I.
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Form’d thee for his own abode:
On the rock of ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
II.
See the streams of living waters
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thrist t’ assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.
III.
Round each habitation hov’ring,
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a cov’ring,
Showing that the Lord is near:
Thus deriving from their banner
Light by night and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the manna
Which he gives them when they pray.
IV.
Blest inhabitants of Zion,
Wash’d in the Redeemer’s blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to God:
’Tis his love his people raises
Over self to reign as kings,
And as priests, his solemn praises
Each for a thank-off’ring brings.
V.
Saviour, if of Zion’s city
I, through grace, a member am;
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name:
Fading is the worldling’s pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure,
None but Zion’s children know.
John Newton [1725–1807], The Works of John Newton Volume Three, (Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1824), 372–373
