Hymns

Who shall ascend thy heav'nly place

by Isaac Watts·1719·Meter 8.8.8.8 (LM)

Based on Ps 15

1

Who shall ascend thy heav'nly place,
Great God, and dwell before thy face?
The man that minds religion now,
And humbly walks with God below;

2

Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean,
Whose lips still speak the thing they mean;
No slanders dwell upon his tongue;
He hates to do his neighbor wrong.

3

Scarce will he trust an ill report,
Nor vents it to his neighbor's hurt:
Sinners of state he can despise,
But saints are honored in his eyes.

4

Firm to his word he ever stood,
And always makes his promise good;
Nor dares to change the thing he swears,
Whatever pain or loss he bears.

5

He never deals in bribing gold,
And mourns that justice should be sold;
While others gripe and grind the poor,
Sweet charity attends his door.

6

He loves his enemies, and prays
For those that curse him to his face
And doth to all men still the same
That he would hope or wish from them.

7

Yet, when his holiest works are done,
His soul depends on grace alone:
This is the man thy face shall see,
And dwell for ever, Lord, with thee.

CharityChristianDutyFaithfulnessGood works