Hymn 851 How lovely is Thy dwelling place

1
How lovely is Thy dwelling-place!
Within Thy courts I long to be;
Thy presence, Lord, my spirit craves,
For this my heart cries out to Thee.

2
At Thy burnt-offering altar, Lord,
And at Thine incense altar blest,
Even the sparrow finds a home,
And swallow there prepares her nest.

3
Men, as the sparrow, frail and small,
When living in Thy house find rest,
Relying on the altar’s blood,
Enjoying there the incense blest.

4
How blessed are those men indeed!
Trusting in Thee they are made strong;
Highways to Zion in their hearts,
The way they care not, rough or long.

5
Passing the weeping valley they
Make it a place of springing wells;
The rain with blessings covers it
And in the way God’s mercy tells.

6
From strength to strength they go, and all
Before the Lord in Zion meet;
Thus ever seeking Thine own self,
They need Thy care and grace replete.

7
Better a day within Thy courts
Than days a thousand I would tell;
I’d rather at Thy threshold stand
Than in the wicked’s tents to dwell.

8
Thou art a sun, Thou art a shield,
Thou grace and glory wilt supply;
Thy presence and Thy very self
My need in fulness satisfy.

9
Not one good thing wilt Thou withhold
From those who walk in uprightness;
Bless’d is the man that trusts in Thee
With grace and glory measureless.