Behold, the Bride­groom draw­eth nigh
Hear ye the oft re­peat­ed cry?
Go forth in­to the mid­night dim;
For blest are they whom He shall find
With rea­dy heart and watch­ful mind;
Go forth, my soul, to Him.

Behold, the Bride­groom com­eth by,
The call is ech­oed from the sky:
Go forth, ye ser­vants, watch and wait:
The sloth­ful can­not join His train;
No care­less ones can en­trance gain;
Awake, my soul, ’tis late.

The wise will plead with one ac­cord,
O ho­ly, ho­ly, ho­ly Lord,
On us Thy quick­en­ing grace be­stow,
That none may reach the door too late,
When Thou shalt en­ter at the gate
And to Thy king­dom go.

Behold, the Bride­groom draw­eth near,
The warn­ing falls on ev­ery ear:
That night of dread shall come to all:
Behold, my soul, thy lamp so dim,
Rise, rise the smok­ing flax to trim;
Soon shalt thou hear His call.