The Irish Presbyterian Hymnbook ‎#R50a

R50a. When the last trumpet's awful voice

1 When the last trumpet’s awful voice
this rending earth shall shake,
when op’ning graves shall yield their charge,
and dust to life awake;
2 those bodies that corrupted fell
shall incorrupted rise,
and mortal forms shall spring to life
immortal in the skies.

3 Behold what heav’nly prophets sung
is now at last fulfill'd,
that Death should yield his ancient reign,
and, vanquish'd, quit the field.
4 Let Faith exalt her joyful voice,
and thus begin to sing;
O Grave! where is thy triumph now?
and where, O Death! thy sting?

5 Thy sting was sin, and conscious guilt,
’twas this that arm'd thy dart;
the law gave sin its strength and force
to pierce the sinner’s heart:
6 but God, whose name be ever bless’d!
disarms that foe we dread,
and makes us conqu’rors when we die,
through Christ our living head.

7 Then stedfast let us still remain,
though dangers rise around,
and in the work prescrib'd by God
yet more and more abound;
8 assured that though we labour now,
we labour not in vain,
but, through the grace of Heav’n’s great Lord
th’ eternal crown shall gain.

Text Information

• First Line: When the last trumpet's awful voice
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2004
• Scripture:
  1 Corinthians 15:52-58
• Notes: May sing to EDINBURGH (#56)

Tune Information

• Name: ST NICHOLAS
• Meter: CM
• Key: e minor
• Source: Holroyd's The Spiritual Man's Companion, 1753; Adapted in Scottish Psalmody, 1854