eHymns.org

Karl Johann Philipp Spitta

Johannes Schmidlin

Alvin (Bud) Herman Manz in 2024

God has built on firm foundation
His holy city and the nations
In unbelief against it stand.
Yet it shall endure forever,
And men shall see with fear and wonder
Who governs it with mighty hand.
The God of Israel
Within its gates does dwell;
Hallelujah!
Rejoice with glee,
For blest shall be
Whose priv'lege is to dwell with Thee.

Zion's gates the Lord is blessing;
His grace upon them He's dispensing,
And makes their bars and crossbeams fast,
Fills its citizens with pleasure,
Rewards and blesses without measure
Those who will trust Him to the last.
How noble is His grace!
With patience He always
Bears His children.
O City rare,
So rich and fair,
Which God does as His own declare!

Great and holy is the teaching
His messengers in thee are preaching,
Such as no other nation hears.
God's own Word is thy salvation;
He gives His Spirit's inspiration,
By which all darkness disappears.
We hear from time to time
Thy gospel's lovely chime:
"Grace eternal."
How sweet the sound
That here is found,
Where crowns of endless life abound!

Dry your tears, ye hearts nigh broken,
Of Zion it shall yet be spoken:
"Her citizens in number grow!"
Men shall see with fear and wonder
How God builds Zion; they shall ponder
The grace and strength He doth bestow.
Lift up your souls and hearts;
The nations' day departs.
Then His day comes;
Zion shall rise,
And Judah's eyes
The One it pierced will recognize!

Mother thou of ev'ry nation,
That here hath sought and found salvation,
O Zion, thou shalt truly be.
What a chorus of rejoicing
Shall once the saints in thee be voicing!
The Fount of Life is found in thee.
In thee the waters well
That every thirst can still.
Hallelujah!
From death's dread cave,
From dangers grave,
No one but Zion's God can save!

Zion's city, God's creation,
Thou shalt be mother of the nation
That finds eternal life in thee!
Songs of praising and rejoicing
From thee to heaven will be rising;
In thee the stream of life shall be!
From thee the waters burst
That quench the burning thirst.
Hallelujah!
Save us from death,
From all distress,
Thou, Zion's God of righteousness!