Day of Wrath! O Day of Mourning!

Verse 1

Day of wrath! O day of mourning!
See fulfilled the prophets’ warning,
Heaven and earth in ashes burning!

Verse 2

O what fear man’s bosom rendeth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth.

Verse 3

Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
Through earth’s sepulchres it ringeth;
All before the throne it bringeth.

Verse 4

Death is struck, and nature quaking;
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.

Verse 5

Lo, the book, exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded:
Thence shall judgment be awarded.

Verse 6

When the Judge His seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.

Verse 7

What shall I, frail man, be pleading,
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?

Verse 8

King of Majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us.

Verse 9

Think, kind Jesus, my salvation
Cost Thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.

Verse 10

Faint and weary Thou hast sought me,
On the cross of suffering bought me;
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Verse 11

Righteous Judge of retribution,
Grant Thy gift of absolution
Ere that reckoning-day’s conclusion.

Verse 12

Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning.

Verse 13

Thou the sinful woman savedst;
Thou the dying thief forgavest;
And to me a hope vouchsafest.

Verse 14

Worthless are my prayers and sighing;
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.

Verse 15

With Thy favored sheep O place me;
Nor among the goats abase me;
But to Thy right hand up-raise me.

Verse 16

While the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me, with Thy saints surrounded.

Verse 17

Low I kneel with heart-submission;
See, like ashes, my contrition;
Help me in my last condition.

Verse 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:

Verse 19

Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant us Thine eternal rest.