Scripture Verse

The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Sac­red Songs 1707–09, Book 2, num­ber 64.

Music: Er­nan Lo­well Ma­son, 1850 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

Happy the church, thou sacred place,
The seat of thy Creator’s grace;
Thine holy courts are His abode,
Thou earthly palace of our God!

Thy walls are strength, and at thy gates
A guard of heav’nly warriors waits;
Nor shall thy deep foundations move,
Fixed on His counsels and His love.

Thy foes in vain designs engage,
Against His throne in vain they rage;
Like rising waves, with angry roar,
That dash and die upon the shore.

Then let our souls in Sion dwell,
Nor fear the wrath of Rome and hell;
His arms embrace this happy ground,
Like brazen bulwarks built around.

God is our shield, and God our sun;
Swift as the fleeting moments run,
On us He sheds new beams of grace,
And we reflect His brightest praise.