Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, CWM RHONDDA , read 2026-10-16
- Hymnary.org, William Williams , read 2026-10-16
- Dictionary of Welsh Biography, Williams, Peter , read 2026-10-16
Scripture in Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
The Bible passages behind the words.
- Exodus 13:21-22
- Exodus 16:4
- Exodus 17:6
- Psalm 48:14
- Psalm 73:24
- John 6:35
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah videos
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Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (Grace Community Church) Martijn de Groot, Congregation
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Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah • Congregational Daniel Baptist, Congregation
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Guide me, O thou great Redeemer (+lyrics) - Westminster Abbey RAF Centenary Service yes, Choir
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Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (Hastings) - A Cappella Hymn A Cappella Hymns, A cappella
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Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah - piano instrumental hymn with lyrics Kaleb Brasee, Piano
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Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer (Official Video) SovereignGraceMusic, Modern arrangement
Videos play from YouTube, and nothing loads from YouTube until you press play. A video may sing different verses from the ones printed on this page.
Print and project
For Sunday
- Slides for Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah All 3 verses. Full screen, or a PowerPoint file that ProPresenter and Keynote open.
- Add it to a bulletin Opens the bulletin maker with Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah in the order of service.
- Add it to a funeral program Opens the funeral program maker with this hymn in the order of service.
Chords and keys
Hymnals print it in G or F.
Questions people ask
Who wrote Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah?
William Williams of Pantycelyn wrote the Welsh original, published in 1745. Peter Williams made the first English translation, printed in 1771.
Is Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer the same hymn?
Yes. Some hymnals print Redeemer in the first line, including the Psalter Hymnal.
What tune is used for Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah?
Most hymnals use CWM RHONDDA, written by John Hughes in 1905 or 1907. Hymnary.org also lists ZION and RHONDDA.
What is the story behind the hymn?
Williams wrote it in Welsh in 1745, and its images come from the Exodus journey and John 6. Hymnary.org lists the manna, the crystal fountain, and the pillar of fire and cloud.
Is Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah in the public domain?
The words are public domain in the United States. The English translation was first published in 1771, and CWM RHONDDA dates from 1905 to 1907.
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