Willie brought his little Bible,
With a grave and thoughtful look
In the eyes he lifted to me
From the pag­es of the book;
Tell me what this means, dear Papa?
And he read me from God’s word
What it says of being ready
For the coming of the Lord.

Refrain

Are you ready for His coming,
Be that coming soon or late?
Will you go and meet Him gladly
When he knocketh at the gate?
No! I cannot meet Him gladly,
I’m not ready now, I know,
And it may be that His footsteps
Even now are at the door.

When I told him of the meaning
Of the words that he had read,
He was silent for a moment,
Then looked up at me and said:
Tell me, are you ready, Papa?
O the child could little know
How the simple question thrilled me,
As in shame I answered, No!

Refrain

If you can’t tell when He’s coming,
I should think you’d want to be
Always ready, said my Willie,
Looking gravely up at me.
Should He come tonight and call you,
You would have to say to Him:
I’m not ready, O dear Papa!
And his eyes with tears were dim.

Refrain

Then I clasped my darling closer,
Smitten with a sudden fear,
For the words that he had spoken
Seemed to bring life’s end so near,
And my heart cried, O my Master,
There shall be no more delay,
Make me ready for Thy coming,
Be that coming when it may!

Are you ready for His coming,
Be that coming soon or late?
Will you go and meet Him gladly
When he knocketh at the gate?
Yes, I’m ready now to meet Him,
Be that coming soon or late;
I can run and meet Him gladly
When He knocketh at the gate!