Rise, Crowned with Light, Imperial Salem, Rise - #503 - Alexander Pope

"Rise, Crowned with Light, Imperial Salem, Rise"
by Alexander Pope, 1688-1744

1. Rise, crowned with light, imperial Salem, rise!
Exalt thy tow'ring head and lift thine eyes;
See heav'n its sparkling portals wide display
And break upon thee in a flood of day.

2. See a long race thy spacious courts adorn;
See future sons and daughters, yet unborn,
In crowding ranks on ev'ry side arise
Demanding life, impatient for the skies.

3. See barb'rous nations at thy gates attend,
Walk in the light, and in thy temple bend;
See thy bright altars thronged with prostrate kings,
While ev'ry land its joyful tribute brings.

4. The seas shall waste, the skies in smoke decay,
Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away;
But fixed this Word, this saving pow'r, remains;
Thy realms shall last, thine own Messiah reigns.

Hymn #503
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Isaiah 60:1ff
Author: Alexander Pope, 1712, cento, alt.
Tune: "Old 124th"
1st Published in: Genevan Psalter, 1551