O 'twas a joyful sound to hear

Top Media Text Text Info Tune Timeline Page Scans Instances

O 'twas a joyful sound to hear Our tribes devoutly say

Published in 116 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 O 'twas a joyful sound to hear
our tribes devoutly say,
"Up, Israel! to the temple haste,
and keep your festal day."

2 At Salem's courts we must appear
with our assembled pow'rs,
in strong and beauteous order ranged,
like her united tow'rs.

3 O pray we then for Salem's peace;
for they shall prosp'rous be,
thou holy city of our God,
who bear true love to thee.

4 May peace within thy sacred walls
a constant guest be found;
with plenty and prosperity
thy palaces be crowned.

5 For my dear brethren's sake, and friends
no less than brethren dear,
I'll pray, "May peace in Salem's tow'rs
a constant guest appear."

6 But most of all I'll seek thy good,
and ever wish thee well,
for Zion and the temple's sake,
where God vouchsafes to dwell.

Source: Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #344

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

First Line:	O 'twas a joyful sound to hear Our tribes devoutly say
Title:	O 'twas a joyful sound to hear
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Source:	Tate and Brady's New Version, 1696, 1698
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

Psalm 122
(hymns)

^ top

Tune

MOUNT ZION (Parker)

NATIVITY (Lahee)

Henry Lahee (b. Chelsea, London, England, 1826; d. Croydon, London, 1912) composed NATIVITY, which was first published in 1855 and set to a nativity hymn (thus the tune's title), "High let us swell our tuneful notes," by Philip Doddridge (PsH 335). Because NATIVITY was published with Isaac Watts' (P…

Go to tune page >

MEAR

All tunes published with 'O 'twas a joyful sound to hear'^ top