REJOICE, ALL YE BELIEVERS

Rejoice, all ye believers,
And let your lights appear;
The evening is advancing,
And darker night is near:
The Bridegroom is arising,
And soon he draweth nigh;
Up, pray, and watch, and wrestle:
At midnight comes the cry.

See that your lamps are burning;
Replenish them with oil;
And wait for your salvation,
The end of earthly toil.
The watchers on the mountain
Proclaim the Bridegroom near,
Go meet him as he cometh,
With Alleluias clear.

Ye saints, who here in patience
Your cross and suff'rings bore,
Shall live and reign for ever,
When sorrow is no more:
Around the throne of glory
The Lamb ye shall behold,
In triumph cast before him
Your diadems of gold.

Our Hope and Expectation,
O Jesus, now appear;
Arise, thou Sun so longed for,
O'er this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted,
We plead, O Lord to see
The day of earth's redemption
That brings us unto thee.