The Cyber Hymnal ‎#7103

7103. Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying

1. Wake, awake, for night is flying;
The watchmen on the heights are crying:
Awake, Jerusalem, at last!
Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices;
Come forth, ye virgins, night is past;
The Bridegroom comes, awake;
Your lamps with gladness take;
Alleluia! And for His marriage feast prepare
For ye must go and meet Him there.

2. Zion hears the watchmen singing,
And all her heart with joy is springing;
She wakes, she rises from her gloom;
For her Lord comes down all glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious.
Her star is risen, her light is come.
Ah come, Thou blessèd One, God’s own belovèd Son:
Alleluia! We follow till the halls we see
Where Thou hast bid us sup with Thee.

3. Now let all the heavens adore Thee,
And saints and angels sing before Thee,
With harp and cymbal’s clearest tone;
Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where we are with the choir immortal
Of angels round Thy dazzling throne;
Nor eye hath seen, nor ear hath yet attained to hear
What there is ours, but we rejoice and sing to Thee
Our hymn of joy eternally.

Text Information

• First Line: Wake, awake, for night is flying
• Title: Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying
• German Title: Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
• Author: Philipp Nicolai (1599)
• Translator (from German): Catherine Winkworth (1858)
• Language: English
• Source: First published in Nicolai's Freudenspiegel des ewigen Lebens (Joyous Mirror of Eternal Life), 1599; translation in Lyra Germanica, second series, 1858
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: The words may have been inspired by a 1523 poem by Nuremberg's Meistersinger Lutheran poet Hans Sachs, 1494-1576.

Tune Information

• Name: WACHET AUF
• Composer: Philipp Nicolai (1599)
• Harmonizer: Jo­hann S. Bach (1731)
• Incipit: 13555 56551 52321
• Key: C Major
• Copyright: Public Domain