Sleepers, wake! the watch-cry pealeth

Top Media Text Author Translator Text Info Tune Timeline Arrangements Page Scans Instances

Sleepers, wake! the watch-cry pealeth

Author: Philipp Nicolai; Translator: Frances Elizabeth Cox
Tune: WACHET AUF (Nicolai)
Published in 4 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ
	Easy Organ Library, Vol. 52

Representative Text

1 Sleepers, wake! the watch-cry pealeth,
while slumber deep each eyelid sealeth:
awake, Jerusalem, awake!
Midnight’s solemn hour is tolling,
and seraph-notes are onward rolling;
they call on us our part to take.
Come forth, ye virgins wise:
the Bridegroom comes, arise!
Alleluia!
Each lamp be bright with ready light
to grace the marriage feast tonight.

2 Zion hears the voice that singeth
with sudden joy her glad heart springeth,
at once she wakes, she stands arrayed:
her Light is come, her Star ascending,
lo, girt with truth, with mercy blending,
her Bridegroom there, so long delayed.
All hail! God’s glorious Son,
All hail! Our joy and crown,
Alleluia!
The joyful call we answer all,
and follow to the bridal hall.

3 Praise to him who goes before us!
Let men and angels join in chorus,
let harp and cymbal add their sound.
Twelve the gates, a pearl each portal
we haste to join the choir immortal
within the Holy City’s bound.
Ear ne’er heard aught like this,
nor heart conceived such bliss.
Alleluia!
We raise the song, we swell the throng,
to praise thee ages all along.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #51

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Philipp Nicolai

Philipp Nicolai (b. Mengeringhausen, Waldeck, Germany, 1556; d. Hamburg, Germany, 1608) lived an eventful life–he fled from the Spanish army, sparred with Roman Catholic and Calvinist opponents, and ministered to plague-stricken congregations. Educated at Wittenberg University, he was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1583 in the city of Herdecke. However, he was soon at odds with the Roman Catholic town council, and when Spanish troops arrived to reestablish Roman dominance, Nicolai fled. In 1588 he became chief pastor at Altwildungen and court preacher to Countess Argaretha of Waldeck. During that time Nicolai battled with Calvinists, who disagreed with him about the theology of the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper. These doctri… Go to person page >

Translator: Frances Elizabeth Cox

Cox, Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. George V. Cox, born at Oxford, is well known as a successful translator of hymns from the German. Her translations were published as Sacred Hymns from the German, London, Pickering. The 1st edition, pub. 1841, contained 49 translations printed with the original text, together with biographical notes on the German authors. In the 2nd edition, 1864, Hymns from the German, London, Rivingtons, the translations were increased to 56, those of 1841 being revised, and with additional notes. The 56 translations were composed of 27 from the 1st ed. (22 being omitted) and 29 which were new. The best known of her translations are "Jesus lives! no longer [thy terrors] now" ; and ”Who are these like stars appeari… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Sleepers, wake! the watch-cry pealeth
German Title:	Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Author:	Philipp Nicolai
Translator:	Frances Elizabeth Cox
Meter:	8.9.8.8.9.8.6.6.4.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain