"Sleepers, Wake!" A Voice Astounds Us

Full Text

1 “Sleepers, wake!” a voice astounds us;
the shout of rampart-guards surrounds us:
"Awake, Jerusalem, arise!"
Midnight’s peace their cry has broken,
their urgent summons clearly spoken:
"The time has come, O maidens wise!
Rise up, and give us light;
the Bridegroom is in sight.
Alleluia!
Your lamps prepare and hasten there,
that you the wedding feast may share."

2 Zion hears the watchmen singing.
Her heart with joyful hope is springing;
she wakes and hurries through the night.
Forth he comes, her bridegroom glorious
in strength of grace, in truth victorious:
her star is risen, her light grows bright.
Now come, most worthy Lord,
God's Son, Incarnate Word,
alleluia!
We follow all and heed your call
to come into the banquet hall.

3 Lamb of God, the heavens adore you;
let saints and angels sing before you,
as harps and cymbals swell the sound.
Twelve great pearls, the city's portals:
through them we stream to join the immmortals
as we with joy your throne surround.
No eye has known the sight,
no ear heard such delight:
alleluia!
Therefore we sing to greet our King;
forever let our praises ring.

Source: Common Praise #110

Translator: Carl P. Daw

The Reverend Carl P. Daw, Jr. Curator of Hymnological Collections Adjunct Professor of Hymnology B.A. Rice University M.A. University of Virginia M.Div. University of the South Ph.D. University of Virginia D. D. Virginia Theological Seminary The Reverend Dr. Carl P. Daw Jr., is an Episcopal priest and writer who served as the Executive Director of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada from 1996 to 2009, while this ecumenical and international organization had its headquarters at Boston University School of Theology. Dr. Daw continues as an Adjunct Professor of Hymnology in the Master of Sacred Music program and acts as the Curator of the Hymnological Collections in the STH Library. In addition to his experience… Go to person page >

Author: Philipp Nicolai

Nicolai, Philipp, D.D., son of Dieterich Nicolai, sometime Lutheran pastor at Herdecke, in Westphalia, and after 1552, at Mengeringhausen in Waldeck, was born at Mengeringhausen, August 10, 1556. (The father was son of Nicolaus Rafflenbol, of Rafflenbol, near Hagen, in Westphalia, and in later life had adopted the Latinised form Nicolai of his father's Christian name as his own surname.) In 1575 Nicolai entered the University of Erfurt, and in 1576 he went to Wittenberg. After completing his University course in 1579 (D.D. at Wittenberg July 4, 1594), he lived for some time at Volkliardinghausen, near Mengeringhausen, and frequently preached for his father. In August, 1583, he was appointed Lutheran preacher at Herdecke, but found many diff… Go to person page >

Timeline

Instances

Instances (5)TextImageAudioScore
Common Praise #110Text
Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #61TextImage
Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #62TextImage
Presbyterian Hymnal #17TextImage
Rejoice in the Lord #606Text