Oh, Jesus Christ! how bright and fair

The state of holy marriage where

Thy blessing rich is given

What gracious gifts Thou dost bestow,

What streams of blessing ever flow

Down from Thy holy heaven,

When they

True stay

To Thee ever,

Leave Thee never,

Whose troth plighted,

In one life have been united.

When man and wife are mated well,

In harmony together dwell,

Are faithful to each other,

The streams of bliss flow constantly

What bliss of angels is on high

From hence may we discover;

No storm,

No worm

Can destroy it,

Can e’er gnaw it,

What God giveth

To the pair that in Him liveth.

He giveth of His grace the boon,

And in its bosom late and soon

His own belov’d He keepeth,

His arms He daily spreadeth o’er,

Guards as a Father by His pow’r

Us and our house, nor sleepeth.

Still we

Must be

Here and thither

Roaming ever,

Till He gives us

Pious homes, and thus relieves us.

The husband’s like a goodly tree

Whose branches spread so fair and free;

The wife a vine that giveth

Much fruit, and nurtures what it bears,

Whose fruit increaseth with the years,

Fruit that remains and liveth.

Jewel,

All hail!

Husband’s treasure!

House’s pleasure!

Crown of honour!

On His throne God thinketh on her.

O wife! the Lord hath chosen thee

That from thy womb brought forth should be

The folk His church that buildeth;

His wondrous work goes on for aye,

The mighty word His mouth doth say,

What thou beholdest, yieldeth,

Sons fair

Stand there,

Daughters sitting

Working, knitting,

Finely spinning,

And with art time wisely winning.

Be of good cheer, it was not we

Who first this order did decree,

It was a higher Father,

Who lov’d and loveth us for aye,

And from whose lips when griev’d each day

We friendly counsel gather;

Good end

He’ll send,

What we’re doing

And pursuing,

Or conceiving

Wise and happy issue giving.

A time will come, it cannot fail,

When we ’neath trials sore shall quail,

And tears be freely flowing;

To him who bears it patiently,

By God’s grace shall his sorrow be

Turn’d into joy o’erflowing.

Toil now,

Wait thou,

He arriveth

Who rest giveth,

Who can ever

Banish care and soon deliver.

Come hither then, my King so bless’d!

In trials guide, in pain give rest,

In anxious times relieving!

To Thee we shall ascribe the praise,

Our hearts and voices we shall raise

In one loud song, thanks giving,

Till we

With Thee

Ever dwelling,

And fulfilling

Thy will ever,

Thy name cease to praise shall never.