Scripture Verse

We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Isaiah 26:1

Introduction

Words: P. H. Bris­tow, in Hymns We Love, ed­it­ed by Ad­am Gei­bel & Fred­er­ic W. Eick­hoff (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Ad­am Gei­bel Mu­sic, 1907), num­ber 147, alt.

Music: Pun­jab Ad­am Gei­bel, 1907 (🔊 pdf nwc) (re­peats last line of re­frain).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know Bris­tow’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

portrait
Adam Geibel
1855–1933

Lyrics

We have a strong city, in Judah’s fair land,
Its walls are salvation, appointed to stand;
Salvation its bulwarks that never may fall,
Jehovah its builder, He’s all and in all.

Refrain

O City, fair City! thou beauteous place;
Thy gates swing wide open, thy temples are grace;
Who enter thy portals, for ever remain;
There’s peace, perfect peace, for Jehovah doth reign.

Then open the gates, let the righteous who hold
His truth, enter in, and become of His fold;
He’ll keep them in peace if their mind is but stayed;
And so they may trust Him, and be not afraid.

Refrain

Forever and ever, O trust ye the Lord;
He’ll keep whosoever believes in His word.
Jehovah, Thy strength everlasting shall be;
Then open, fair city, we come unto thee.

Refrain