The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir,
Isaiah 21:11Watchman, what of the night?
…The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night.
Words: John R. Macduff, Altar Stones (London: James Nisbet, 1853), pages 38–39, alt.
Music: Paulina arranged from Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848) (🔊 pdf nwc).
The burden of Dumah! A voice out of Seir
Cries, Tell me, O watchman! if morning be near.
It cometh—it cometh! Bright gleams in the sky
Proclaiming the promised redemption is nigh!
Soon, soon shall creation’s long midnight be done,
The rest of eternity’s Sabbath begun;
When, casting her weekday soiled garments away,
She stands fresh appareled in vestures of day.
Oh! hasten, Lord! hasten this halcyon time,
When earth shall exult in the bliss of her prime,
The sons of the morning resuming their strain
O’er Eden, restored to her glories again.
The morning it cometh! but also the night!
Lo! visions of vengeance loom dark on the sight!
The meteor of hope, with its bright beaming ray,
To scorners of grace is fast dimming away.
Ere earth shall be girt with its red fiery flood,
Or moon shall dissolve in her ocean of blood,
Ere stars in their courses shall tremble and fall,
The wicked in vain to the mountains shall call.
Great God! in Thy mercy look down from above,
And touch every heart with Thy scepter of love,
Lest, tears unavailing, we come to deplore
That offers of grace can be tendered no more!