1 Rise, crowned with light, imperial Salem, rise!
Exalt thy towering head and lift thine eyes;
See heav'n its sparkling portals wide display
And break upon thee in a flood of day.
2 See a long race thy temple courts adorn;
See future sons and daughters, yet unborn,
In crowding ranks on ev'ry side arise,
Demanding life, impatient for the skies.
3 See barb'rous nations at thy gates attend,
Walk in the light, and in thy temple bend;
See thy bright altars thronged with prostrate kings
While ev'ry land its joyful tribute brings.
4 The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away;
But fixed this Word, this saving pow'r, remains;
Thy realms shall last, thine own Messiah reigns.
Source: Lutheran Worship #313