Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#461

461. Eternity! terrific word!

1 Eternity! terrific word!
Within the heart a piercing sword!
Beginning without ending!
Eternity, unmeasured time!
I sink beneath the though sublime,
That I to thee am tending:
Deep horrors fill my quaking heart,
My lips in speech refuse to part.

2 Eternity! O what a pang!
Eternity! no serpent's fang
Could send that thrill of terror;
When I revolve thy clanking chains,
Thy dark abyss of deathless pains,
My soul is filled with horror.
O search the universe around,
No equal terror can be found.

3 Awake, O man, from sinful sleep;
Henceforth thy feet from wand'ring keep;
Seek God by true repentance!
Awake, behold thy wasting sand,
Eternity is just at hand,
And brings thine awful sentence.
This perchance thy final day;
This hour thy soul may haste away.

4 Eternity! terrific word!
Within the heart a piercing sword!
Beginning without ending!
Eternity! unmeasured time!
I sink beneath the thought sublime,
That I to thee am tending:
Lord Jesus, when it pleaseth Thee,
Grant me Thy blest eternity!

Text Information

• First Line: Eternity! terrific word!
• Author: Johann Rist (1642)
• Translator: J. C. Jacobi (1722, alt.)
• Meter: No. 80
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: Christian Life and Hope: The Consummation: Eternity
• Notes: Now Public Domain. From the German text: O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort

Tune Information

• Name: ETERNITY (O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort)
• Composer: Johann Schap (1642)
• Adapter: Johann Crüger (1653)
• Meter: No. 80
• Key: F Major
• Notes: Public Domain.