1 There is an ancient river,
Whose streams descend in light,
From never-failing fountains,
Beyond all earthly sight;
It ran through all the ages,
And, wheresoe’er it flowed,
Up rose the Holy City,
The Lord’s elect abode.

2 The river still is flowing,
But now with fuller stream;
And still the light is falling,
But now with brighter beam;
Of old the Song of Moses
Soared as it swept along,
But now the name of Jesus
Is made its sweeter song.

3 Its radiance lights us onward,
Its chanting waters cheer;
Blest is the eye beholding,
Blest is the hearing ear;
For as the earth clouds darken,
The glory clearer grows,
And gladder for life’s tumult,
The stream of music flows.

4 God’s River! The One Spirit,
Grace of the mystic Seven!
Drink, Holy Church, these waters,
Thine earnest here of Heaven;
So joy, and peace, and pleasure,
Shall feed thy life within,
So power without shall guard thee,
Against the world of sin.

5 O Beautiful, the River!
We wait upon thy shore,
In bliss of expectation
Abiding evermore,
Till at some holy even
We pass upon thy breast,
From foretaste into fullness,
From waiting unto rest.