O Lord, Thy Wing outspread

O Lord, thy wing outspread,
And us thy flock infold;
Thy broad wing spread, that covered
Thy mercy-seat of old:
And o'er our nightly roof,
And round our daily path,
Keep watch and ward, and hold aloof
The devil and his wrath.

For thou dost fence our head,
And shield — yea, thou alone —
The peasant on his pallet-bed,
The prince upon his throne.
Make then our heart thine ark,
Whereon thy Mystic Dove
May brood, and lighten it, when dark,
With beams of peace and love;

That dearer far to thee
Than gold or cedar-shrine
The bodies of thy saints may be,
The souls by thee made thine:
So nevermore be stirr'd
That voice within our heart,
The fearful word that once was heard, —
"Up, let us hence depart!"