Forever with the Lord - #616

"Forever with the Lord"
by James Montgomery, 1771-1854

1. "Forever with the Lord!"
Amen! so let it be,
Life from the dead is in that word,
'Tis immortality.

2. Here in the body pent,
Absent from Him, I roam,
Yet nightly pitch my moving tent
A day's march nearer home.

3. My Father's house on high,
Home of my soul, how near
At times to faith's foreseeing eye
Thy golden gates appear!

4. Ah, then my spirit faints
To reach the land I love,
The bright inheritance of saints,
Jerusalem above!

5. "Forever with the Lord!"
O Father, 'tis Thy will.
The promise of that faithful word
E'en here to me fulfil.

6. Be Thou at my right hand,
Then can I never fail.
Uphold Thou me, and I shall stand;
Fight Thou, and I'll prevail.

7. So when my dying breath
Shall rend the veil in twain,
By death I shall escape from death
And life eternal gain.

8. Knowing as I am known,
How shall I love that word
And oft repeat before the throne,
"Forever with the Lord!"

Hymn #616
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Author: James Montgomery, 1835, cento, alt.
Tune: "Schumann"
1st Published in: Cantica Laudis
Town: Boston, 1850