With jaspers glow thy bulwarks,
Thy streets with emeralds blaze:
The sardius and the topaz
Unite in thee their rays:
Thy ageless walls are glorious
With amethyst unpriced;
Thy saints build up its fabric,
And the corner stone is Christ.
Thou hast no shore, fair ocean!
Thou hast no time, bright day!
Dear fountain of refreshment
To pilgrims far away!
Jerusalem the golden!
With milk and honey blest, Beneath thy contemplation
Sink heart and voice opprest;
I know not, Oh, I know not
What social joys are there,
What radiancy of glory,
What light beyond compare ;
And when I fain would sing them,
My spirit fails and faints,
And vainly would it image
The assembly of the saints.
They stand, those halls of Sion,
Conjubilant with song,
And bright with many an angel,
And many a martyr throng :
The Prince is ever in them,
The light is aye serene;
The pastures of the blessed
Are decked in glorious sheen :
And they, beneath their Leader,
Who conquered in the fight,
For ever and for ever
Are clad in robes of white.
Jerusalem, the glorious!
The glory of the elect,
O dear and future vision
That eager hearts expect:
E'en now by faith I see thee,
E'en here thy walls discern;
To thee my thoughts are kindled,
And strive, and pant, and yearn:
Jerusalem the only,
That lookest from heaven below,
In thee is all my glory,
In me is all my woe;
O Land that seest no sorrow!
O State that fearest no strife!
O princely bowers! O land of flowers,
O realm and Home of Life.
O heavenly Jerusalem,
Ye everlasting halls,
Thrice blessed are the people
Who dwell within thy walls.
Thou art the golden mansion,
Where saints for ever sing;
The seat of God's own chosen,
The palace of the King.
There God for ever sitteth,
Himself of all the Crown ;
The Lamb, the Light that shineth,
And never goeth down.
Nought to this seat approacheth,
Their sweet peace to molest;
They sing their God for ever,
Nor day nor night thy rest.
To Christ, the Sun that lightens
His Church, above, below:
To Father and to Spirit,
All things created bow.
How bright these glorious spirits shine!
Whence all their white array?
How came they to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?
Lo! these are they from sufferings great
Who came to realms of light;
And in the blood of Christ have washed Those robes which shine so bright.
Now, with triumphant palms, they stand
Before the throne on high,
And serve the God they love amidst
The glories of the sky.
His presence fills each heart with joy,
Tunes every mouth to sing,
By day, by night, the sacred courts
With loud Hosannas ring.
Hunger and thirst are felt no more,
Nor suns with scorching ray;
God is their sun, whose cheering beams
Diffuse eternal day.
The Lamb which dwells amidst the throne
Shall o'er them still preside,
Feed them with nourishment divine,
And all their footsteps guide.
'Midst pastures green He'll lead His flock
Where living streams appear;
And God the Lord from every eye
Shall wipe off every tear.
Who are these arrayed in white,
Brighter than the noonday sun ?
Foremost of the sons of light,
Nearest the eternal throne?
These are they that bore the cross,
Nobly for their Master stood;
Sufferers in His righteous cause,
Followers of the dying God.
Out of great distress they came,
Washed their robes by faith below
In the blood of yonder Lamb-
Blood that washes white as snow.
Therefore are they next the throne,
Serve their Maker day and night;
God doth dwell among His own,
God doth in His saints delight.
He that on the throne doth reign,
Them for evermore shall feed,
With the tree of life sustain,
To the living fountains lead:
He shall all their griefs remove,
He shall all their wants supply;
God himself, the God of love,
Tears shall wipe from every eye.
The Lord descended from above,
He bowed the heavens most high;
And underneath His feet He cast
The darkness of the sky.
Upon the rushing cherubim
Full royally he rode;
And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.
Praise to the Father and the Son,
Praise to the Spirit be;
Praise to the blessed Three in One;
Through all eternity.
The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue, ethereal sky,
And spangled heavens, a shining frame,
Their great original proclaim:
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