在 Spaf­ford的生活中经历了两个极大的创伤后，Spaf­ford写了这首诗歌。他经历的第一个创伤发生在1871年十月的那场芝加哥大火灾，这场大火摧毁他的经济（他曾经是一位富有的商人）。不久以后，在他乘船渡过大西洋，Spaf­ford的四个女儿因两船相撞而死。Spaf­ford的妻子 Anna幸免，给Spaf­ford发了封电报“惟独我们得救了”，这封电报至今都很有名。几个星期后，在Spaf­ford自己的船靠近他女儿遇难的地方时，圣灵告诉他，不管世上发生什么痛苦和令人悲伤的事情，所有信徒都有永恒的盼望。

这首歌的曲子是根据Spaf­ford的女儿遇难的那艘船命名的，这艘船叫做the S.S. Ville de Havre。在这首曲子写完后不久，Spaf­ford死于一场火车事故。

It Is Well With My Soul 

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 
When sorrows like sea billows roll; 
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, 
It is well, it is well, with my soul. 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, 
Let this blest assurance control, 
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, 
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! 
My sin, not in part but the whole, 
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, 
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: 
If Jordan above me shall roll, 
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life 
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. 

But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, 
The sky, not the grave, is our goal; 
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord! 
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, 
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; 
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, 
Even so, it is well with my soul. 

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, 
When sorrows like sea billows roll; 
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, 
It is well, it is well, with my soul. 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, 
Let this blest assurance control, 
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, 
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. 

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! 
My sin, not in part but the whole, 
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, 
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: 
If Jordan above me shall roll, 
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life 
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. 

But, Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, 
The sky, not the grave, is our goal; 
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord! 
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul! 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, 
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll; 
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, 
Even so, it is well with my soul. 

《我心得安宁》

有时享平安 
如江河平又稳 
有时遇悲伤 
似浪滚 
无论何环境 
我已蒙主引领 
我心灵得安宁 
撒旦虽来侵 
众试炼虽来临 
但我有确据 
在我心 
基督已清楚 
我情况无人助 
就为我流宝血 
救赎我 
求主快再来 
使信心得实现 
云彩将卷起 
在主前 
号筒声响应 
我救主再来临 
愿主来 
我心灵得安宁