We Cannot Build Alone

We can­not build alone;

To rear

great God

to Thee

A house which Thou wilt own

Thou must the build­er be.

Not by our might

but Thy pow­er

Must dome and tow­er take up­ward flight

Must dome and tow­er take up­ward flight.

Were all the stones that lie

Unquarried ’neath the sod

Piled up against the sky

It were not wor­thy God.

To make this dear

Lord

con­des­cend

Thy head to bend and en­ter here

Thy head to bend and en­ter here.

Let faith here rear to God!

Here love erect her thrones!

A house for Thine ab­ode

Be built of live­ly stones!

We do not err

O Ho­ly Ghost!

Pure hearts Thou dost to fanes pre­fer

Pure hearts Thou dost to fanes pre­fer.

The heav’n­ly on­ly stands:

Earth brief­ly ty­pi­fies

The house not made with hands

Eternal in the skies—

We see its tow­ers: how sweet to know

When hence we go

that house is ours!

When hence we go

that house is ours!