1 SWEET place; sweet place alone!
The court of God most high,
The heaven of heavens, the throne
Of spotless majesty!
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
2 The stranger homeward bends,
And sigheth for his rest:
Heaven is my home, my friends
Lodge there in Abraham's breast.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
3 Earth's but a sorry tent,
Pitched but a few frail days,
A short-leased tenement;
Heaven's still my song, my praise.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
4 No tears from any eyes
Drop in that holy choir:
But death itself there dies,
And sighs themselves expire.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
5 There should temptations cease,
My frailties there should end.
There should I rest in peace
In the arms of my best friend.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
==4-6s & 2-8s. SECOND PART
6 JERUSALEM on high
My song and city is,
My home whene'er I die,
The centre of my bliss.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
7 Thy walls, sweet city! thine
With pearls are garnished,
Thy gates with praises shine,
Thy streets with gold are spread.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
8 No sun by day shines there,
No moon by silent night.
O no! these needless are;
The Lamb's the city's light.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
9 There dwells my Lord, my King,
Judged here unfit to live;
There angels to him sing,
And lowly homage give.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
10 The patriarchs of old
There from their travels cease:
The prophets there behold
Their longed-for Prince of peace.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
11 The Lamb's apostles there
I might with joy behold:
The harpers I might hear
Harping on harps of gold.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
12 The bleeding martyrs, they
Within those courts are found;
All clothed in pure array,
Their scars with glory crowned.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?
13 Ah me! ah me! that I
In Kedar's tents here stay;
No place like this on high;
Thither, Lord! guide my way.
O happy place! When shall I be,
My God, with thee, To see thy face?