If Je­sus should come in the rise of the morn­ing,
When all of the world is en­grossed in its care,
How many dear hearts could, their Mas­ter dis­cern­ing,
Release them­selves quick­ly and wel­come Him here?

Refrain

He will come! He will come, tho’ we know not how soon;
It may be at night, or it may be at noon!
Are we rea­dy to meet Him? Are we wait­ing to greet Him
With a loud hal­le­lu­jah, hal­le­lu­jah, Amen.

Or if He should come in the bright hour of noon­day,
With light far more glo­ri­ous than that of the sun,
How ma­ny have eyes that could gaze on His glo­ry,
And hearts that could shout Ev­en so, let Him come?

Refrain

If, just as the sun should pass into his hid­ing,
A ra­di­ance like light­ning should shine from the east,
And down with the light Je­sus Christ should come glid­ing,
Oh, who would be rea­dy to wel­come our guest?

Refrain

If, deep in the night, when the third watch is start­ing,
A cry should go forth that the Bride­groom is here;
If up­ward in rap­ture the Bride were de­part­ing,
Could you with that host meet the Lord in the air?

Refrain