From Sheba a distant report Of Solomon’s glory and fame, Invited the queen to his court, But all was outdone when she came; She cried, with a pleasing surprise, When first she before him appeared, “How much, what I see with my eyes, “Surpasses the rumor I heard!” | When once to Jerusalem come, The treasure and train she had brought; The wealth she possessed at home, No longer had place in her thought: His house, his attendants, his throne, All struck her with wonder and awe; The glory of Solomon shone, In every object she saw. | But Solomon most she admired, Whose spirit conducted the whole; His wisdom, which God had inspired, His bounty and greatness of soul; Of all the hard questions she put, A ready solution he showed; Exceeded her with and her suit, And more than she asked him bestowed. | Thus I when the gospel proclaimed The Savior’s great name in my ears, The wisdom for which he is famed, The love which to sinners he bears; I longed, and I was not denied, That I in his presence might bow; I saw, and transported I cried, “A greater than Solomon Thou!” | My conscience no comfort could find, By doubt and hard questions opposed; But He restored peace to my mind, And answered each doubt I proposed: Beholding me poor and distressed, His bounty supplied all my wants; My prayer could have never expressed So much as this Solomon grants. | I heard, and was slow to believe, But now with my eyes I behold, Much more than my heart could conceive, Or language could ever have told: How happy thy servants must be, Who always before thee appear! Vouchsafe, LORD, this blessing to me, I find it is good to be here. | |