1 Day of wrath! O day of mourning!
See fulfilled the prophets' warning,
Heaven and earth in ashes burning!
2 O what fear man's bosom rendeth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth.
3 Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth;
All before the throne it bringeth.
4 Death is struck, and nature quaking;
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.
5 Lo, the book, exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded:
Thence shall judgment be awarded.
6 When the Judge His seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.
7 What shall I, frail man, be pleading,
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?
8 King of Majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us.
9 Think, kind Jesus, my salvation
Cost Thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.
10 Faint and weary Thou hast sought me,
On the cross of suffering bought me;
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?
11 Righteous Judge of retribution,
Grant Thy gift of absolution
Ere that reckoning-day's conclusion.
12 Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning.
13 Thou the sinful woman savedst;
Thou the dying thief forgavest;
And to me a hope vouchsafest.
14 Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.
15 With Thy favored sheep O place me;
Nor among the goats abase me;
But to thy right hand upraise me.
16 While the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me with Thy saints surrounded.
17 Low I kneel with heart-submission,
See, like ashes, my contrition;
Help me in my last condition.
18 Ah, that day of tears and mourning!
From the dust of earth returning,
Man for judgment must prepare him;
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him;
19 Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant us Thine eternal rest.
Amen.
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