Scripture Verse

The kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Matthew 25:1

Introduction

Words: Eli­za­beth Os­borne, in Make His Praise Glo­ri­ous, ed­it­ed by Ed­win Ex­cell (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: Ed­win O. Ex­cell, 1900), num­ber 59.

Music: Vol­go­grad Ed­win O. Ex­cell (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Edwin O. Excell (1851–1921)

Lyrics

illustration
Virgins with Lamps

Ten vir­gins went forth with their shin­ing lamps
To wel­come the Bride­groom home;
I wonder how ma­ny are watch­ing now,
To see when the Lord will come?
I won­der how many are watch­ing now,
To see when the Lord will come?

Only five took their ves­sels of oil that night,
Prepared for the mid­night cry;
I won­der how ma­ny would glad­ly hear
The Bride­groom is draw­ing nigh?
I won­der how ma­ny would glad­ly hear
The Bride­groom is draw­ing nigh?

And the five that were fool­ish said, Give us oil.
The wise an­swered, No, not so.
I won­der how ma­ny of us will hear,
The sor­row­ful an­swer, No.
I won­der how ma­ny of us will hear,
The sor­row­ful an­swer, No.

To the five who were rea­dy the Bride­groom said,
The mar­riage come in and see;
I won­der how ma­ny will go with Him,
To live through eter­ni­ty?
I won­der how ma­ny will go with Him,
To live through eter­ni­ty?