There is rap­ture to­night in yon ci­ty so fair,
Where the ri­ver of life flow­eth free;
And a touch of the joy that is ring­ing up there,
Falleth soft­ly on you and on me.

Refrain

There is joy in the pre­sence of an­gels to­night,
There is rap­ture to mor­tals un­told;
For the Fa­ther and Shep­herd in Hea­ven rejoice
Over one who re­turns to the fold.

We can fan­cy we hear the sweet an­them of joy
That the an­gels are sing­ing to­night;
For we know that the low­lands of earth have a place
In the thoughts of the dwell­ers in light.

Refrain

They must watch us with pi­ty­ing love in their eyes,
As in sin and in sor­row we stray;
For we know there is rap­tur­ous joy in the skies,
When a lost one re­turns to the Way.

Refrain

For the Mas­ter hath lift­ed the veil from our eyes,
And our faith-strength­ened vi­sion dis­cerns
How the hea­ven­ly ci­ty is thrill­ing with joy,
Over one who re­pents and re­turns.

Refrain