1 Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
One whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for a wrong abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

2 See the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply thy sons and daughters
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.

3 Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear,
for a glory and a covering,
showing that the Lord is near.
Thus they march, the pillar leading –
light by night and shade by day –
daily on the manna feeding
which God gives them when they pray.

4 Saviour, since of Zion's city
we, through grace, a part may claim,
let the world deride or pity,
we will glory in thy name.
Fading is all worldly pleasure,
all its boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion's children know.