Lyrics
1 Day of wrath! O day of mourning!
See fulfilled the prophet's warning!
Heaven and earth to ashes burning!
2 O what fear man's bosom rendeth!
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth!
3 Wondrous sound 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 judgement 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, good Jesu, my salvation return
Caused 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! for sin's pollution
Grant thy gift of absolution,
Ere that day of retribution.
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 favoured 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;
19 Spare, O God, in mercy spare him
Lord, all-pitying, Jesu blest,
Grant us thine eternal rest!