Once, forth to meet the bride­groom,
At night ten vir­gins went;
Five lamps were trimmed for burn­ing,
In five the oil was spent,
And while they slept and slum­bered,
At mid­night rose the shout
Behold the bride­groom cometh,
To meet him go ye out.

Refrain

Watch ye, there­fore, watch I say,
Watch ye, there­fore, watch and pray;
Ye know not the hour, ye know not the day
The Son of Man may come.

Then all the fool­ish vir­gins
Their need be­gan to tell;
And all the wise ones an­swered,
Go ye to them that sell.
The fool­ish vir­gins hast­ened,
In dark­ness, fear, and shame,
The wise ones rea­dy wait­ed,
And lo the bride­groom came!

Refrain

Lord, Lord, unto us open,
The fool­ish vir­gins cried;
I know ye not, un­to them
The bride­groom’s voice re­plied.
O Chris­tians, learn the les­son,
Your lamps be wise and trim,
And when the Bride­groom com­eth,
Go glad­ly in with Him.

Refrain