End Times
The Day is Surely Drawing Near
- Words:
- Bartholomäus Ringwaldt, 1565. Translated by Phillip A. Peter, 1872, alt.
- Music:
- 'Es ist Gewisslich an der Zeit' from Klug's Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg, 1533.
- Setting:
- "Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book", 1931.
- Metre:
- 8 7 8 7 8 8 7
- 1The day is surely drawing near,When God's Son, the Anointed,Shall with great majesty appear,As Judge of all appointed.All mirth and laughter then shall ceaseWhen flames on flames will still increase,As Scripture truly teacheth.
- 2A trumpet loud shall then resound,And all the earth be shaken;Then all who in their graves are foundShall from their sleep awaken.But all that live shall in that hour,By the Almighty's boundless pow'rBe changed at His commanding.
- 3A book is opened then to all,A record truly tellingWhat each hath done, both great and small,When he on earth was dwelling;And every heart be clearly seen,And all be known as they have been,In thoughts and words and actions.
- 4Then woe to those who scorned the Lord,And sought but carnal pleasures,Who here despised His precious Word,And loved their earthly treasures!With shame and trembling they will stand,And at the Judge's stern commandTo Satan be delivered.
- 5O Jesus, who my debt didst payAnd for my sin wast smittenWithin the Book of Life, oh, mayMy name be also written!I will not doubt; I trust in Thee,From Satan Thou hast made me freeAnd from all condemnation.
- 6Therefore, my Intercessor be, And for Thy blood and meritDeclare my name from judgment free, With all who life inherit;That I may see Thee face to faceWith all thy saints in that blest placeWhich Thou for us hast purchased.
- 7O Jesus Christ, do not delay, O hasten our salvation!We often tremble on our way In fear and tribulation.Then hear us when we cry to Thee;Come, mighty Judge, and make us freeFrom every evil. Amen!
Scripture
Topics
In the hymnals
- The words are in 35 hymnals indexed by Hymnary.org. Their history →
- The tune, Es ist Gewisslich an der Zeit, is in 1 hymnal. The tune →
Words, music and setting are in the public domain. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project (Brian J. Dumont), which places its own work in the public domain. The piano is the FluidR3 General MIDI sound font (MIT licence). How many hymnals print a hymn, and when it was written, is from Hymnary.org.