Jerusalem the Golden

EWING7.6.7.6.7.6.7.6

Words: Bernard of ClunyTranslated by John Mason Neale, 1858Music: EWING, Alexander C. Ewing, 1853

Key
Stanzas

Practice player: melody only, played by your browser. The intro is the closing line of the tune, as many churches play it. Melody from the Open Hymnal Project (public domain).

Words

1

Jerusalem the golden,
with milk and honey blest,
Beneath thy contemplation
sink heart and voice oppressed.
I know not, O I know not,
what joys await us there,
What radiancy of glory,
what bliss beyond compare.

2

They stand, those halls of Zion,
all jubilant with song,
And bright with many'an angel,
and all the martyr throng;
The Prince is ever in them,
the daylight is serene.
The pastures of the blessèd
are decked in glorious sheen.

3

There is the throne of David,
and there, from care released,
The shout of them that triumph,
the song of them that feast;
And they are with their Leader,
who conquered in the fight,
And won for them forever
their gleaming robes of white.

4

O sweet and blessèd country,
the home of God's elect!
O sweet and blessèd 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 blessed.

Scripture

The Bible passages this hymn draws on, in the King James Version.

And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17–18

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:19–20

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