Scripture Verse

Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. Psalm 118:19

Introduction

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 318.

Music: Zer­ah Lo­well Ma­son, 1837 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

The glo­ri­ous gates of right­eous­ness
Throw op­en un­to me,
And I will en­ter them with praise,
O Lord, my God, to Thee,
And I will en­ter them with praise,
O Lord, my God, to Thee.

This is Thy tem­ple gate, O Lord,
The just shall en­ter there;
My Sav­ior, I will give Thee thanks,
O Thou, that hear­est pray­er,
My Sav­ior, I will give Thee thanks,
O Thou, that hear­est pray­er.

The stone re­ject­ed and des­pised
Is now the cor­ner­stone;
How won­drous are the ways of God,
Unfathomed and un­known!
How won­drous are the ways of God,
Unfathomed and un­known!

In this the day that Thou hast made
Triumphantly we sing;
Send now pros­pe­ri­ty, O Lord,
O Lord, sal­va­tion bring,
Send now pros­pe­ri­ty, O Lord,
O Lord, sal­va­tion bring.

Hosanna! Ev­er blest be he
That com­eth in God’s name;
The bless­ing of Je­ho­vah’s house
Upon you we proc­laim;
The bless­ing of Je­ho­vah’s house
Upon you we pro­claim.

The light of joy to shine on us
The Lord our God has made;
Now be the pre­cious sac­ri­fice
Upon His al­tar laid;
Now be the pre­cious sac­ri­fice
Upon His al­tar laid.

O Lord, my God, I praise Thy name,
All oth­er nam­es above;
O give Him thanks, for He is good
And bound­less is His love;
O give Him thanks, for He is good
And bound­less is His love.

O praise the Lord, for He is good;
Let all in Heav’n above
And all His saints on earth pro­claim
His ev­er­last­ing love;
And all His saints on earth pro­claim
His ev­er­last­ing love.