Scripture Verse

Give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof. Ezra 9:9

Introduction

Words: From the 11th Cen­tu­ry Mo­za­ra­bic Hym­na­ri­um in the Bri­tish Mu­se­um (O be­a­ta Hier­u­sa­lem, prae­di­can­da ci­vi­tas). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John El­ler­ton in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1889.

Music: Blag­don Charles E. Ste­phens, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1889 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ste­phens (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

portrait
John Ellerton
1826–1893

Lyrics

O Jerusalem the blissful,
Home of gladness yet untold,
Thou whose countless throngs triumphal
Fill with joy thy street of gold
Graven on thee, new and glorious,
They the King’s own name behold!

Many are thy sons, O mother,
Yon august and shining band!
Gentle peace in all thy borders
Makes thee glad, O happy land!
Perfect is thy restoration,
Bright in holiness to stand.

Here, a figure of the heavenly,
Shines our temple, worthier grown
By its richer restoration
On the old foundation stone.
With a majesty and beauty
To the former house unknown.

Lord, we pray Thee, Master Builder,
Great and holy, enter in,
Fill Thy sanctuary quickly,
As our hallowing rites begin,
And Thyself its consecrator
Rest for evermore therein.

Make Thy servants, though unworthy,
Temples of Thy grace to be;
Let us not in flesh or spirit
Prove disloyal unto Thee,
But in dedicated service
Praise Thy name adoringly.

Make, O royal Priest, Thine altar
Here henceforth a throne of light,
Ever held in highest honor,
And with many a gift made bright,
Ever blessèd, ever peaceful,
Ever precious in Thy sight.

Yea, our hearts, for these Thou judgest
As Thy cleansèd altars bless,
By Thy Spirit’s grace renew us
Unto perfect holiness,
And the sevenfold gifts from Heaven
Grant us ever to possess.

Now to Thee, through endless ages,
O most holy Trinity,
Highest honor, power unmeasured,
Everlasting glory be;
God for ever and for ever,
Three in One, and One in Three.