There is a land of pure delight
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{title: There is a land of pure delight}
{key: C}
{verse}
[C]There is a land of pure delight,
[F]Where saints immortal reign:
[C]Infinite day excludes the night,
[G]And pleasures banish pain.
{verse}
[C]There everlasting spring abides,
[F]And never-with'ring flowers:
[C]Death like a narrow sea divides
[G]That heavenly land from ours.
{verse}
[C]Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
[F]Stand dressed in living green:
[C]So to the Jews fair Canaan stood,
[G]While Jordan roll'd between.
{verse}
[C]But tim'rous mortals start and shrink
[F]To cross that narrow sea;
[C]And linger shiv'ring on the brink,
[G]And fear to launch away.
{verse}
[C]O could we make our doubts remove,
[F]Those gloomy doubts that rise,
[C]And see the Canaan that we love,
[G]With unbeclouded eyes!
{verse}
[C]Could we but climb where Moses stood,
[F]And view the landscape o'er,
[C]Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood,
[G]Should fright us from the shore.
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There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign:
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.
There everlasting spring abides,
And never-withr'ing flowers:
Death like a narrow sea divides
That heavenly land from ours.
Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
Stand dressed in living green:
So to the Jews fair Canaan stood,
While Jordan roll'd between.
But tim'rous mortals start and shrink
To cross that narrow sea;
And linger shiv'ring on the brink,
And fear to launch away.
O could we make our doubts remove,
Those gloomy doubts that rise,
And see the Canaan that we love,
With unbeclouded eyes!
Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o'er,
Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood,
Should fright us from the shore.
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About This Hymn
"There Is a Land of Pure Delight" is a Christian hymn written by Isaac Watts, one of the most prolific hymn writers of the 18th century. It was first published in 1707 in Watts' collection of hymns, "Hymns and Spiritual Songs." The hymn focuses on the theme of heaven and the promise of eternal life, offering a poetic portrayal of the peace and joy that believers expect to experience after death. Inspired by Watts' theological convictions, the hymn emphasizes the believer's longing for the "land of pure delight," a place free from earthly sorrow and sin. The text reflects the Puritan belief in an afterlife where the faithful are reunited with God in eternal bliss. While the hymn has a somewhat somber tone, it is filled with hope, underscoring the comfort and reassurance that many Christians find in the promise of heaven. The hymn remains popular in Christian worship to this day, often sung during funeral services or moments of reflection on eternity.