1 Lord of the worlds above,
How pleasant and how fair
The dwellings of thy love,
Thy earthly temples are;
To thine abode
My heart aspires
With warm desires
To see my God.

2 The sparrow for her young
With pleasure seeks a nest,
And wandering swallows long
To find their wonted rest;
My spirit faints
With equal zeal
To rise and dwell
Among thy saints.

3 O happy souls that pray,
Where God appoints to hear;
O happy men that pay
Their constant service there!
They praise thee still;
And happy they
That love the way
To Zion's hill.

4 They go from strength to strength
Thro' this dark vale of tears,
'Till each arrives at length,
'Till each in heaven appears:
O glorious seat,
When GOD our king
Shall thither bring
Our willing feet!

5 To spend one sacred day
Where GOD and saints abide,
Affords diviner joy
Than thousand days beside:
Where GOD resorts,
I love it more
To keep the door,
Than shine in courts.

6 GOD is our sun and shield,
Our light and our defence;
With gifts his hands are fill'd,
We draw our blessings thence;
He shall bestow
On Jacob's race
Peculiar grace
And glory too.

7 The Lord his people loves;
His hand no good with-holds
From those his heart approves,
From pure and pious souls:
Thrice happy he,
O GOD of hosts,
Whose spirit trusts
Alone in thee.