I build a house to the name of the Lord my God, to dedicate it to Him.
2 Chronicles 2:4
Words: Cornelius. T. Shaffer, in the African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book (Philadelphia: African Methodist Episcopal Book Concern, 1898), number 754.
Music: Ward arranged from a Scottish tune by Lowell Mason, 1830 (🔊 pdf nwc).
O Lord of hosts, we seek to raise,
Houses of worship, to Thy praise;
Wilt Thou Thy people’s hearts prepare,
Who meet this day for praise and prayer?
And Lord, let living souls be fed,
On this glad day, with heavenly bread;
That they in hope of glories blessed,
May hence prepare, Thee, earthly rest.
That everywhere, throughout the land,
There may to Thee a temple stand,
That there proclaimed, Thy mercy sure,
Shall stand, while time and man endure.
Jehovah, here our hearts inspire,
Baptize our souls with hallowed fire;
Bless Thou Thy people’s work for good,
And fill Thy poor with heav’nly food.
That songs triumphant—earth and sky,
May joyful to the sound reply;
And hallelujahs hence ascend,
With prayer and praise, ’till time shall end.