Chapter 47

The Lord is great, great honour is his due, here in the city where he, our God, dwells. Fair rises the peak of his holy mountain,

the pride of the whole world, and the true pole of earth, mount Sion, the city of the great King;

within those walls, God has proved himself a sure defence.

See, how the kings of the earth have made common cause, and met there in arms!

At the sight of her all was bewilderment, and confusion, and dismay;

fear took hold of them, sudden as the throes of a woman in travail;

not more ruinously on ocean-going ships falls the east wind.

Here, in this city of the Lord of hosts, the city of our own God, we have proved the tale long since told us, that God upholds her for all eternity;

sheltered in thy temple, we give thanks for our deliverance.

O God, wherever thy name is known on earth, thy praise is told, ever just in thy dealings;

well may the hill of Sion rejoice, well may the townships of Juda triumph, at the decrees which thou, Lord, hast executed.

Walk about Sion, make the round of her towers, and count the number of them;

mark well the defences that are hers, pass all her strongholds in review; then give word to the next generation,

Such is the God, who is our God for ever and ever; our Shepherd eternally.