Scripture Verse

While they were on their way to buy…oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with Him to the banquet. And the door was shut. Matthew 25:10

Introduction

portrait
Hans Brorson (1694–1764)

Words: Lud­wig A. Got­ter (Wach­et auf, ihr faul­en Christ­en), in Geist­reich­es Ge­sang­buch (Hal­le, Ger­ma­ny, 1697). Hans A. Bror­son (1694–1764) trans­lat­ed Got­ter’s hymn to Dan­ish (O vaag­ner op af Ver­dens Drøm­me). Paul C. Paul­sen trans­lat­ed it to Eng­lish in the Hym­nal for Church and Home (Blair, Ne­bras­ka: Dan­ish Lu­ther­an Pub­lish­ing House, 1927), num­ber 182.

Music: Neu­mark Ge­org Neu­mark, 1641 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Georg Neumark
(1621–1681)

Lyrics

Awaken from your idle dream­ing,
Ye luke­warm Christ­ians now awake!
The Lord with light, from Hea­ven beaming,
The con­science of the world doth shake.
Throw off that sin­ful sleep be­fore
To you is closed the op­en door.

Awaken that the lurk­ing dan­ger
By Hea­ven’s light may dis­ap­pear!
His gra­cious light shines from the man­ger,
And at the cross it quells your fear.
We must arise to spread its fame
And find our joy in Je­sus’ name.

Awaken now ere death is call­ing
You at an un­ex­pect­ed hour!
Soon old men in its grip are fall­ing,
And also youth may feel its pow’r.
Ye do not know the time, nor place,
Do there­fore wake and seek God’s grace.

Awake, be for God’s sum­mons rea­dy
When He to judg­ment call­eth you!
In faith and love be ev­er stea­dy,
His gra­cious will with ardor do!
Oh, take the strait and nar­row way,
For quickly com­eth judg­ment day.

Awake, awake, ’tis Jesus cry­ing,
Arise, throw off that sin­ful sleep!
It is too late when ye are dy­ing
And sink­ing in­to dark­ness deep.
Ye here in Christ must now be­lieve,
Awake, arise, and Him re­ceive.