Scripture Verse

We have a strong city; God makes salvation its walls and ramparts. Isaiah 26:1

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spi­ri­tu­al Songs, Book 1, 1707, num­ber 7. The safe­ty and pro­tect­ion of the Church.

Music: Ir­ish A Col­lect­ion of Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems, by S. Pow­ell (Dub­lin: 1749) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

How hon­or­able is the place
Where we ad­or­ing stand,
Zion, the glo­ry of the earth,
And beau­ty of the land!

Bulwarks of migh­ty grace de­fend
The ci­ty where we dwell;
The walls, of strong sal­va­tion made,
Defy th’as­saults of hell.

Lift up the ev­er­last­ing gates,
The doors wide op­en fling;
Enter, ye na­tions that obey
The sta­tutes of our king.

Here shall you taste un­min­gled joys,
And live in per­fect peace,
You that have known Je­ho­vah’s name.
And ven­tured on His grace.

Trust in the Lord, for ev­er trust,
And ban­ish all your fears;
Strength in the Lord Je­ho­vah dwells,
Eternal as His years.

What though the re­bels dwell on high,
His arm shall bring them low;
Low as the ca­verns of the grave
Their lof­ty heads shall bow.

On Ba­by­lon our feet shall tread
In that re­joic­ing hour;
The ru­ins of her walls shall spread
A pave­ment for the poor.