Fair beyond telling,

Lord, is Thy dwelling,

Filled with Thy peace.

Oh how I languish

And, in my anguish,

Wait for release

That I may enter Thy temple, O Lord,

With Thee communing in deepest accord.

With Thy compassion,

Lord of Salvation,

Naught can compare.

Even the sparrow

Safe from the arrow

Rests in Thy care.

And as Thou shieldest the bird in its nest,

So let my heart in Thy temple find rest.

Years full of splendors,

Which to offenders

Earth may afford,

Never can measure

One day of pleasure

Found with Thee, Lord,

When on the wings of Thy quickening word

Souls are uplifted and Thou art adored.

Quicken in spirit,

Grow in Thy merit

Shall now Thy friends.

Blessings in showers

Filled with Thy powers

On them descends

Until at home in the city of gold

All shall in wonder Thy presence behold.

Grundtvig’s hymns are for the most part church hymns, presenting the objective

rather than the subjective phase of Christian faith. He wrote for the congregation and held that a hymn for congregational singing should express the common faith and hope of the worshippers, rather than the personal feelings and experiences of the individual. Because of this his hymns are frequently criticized for their lack of personal sentiment. The personal note is not wholly lacking in his work, however, as witnessed by the following hymn.

Suffer and languish,

Tremble in anguish

Must every soul that awakes to its guilt.

Sternly from yonder,

Sinai doth thunder:

Die or achieve what no sinner fulfilled.

Tremble with gladness,

Smile through their sadness

Shall all that rest in the arms of the Lord.

Grace beyond measure,

Comfort and treasure

Gathers the heart from His merciful word.

Bravely to suffer,

Gladly to offer

Praises to God ’neath the weight of our cross,

This will the Spirit