That Fearful Day, that Day of Dread

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That fearful day, that day of (speechless) dread

Translator: J. M. Neale (1862); Author: Saint Theodore, Studites (826)
Published in 17 hymnals

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Representative Text

That fearful Day, that Day of speechless dread,
When Thou shalt come to judge the quick and dead—
I shudder to foresee,
O GOD! what then shall be!

When Thou shalt come, angelic legions round,
With thousand thousands, and with trumpet sound,
CHRIST, grant me in the air
With saints to meet Thee there!

Weep, O my soul, ere that great hour and day,
When GOD shall shine in manifest array,
Thy sin, that thou may’st be
In that strict judgment free!

The terror!—hell-fire fierce and unsufficed:
The bitter worm: the gnashing teeth:—O CHRIST,
Forgive, remit, protect;
And set me with the elect!

That I may hear the blessed voice that calls
The righteous to the joy of heavenly halls.
And, King of Heaven, may reach
The realm that passeth speech!

Enter Thou not in judgment with each deed,
Nor each intent and thought in strictness read:
Forgive, and save me then,
O Thou That lovest men!

Thee, One in Three blest Persons! LORD o’er all!
Essence of essence, Power of power. we call!
Save us, O FATHER, SON,
And SPIRIT, ever one!

Hymns of the Eastern Church, 1866

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Translator: J. M. Neale

John M. Neale's life is a study in contrasts: born into an evangelical home, he had sympathies toward Rome; in perpetual ill health, he was incredibly productive; of scholarly temperament, he devoted much time to improving social conditions in his area; often ignored or despised by his contemporaries, he is lauded today for his contributions to the church and hymnody. Neale's gifts came to expression early–he won the Seatonian prize for religious poetry eleven times while a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, England. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1842, but ill health and his strong support of the Oxford Movement kept him from ordinary parish ministry. So Neale spent the years between 1846 and 1866 as a warden of Sackvi… Go to person page >

Author: Saint Theodore, Studites

Theodore, St., of the Studium. One of the Greek hymnwriters. He was born at Constantinople, circa 759, and educated by his uncle, St. Plato. He was banished by Constantine, for his resolute refusal to acknowledge the Emperor’s illicit marriage with Theodora, in 797. On the accession of Irene (798), he was recalled, and enjoyed the favour of the Empress. In 809 he was again banished, for the old cause, refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of Constantine's marriage. Recalled once more in 811, he was imprisoned and again banished for his defence of the Icons, under Leo the Armenian. He was recalled a third time at the death of Leo, and died Nov. 11, 826 (Dr. Neale adds, "in banishment"). He succeeded his uncle, St. Plato, as Hegumen of the… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	That fearful day, that day of (speechless) dread
Title:	That Fearful Day, that Day of Dread
Translator:	J. M. Neale (1862)
Author:	Saint Theodore, Studites (826)
Meter:	10.10.6.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain