1 Open now thy gates of beauty;
Zion, let me enter there,
where my soul in joyful duty
waits for him who answers prayer;
O how blessed is this place,
filled with solace, light, and grace!

2 Here, my God, I come before thee,
come thou also down to me;
where we find thee and adore thee,
there a heav'n on earth must be;
to my heart O enter thou,
let it be thy temple now!

3 Here thy praise is gladly chanted;
here thy seed is duly sown;
let my soul, where it is planted,
bring forth precious sheaves alone,
so that all I hear may be
fruitful unto life in me.

4 Thou my faith increase and quicken;
let me keep thy gift divine;
howsoe'er temptations thicken,
may thy word still o'er me shine
ss my guiding star through life,
as my comfort in all strife.

5 Speak, O God, and I will hear thee;
let thy will be done indeed;
may I undisturbed draw near thee
while thou dost thy people feed;
here of live the fountain flows;
here is balm for all our woes.