1 THOU, Lord, our dwelling-place hast been, Thy faithful people rest within Thine everlasting arms secure; Them Thou hast kept in ages past, And still their guardian-Rock stands fast, Thy mercies like Thyself endure. 2 Ere at Thy word the mountains rose, Or nature felt her earliest throes, Or all things out of nothing came; Thou wast from all eternity, Thou art the God, and still shalt be To all eternity the same. 3 Thy word dispenses life and death: The creature rendering up his breath