You Ought to Know Him

I have a Friend—you ought to know Him,
He is a Savior tender and true;
Jesus, my King—how I adore Him!
And He should be as precious to you.

Refrain

I have a Friend—you ought to know Him,
Will you receive His greeting today?
Waiting He stands, tenderly pleading:
“I am the Life, the Truth, and the Way.”

I have a Friend—you ought to know Him,
He is a faithful Shepherd and Guide;
Sorrow He shares, burdens He lightens,
Ev’ry good thing by Him is supplied.

Refrain

I have a Friend—you ought to know Him,
Will you not let Him enter your heart?
Peace He will give you without measure,
Blessing untold, that will not depart.

Refrain

Author: Unknown

No well-known author is associated with this early-20th-century gospel song. It appears in various hymnals without attribution or is occasionally listed as "anonymous" or "traditional." The style is consistent with American revival/gospel songs of the 1910s–1930s, but no definitive writer (such as Johnson Oatman Jr., Fanny Crosby, or similar figures) matches the text.