Day of Wrath, O Day of Mourning

Verse 1

Day of wrath, O day of mourning!
See fulfilled the prophet's warning,
Heav'n and earth in ashes burning.

Verse 2

Oh,
what fear man's bosom rendeth When from Heav'n the Judge descendeth On whose sentence all dependeth!

Verse 3

Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth,
Through earth's sepulchers it ringeth,
All before the throne it bringeth.

Verse 4

Death is struck and nature quaking;
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.

Verse 5

Lo, the book, exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded;
Thence shall judgment be awarded.

Verse 6

When the Judge His seat attaineth And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.

Verse 7

What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding When the just are mercy needing?

Verse 8

King of majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us.

Verse 9

Think, good Jesus,
my salvation Caused Thy wondrous incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation!

Verse 10

Faint and weary Thou hast sought me,
On the cross of suff'ring bought me;
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Verse 11

Righteous Judge,
for sin's pollution Grant Thy gift of absolution Ere that day of retribution!

Verse 12

Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning: Spare,
O God, Thy suppliant groaning!

Verse 13

From that sinful woman shriven,
From the dying thief forgiven,
Thou to me a hope hast given.

Verse 14

Worthless are my prayers and sighing; Yet,
good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.

Verse 15

With Thy favored sheep, oh, place me!
Nor among the goats abase me,
But to Thy right hand upraise me.

Verse 16

While the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me, with Thy saints surrounded.

Verse 17

Low I kneel with heart submission, See,
like ashes, my contrition;
Help me in my last condition!

Verse 18

Day of sorrow, day of weeping, When,
in dust no longer sleeping,
Man awakes in Thy dread keeping!