You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

That Beautiful City

Representative Text

1 I know that afar in God’s boundless realm,
Perhaps ‘mid the starry spaces,
Lies the promised home of the saints redeemed,
Replete with celestial graces;
In dreams I have walked on the streets of gold,
As I sought for my own fair dwelling,
And voices I knew and loved of old,
I’ve heard in the music swelling.

Refrain:
That beautiful city is home to me,
Each day it is growing dearer;
And voices that call from beyond the sea
Are drawing me nearer and nearer.

2 That beautiful city with jasper walls,
Ne’er closes its pearly portals,
And the healing pow’r of its holy Light
Sweeps over the blest immortals;
There sorrow and tears shall be wiped away,
In the dawn of an endless morning,
Our triumphs of faith like stars shall shining—
Bright crowns for the soul’s adorning. [Refrain]

3 The longings of life shall be satisfied,
The fetters of earth be broken,
And the rods imprisoned within the soul,
With rapture shall then be spoken;
The music that sorrow hath hushed awhile,
And the silence of life’s sad story,
Shall leap into songs of perfect joy,
Attuned to eternal glory. [Refrain]

Source: The Finest of the Wheat No. 3 #192

Author: Lanta Wilson Smith

(no biographical information available about Lanta Wilson Smith.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: I know that afar in God's boundless realm
Title: That Beautiful City
Author: Lanta Wilson Smith
Language: English
Refrain First Line: That beautiful city is home to me
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #11587

Include 3 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.