James Montgomery

The Courts of the Lord's House.

How amiable, how fair

O Lord of Hosts! to me

Thy tabernacles are!

My flesh cries out for Thee;

My heart and soul, with heavenward fire,

To Thee, the living God, aspire,

The sparrow finds a place

To build her little nest,

The swallows' wandering race

Hither return to rest;

Beneath Thy roof their young ones cry,

And round Thine Altar learn to fly.

Thrice blessed they who dwell

Within Thy house, my God!

Where daily praises swell,

And still the floor is trod

By those, who in Thy presence bow;

By those whose King and God art Thou.

Through Baca's arid vale,

As pilgrims when they pass

The well-springs never fail;

Fresh rain renews the grass;

From strength to strength they journey still,

Till all appear on Zion's hill.

Lord God of Hosts! give ear,

A gracious answer yield;

O God of Jacob! hear;

Behold, O God! our shield;

Look on Thine own Anointed One

And save through thy beloved Son.

Lord, I would rather stand

A keeper at Thy gate,

Than on the king's right hand

In tents of earthly state;

One day within Thy courts, one day

Is worth a thousand cast away.

God is a sun of light,

Glory and grace to shed,

God is a helm of might

To guard the faithful head.

O Lord of Hosts! how happy he,

The man who puts his trust in Thee.