Scripture Verse

Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him. Matthew 25:6

Introduction

portrait
Fanny Crosby (1820–1915)

Words: Fan­ny Cros­by (1820–1915). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in New Songs of Praise and Pow­er 1-2-3 Com­bined, ed­it­ed by J. Lin­coln Hall et al. (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Hall-Mack, 1922), num­ber 210.

Music: Bent­ley D. Ack­ley, 1920 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Bentley Ackley
(1872–1958)

Lyrics

Awake, ye that slum­ber,
Awake from your sleep,
With lamps trimmed and burn­ing,
A watch you must keep,
You know not how quick­ly,
The cry you may hear,
Go forth to meet the Bride­groom,
For lo, He is near.

Refrain

Behold, He com­eth,
The bless­èd Bride­groom com­eth,
Then go ye forth to meet Him,
A glad and grate­ful throng.
Behold, He com­eth,
The bless­èd Bride­groom cometh,
Then go ye forth to meet Him,
With a hap­py, hap­py song.

Awake, ye that slum­ber,
His wel­come pre­pare.
Awake and be rea­dy,
His ban­quet to share.
The hour is ap­proach­ing,
No time for re­pose,
The op­en door of mer­cy,
Forever may close.

Refrain

Awake, ye that slum­ber,
No long­er des­pise
The warn­ing that bids you
Be watch­ful and wise.
The Bride­groom may tar­ry,
But true to His word,
Your bless­èd call to meet Him
Will sure­ly be heard.

Refrain