Since ‘way before King David, every city had a wall
Built of stone cut carefully, wide and smooth and tall
To protect from the invader, the raider and brigand –
To keep the people safe at night from the lawless in the land
Now the city of Jerusalem had been a joy for all to see
But the people turned to evil and to great iniquity
And in judgment we were exiled to the land of Babylon
And Jerusalem was laid to waste by the army that had won
Then when sevn'ty years had ended, thousands went back to our land
But there was nothing left of what was once so awesome and so grand
And I guess they just lost heart, but no one tried to build again
The glory of those former days and how life there once had been
So I prayed to God in heaven to remind Him of His word –
That if we'd turn our hearts to Him, our prayers would then be heard
And He'd rebuild us in the place that He'd chosen for His name
And no sooner had I had prayed to Him, than the answer swiftly came
Because the king said, “Nehemiah, go and build that city back!”
He made me its rulin' governor, and of money I had no lack
So with soldiers all around me that were there at my command
I left Babylon rejoicing, goin' to see the Promised Land!
Chorus
Shout! With joy to God everybody
Sing hallelujah! Shout! With joy to God everybody
Make glorious His praise
Shout! With joy to God everybody
Sing hallelujah! Shout! With joy to God everybody
Make glorious his praise!
Say to Him, “How awesome are Your works!
How great and irresistible Your power! How beautiful, how glorious is Your Name!”
But when I rode into Jerusalem, all the gates and walls were down
There was nothing left but piles of stones, just rubble all around
No one held their head up high, they lived in constant fear
There was nothin' to protect them and the loved ones they held dear
So I called ‘em all together, and I told ‘em ‘bout my plan:
“We're goin' to work together, now, every woman, child and man
You know, I've got the King's endorsement because God is on our side
And we're going to build this city back, with a wall that's high and wide!”
So everybody got movin', workin', buildin' on that wall
Whatever part you lived close to, that's where your lot would fall
The people, they had a mind to work, and the wall began to rise
In less than just a month it stood up half its finished size
But then our enemies, they plotted, “We'd better stop them while we can!
You know, once that wall's completed, ain't no way we're gonna rule this land!”
So they tried intimidation, and they threatened, schemed and cursed
But the more they tried to frighten us, for themselves they made things worse—
‘Cause we all put on our swords by day, then stood a watch at night'
And half of us held spears and shields ‘til the stars began their light
With th' one hand we'd be workin', with one prepared to fight
‘Til the wall at last was finished, and we danced upon its height
Chorus
Shout! With joy to God everybody
Sing hallelujah! Shout! With joy to God everybody
Make glorious His praise
Shout! With joy to God everybody
Sing hallelujah! Shout! With joy to God everybody
Make glorious his praise!
Say to Him, “How awesome are Your works!
How great and irresistible Your power! How beautiful, how glorious is Your Name!”
Now the wall we built was ma**ive, seventeen feet wide and strong
Forty feet from top to bottom, and well over two miles long
Because the pow'r of God was magnifyin' everything we'd do –
The days from start to finish, they were only fifty-two
Then the priests and all the singers and musicians from their towns
They all came up to Jerusalem to make a loud and joyful sound
And two great choirs went marchin' four abreast upon that wall
Singin' songs of joy to the Lord of Hosts, givin' glory for it all.