1. Holy Bible, book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine; Mine to tell me whence I came; Mine to teach me what I am. 2. Mine to chide me when I rove; Mine to show a Savior's love; Mine thou art to guide and guard; Mine to punish or reward. 3. Mine to comfort in distress, Suff'ring in this wilderness; Mine to show, by living faith, Man can triumph over death. 4. Mine to tell of joys to come, And the rebel sinner's doom; O thou holy Book divine, Precious treasure, thou art mine.
Lyrics: John Burton, Sr.
Music: William Batchelder
Bradbury
Tune: ALETTA
Meter: 7.7.7.7.
John Burton, Sr., 1773–1822
John Burton, author of “Holy Bible, Book Divine,” was an English Sunday school teacher with a concern for teaching spiritual truths to children. This text appeared in 1806 in Burton’s Sunday school hymnal, which was titled Incentives for Early Piety.