Scripture Verse

The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Revelation 6:15–17

Introduction

Words: Jo­seph Hart, Hymns Com­posed on Va­ri­ous Sub­jects 1822, num­ber 157.

Music: Song 20 (Gib­bons) Or­lan­do Gib­bons (1583–1625) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Hart (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Orlando Gibbons (1583–1625)

Lyrics

Behold! with awful pomp,
The Judge prepares to come,
Th’archangel sounds the dreadful trump,
And wakes the general doom.

Nature, in wild amaze,
Her dissolution mourns;
Blushes of blood the moon deface,
The sun to darkness turns.

The living look with dread;
The frighted dead arise—
Start from the monumental bed,
And lift their ghastly eyes.

Horrors all hearts appall;
They quake, they shriek, they cry;
Bid rocks and mountains on them fall,
But rocks and mountains fly.

Ye willful wanton fools,
Let danger make you wise,
Carnal professors, careless souls,
Unclose your lazy eyes.

’Tis time we all awake,
The dreadful day draws near;
Sinners, your profound presumption check,
And stop your wild career.

Now is th’accepted time;
To Christ for mercy fly;
O turn, repent, and trust in Him,
And you shall ne­ver die.

Great God, in whom we live,
Prepare us for that day;
Help us in Je­sus to believe,
To watch, and wait, and pray.