1. What are these that glow from afar,
These that lean over the golden bar,
Strong as the lion, pure as the dove,
With open arms, and hearts of love?
They the blessèd ones gone before,
They the blessèd for evermore;
Out of great tribulation they went
Home to their home of Heaven content.
2. What are these that fly as a cloud,
With flashing heads and faces bowed;
In their mouths a victorious psalm,
In their hands a robe and palm?
Welcoming angels these that shine,
Your own angel, and yours, and mine;
Who have hedged us, both day and night
On the left hand and the right.
3. Light above light, and bliss beyond bliss,
Whom words cannot utter, lo, who is this?
As a king with many crowns He stands,
And our names are grav’n upon His hands;
As a priest, with God-uplifted eyes,
He offers for us His sacrifice;
As the Lamb of God, for sinners slain,
That we too may live, He lives again.
4. God the Father give us grace
To walk in the light of Jesu’s face;
God the Son give us a part
In the hiding-place of Jesu’s heart;
God the Spirit so hold us up
That we may drink of Jesu’s cup;
God Almighty, God Three in One,
God Almighty, God alone.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #7132