Scripture Verse

Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come? Revelation 7:13

Introduction

Words: Theo­bald H. Schenk, 1719 (Wer sind die vor Gott­es Throne). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Fran­ces E. Cox, 1841, 1864.

Music: All Saints Old Darm­stadt Ge­sang­buch, 1698 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Schenk or Cox (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Who are these like stars ap­pear­ing,
These be­fore God’s throne who stand?
Each a gold­en crown is wear­ing;
Who are all this glo­ri­ous band?
Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
Praising loud their heav’n­ly king.

Who are these of dazz­ling bright­ness,
These in God’s own truth ar­rayed,
Clad in robes of pur­est white­ness,
Robes whose lus­ter ne’er shall fade,
Ne’er be touch­ed by time’s rude hand?
Whence come all this glo­ri­ous band?

These are they who have con­tend­ed
For their Sav­ior’s hon­or long,
Wrestling on till life was end­ed,
Following not the sin­ful throng;
These who well the fight sus­tained,
Triumph through the Lamb have gained.

These are they whose hearts were riv­en,
Sore with woe and ang­uish tried,
Who in pray­er full oft have striv­en
With the God they glo­ri­fied;
Now, their pain­ful con­flict o’er,
God has bid them weep no more.

These, like priests, have watched and wait­ed,
Offering up to Christ their will;
Soul and body con­se­crat­ed,
Day and night to serve Him still:
Now in God’s most ho­ly place
Blest they stand be­fore His face.