1 By the holy hills surrounded,
On her firm base securely rounded,
Stands fast the city of the Lord;
None shall rend her, walls asunder;
On her men look with fear and wonder;
And mark who here keeps watch and ward.
He slumbers not, nor sleeps,
Who His loved Israel keeps,
Hallelunah!
Happy the race
Who through God's grace
Shall have in her their dwelling place!
2 Zion's gates Jehovah loveth,
And with especial grace approveth;
He maketh fast her bolts and bars;
Those who dwell in her He blesses,
And comforts them in their distresses
Who cast on Him their griefs and cares.
How wonderful the grace
With which He doth embrace
All His people!
City of God,
How sweet the abode
On which such blessings are bestowed!
3 Taught in thee is a salvation
Unknown to every other nation;
There great and holy things are heard;
In the midst of thee abiding,
Enlightening, comforting, and guiding,
Thou hast the Spirit and the word;
There breathing peace around
Is heard the joyful sound,
Grace and mercy!
How sweet that is
Which here speaks peace,
There crowns with everlasting bliss.
4 Mother thou of every nation
Which here hath sought and found salvation,
O Zion, yet on earth shalt be:
Hark, what shouts the air are rending?
What cries to heaven's gates ascending!
All our fresh springs shall be in thee.
From thee the waters burst,
To slake our burning thirst,
Hallelujah!
From sin and death
God's own word saith
That He alone delivereth.
Source: The Lutheran Hymnary #80
Spitta, Carl Johann Philipp, D.D., was born Aug. 1, 1801, at Hannover, where his father, Lebrecht Wilhelm Gottfried Spitta, was then living, as bookkeeper and teacher of the French language. In his eleventh year Spitta fell into a severe illness, which lasted for four years, and so threw him back that his mother (the father died in 1805) abandoned the idea of a professional career, and apprenticed him to a watchmaker. This occupation did not prove at all congenial to him, but he would not confess his dislike, and his family were ignorant of it till an old friend, who was trying to comfort him after the death of a younger brother, discovered his true feelings. The younger brother had been preparing for ordination, and so Carl was now invited… Go to person page >
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