7,6,7,6

"Behold, tbe Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." -- Matt.25:6.

"Ermuntert, euch, ihr Frommen."

[22]Laurentius Laurenti.

transl., Sarah Findlater, 1854

Rejoice, all ye believers,

And let your lights appear;

Tbe evening is advancing,

And darker night is near.

The Bridegroom is arising,

And soon He draweth nigh.

Up! pray, and watch, and wrestle --

At midnight comes the cry!

See that your lamps are burning,

Replenish them with oil,

And wait for your salvation,

The end of earthly toil.

The watchers on the mountain

Proclaim the Bridegroom near;

Go, meet Him as He cometh,

With Hallelujahs clear!

Ye wise and holy virgins,

Now raise your voices higher,

Till in songs of jubilee

They meet the angel-choir,

The marriage-feast is waiting,

The gates wide open stand;

Up! up! ye heirs of glory --

The Bridegroom is at hand!

Ye saints, who here in patience

Your cross and suff'rings bore,

Shall live and reign for ever,

When sorrow is no more.

Around the throne of glory,

The Lamb ye shall behold,

In triumph cast before Him

Your diadems of gold!

Palms of victory are there;

There, radiant garments are;

There stands the peaceful harvest,

Beyond the reach of war.

There, after stormy winter,

The flowers of earth arise,

And from the grave's long slumber

Shall meet again our eyes!

Our Hope and Expectation,

O Jesus! now appear;

Arise, thou Sun, so longed for,

O'er this benighted sphere!

With hearts and hands uplifted,

We plead, O Lord, to see

The day of earth's redemption,

That brings us unto thee!