For thee, O dear, dear country,
Mine
eyes their vigils keep;
For
every love beholding
Thy
holy name, they weep.
The
mention of thy glory
Is
unction to the breast,
And
medicine in sickness,
And
love, and life, and rest.
2
O
one, O only mansion!
O
Paradise of joy!
Where
tears are ever banish'd
And
smiles have no alloy;
Thy
loveliness oppresses
All
human thought and heart,
And
none, O Peace, O Sion,
Can
sing thee as thou art.
3
With
jasper glow thy bulwarks,
Thy
streets with emeralds blaze;
The
sadius and the topaz
Unite
in thee their rays;
Thine
ageless walls are bonded
With
amethyst unpriced;
The
saints shall build thy fabric,
And
the cornerstone is Christ.
4
The
cross is all thy splendor,
The
Crucified thy praise;
His
laud and benediction
Thy
ransom’d saints shall raise;
Upon
the Rock of Ages
They
build thy holy tower;
Thine
is the victor’s laurel,
And
thine the golden dower.
5
O
sweet and blessed country,
The
home of God’s elect!
O
sweet and blessed country
That
eager hearts expect!
Jesus,
in mercy bring us
To
that dear land of rest,
Who
art, with God the Father,
And
Spirit, ever blest.