Psalm 48

Common Metre (8,6,8,6)

Suggested Tunes: 119 St Magnus, 134 Stockton, 40 Cheshire, 144 Westminster

1    Great is the Lord, and greatly he

            is to be praised still,

      Within the city of our God,

            upon his holy hill.

2    Mount Sion stands most beautiful,

            the joy of all the land;

      The city of the mighty King

            on her north side doth stand.

3    The Lord within her palaces

            is for a refuge known.

4    For, lo, the kings that gather’d were

            together, by have gone.

5    But when they did behold the same,

            they, wond’ring, would not stay;

      But, being troubled at the sight,

            they thence did haste away.

6    Great terror there took hold on them;

            they were possess’d with fear;

      Their grief came like a woman’s pain,

            when she a child doth bear.

7    Thou Tarshish ships with east wind break’st:

8         As we have heard it told,

      So, in the city of the Lord,

            our eyes did it behold;

      In our God’s city, which his hand

            for ever stablish will.

9    We of thy loving-kindness thought,

            Lord, in thy temple still.

10  O Lord, according to thy name,

            through all the earth’s thy praise;

      And thy right hand, O Lord, is full

            of righteousness always.

11  Because thy judgments are made known,

            let Sion mount rejoice;

      Of Judah let the daughters all

            send forth a cheerful voice.

12  Walk about Sion, and go round;

            the high tow’rs thereof tell:

13  Consider ye her palaces,

            and mark her bulwarks well;

      That ye may tell posterity.

14        For this God doth abide

      Our God for evermore; he will

            ev’n unto death us guide.