The Hymnal ‎#263

263. Day of wrath! O day of mourning!

1 Day of wrath! O day of mourning!
See fulfilled the prophets' warning,
Heaven and earth in ashes burning!

2 O what fear man's bosom rendeth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth.

3 Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth;
All before the throne it bringeth.

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

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

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

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

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

9 Think, kind Jesus, my salvation
Cost Thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.

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

11 Righteous Judge of retribution,
Grant Thy gift of absolution
Ere that reckoning-day's conclusion.

12 Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning.

13 Thou the sinful woman savedst;
Thou the dying thief forgavest;
And to me a hope vouchsafest.

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

15 With Thy favored sheep O place me;
Nor among the goats abase me;
But to thy right hand upraise me.

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

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

18 Ah, that day of tears and mourning!
From the dust of earth returning,
Man for judgment must prepare him;
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him;

19 Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant us Thine eternal rest.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Day of wrath! O day of mourning!
• Translator: Rev. William J. Irons (1848, v. 1, line 2, v. 10 alt.)
• Author: Thomas of Celano, 13th cent.
• Publication Date: 1895

Tune Information

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