The Old Violin
The Touch of the Masters Hand
'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
"And many a man with life out of tune
All battered and bruised with hardship
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
- Myra Brooks Welch
357 Comment(s)
A wonderful blessing from our GOD.
HALLELUJAH.WHAT A GOD WHAT A SAVIOUR
This was one of Beloved mother's favourite poems
Wonderful word to a could not care less generation
Superb message from Our GOD OF ALL THIS WORLD
LOVE THIS!
This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing.
I love the picture and I would like to
Have a picture of the pome thank you so much for sharing it to me
My Moms favorite poem
For years, the Lord ha given me solace through the words of this poem.
Yes,please. Let me know if you can send it to me and I will pay for it first.
Thank you,
Willie McCarthy
I hear this is available on "video". The Master is played by the actual musician!!!
This has been a favorite of mine for years. So true!
This poem has a number of changes that make it inferior to the original. By far the most egregious of these is the changing of "battered and scarred with sin" to battered and bruised with hardship."
In addition to marring the rhythm and meter of the poem, it subsantially changes the meaning. A man or woman battered and scarred with hardship may need a coat, a hot meal, and a few dollars. A man or woman battered and scarred with sin needs a great Savior. Please restore the original wording!
What size is the print?
Great thank you.
Heard this over 50 years ago and it still brings a tear to my eyes.
I have loved this and have heard it several times, but would like to include it in my Sabbath day readings.
Beautiful
Thanks for preserving a nourishing and stirring poem needed in these turbulent times
This is as true as it gets. We can only be healed by the touch of our Masters (Saviors) hand.
Love the poem but l have mislead it and l can surely see the Master’s hand in my life as l read it with HIM
I love this poem and would very much apricate a copy.
I’d love a print in a frame of this. When I was 13 (1976) this was shared at youth camp and changed my life!!!!
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I read this as a child. It’s beautiful! I would love a copy!
Thank You so much, I will hang it on my wall, in my study.
Beautiful poem
Would love a copy
In the early sixties I met the lady who later became my wife. It was when visiting her house and meeting my future inlaws that I first heard abd read this poem. It has been with me ever since and I have passed it to many friends over the years.
It is very poignant and telling.
Tony Walsh
I love this poem. It reminded me of my life before Jesus saved me and made me whole. I will praise Him forever!
I read a slightly different version where the some of the words were not
exactly the same.
yes. this is beautiful. i would love to have a copy.
Love this as my husband saved a old chair
I heard this as a young teenager starting g out in my Christian walk and was transported by its delivery at a concert. Now there is another upcoming concert at my church and I thought I would like to pass on the blessings.
I love this poem and have looked for it for awhile. I would love to have a copy. It is so encouraging.
I love this poem
My 6th grand granddaughter had her first violin performance this last week, and although just beginning by plucking the strings, she is excited to learn the instrument. Comes from a broken home and has had some challenges in school, I am blessed she enjoys music and will someday bless the world. This poem brings much encouragement. Thank you.,
This and footprints in the sand has always been my two favorite poems. I love the message in both of them. I have lived hard and had a hard life but I know that the Master always carries me
Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem. It brings back memories of hearing the song on Christian radio years ago.
Please check the first line of the second stanza for grammar.
The day I was 'touched by our Master's Hand' was the day my whole life changed.
I was 27yrs old.
Thy Master is touching me and my life once more. I'm 63 yrs old.
The Touch of the Master's Hand is one of my most beloved poems.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
It was a lovely reminder to me that having the touch of the master upon my life that I can face whatever is ahead with him
The old violin… The touch of the masters hand… is a wonderful poem. It touched my heart and gave me great insight upon others that has been beaten down by life itself… To know that God is always there to pick me up and dust me off and turn me into something special in God’s eye. Amen
It was read to our congregation by one of our elders every year.
Wonderful message
What a beautiful poem! My pastor has referred to it, but i have never read it in its entirety. Thank you for posting it here. It is such a blessing to read and a reminder of how special we are to the Lord Jesus. The world can see our worth when we surrender to Him.
I heard this poem from Dave Breese who had memorized it and quoted with such beautiful expression. As I read it here, I can hear his strong, rich voice. I would LOVE a copy to share with friends.
Thanks so much
Beautiful classic! Meaningful and profound!
I heard this year’s ago from my dad,it blessed me then and blesses me still.
This is a wonderful poem that I have heard a few times over the years. I just ran across this site and was blessed to read the poem in its entirety again and ponder my relationship with The Master. How true this poem is. I would certainly like to request a copy of this poem. Thank you so very much.
I heard this story in church today, it was a great story of the salvation God can bring to man.
My late father, a pastor for many years, used to read this poem. For some reason, I started quoting the poem (totally from a memory of my Dad quoting it) and found that I almost remember the whole poem.
I was a young girl during the war, this was a monologue l had to learn, l wouldn’t talk or speak , the trauma of being evacuated and separated from all familiar things , mother father and siblings, this helped me to speak again, although many years passed before l was able to talk without a stutter, as a child in the 1930-1040s trauma was unknown. Recognised today. It was not until l was in my twenties that confidence began to return. I remember this always with other monologues and old songs. Regards