ten thousand time ten thousand

ten thousand times ten thousand in sparkling raiment bright,
the armies of the ransomed saints throng up the steeps of light;
’tis finished, all is finished, their fight with death and sin;
fling open wide the golden gates, and let the victors in.

what rush of alleluias fills all the earth and sky!
what ringing of a thousand harps bespeaks the triumph nigh!
o day, for which creation and all its tribes were made;
o joy, for all its former woes a thousandfold repaid!

o then what raptured greetings on canaan’s happy shore;
what knitting severed friendships up, where partings are no more!
then eyes with joy shall sparkle, that brimmed with tears of late;
orphans no longer fatherless, nor widows desolate.

bring near thy great salvation, thou lamb for sinners slain;
fill up the roll of thine elect, then take thy power, and reign;
appear, desire of nations, thine exiles long for home;
show in the heaven thy promised sign; thou prince and savior, come.