1 Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose Word cannot be broken
formed you for his own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
what can shake your sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
you may smile at all your foes.
2 See the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply your sons and daughters
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.
3 Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear,
for a glory and a covering,
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 God gives them on their way.
4 Savior, since of Zion's city
I through grace a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in your name.
Fading are the world's best pleasures,
all its bloated pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasure
none but Zion's children know.
