The Golden City

The elder firmament and earth
Had passed away in awful flame;
Thereon another welkin came,
Another world received its birth.

Then, looking up, I saw descend
The Golden City, strong and high,
Yet clear as crystal to the eye,
Transparent gold from end to end.

Its walls were jasper, standing on
A plinth of onyx, chrysolite,
Of jacinth, beryl, sapphire bright,
Sard, amethyst and chalcedon.

From pearly portals argentine
Immeasurable streets unrolled,
With pavements wrought of solid gold,
Yet amber-clear like golden wine.

No temple was there in the place,
No heavenly luminary shone;
The fane thereof is God alone,
The sun thereof, Jehovah's face.

Then, far above all mortal ken,
I heard a mighty voice proclaim:
"Forever holy be His name!
God cometh down to dwell with men.

"He comes to wipe away their tears,
To give the stricken ones relief;
Yea, death shall be no more, nor grief,
Nor any mourning, pain, or fears."

Then God upon His throne replied:
"Behold I make creation new!
These promises are faithful true;
So write, and let my words abide!"