Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Matthew 25:1–4
Words: John Needham, Hymns Devotional and Moral on Various Subjects (Bristol, England: S. Farley, 1768), number 152.
Music: Downs Lowell Mason, 1832 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Needham (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Prepare, ye saints, to meet your Lord,
Nor sleep nor slumber more;
Bright be your lamps, your vessels filled
To feed the wasting store.
He comes, He comes,
may be the cry
In midnight’s deepest gloom;
Should then our lamps be void of oil,
How sad must be our doom?
In vain, when ’tis too late, we seek
A fresh supply to get;
In vain, when once the door is shut,
Our folly we regret.
Open, Lord, open,
we may cry,
But then can’t move His heart;
I know you not,
the Judge will say,
Depart from Me, depart.
Lord, for Thy coming may I wait
With loins well girt about;
In heavenly virtues may I shine,
Nor let my lamp go out.
Then will the Bridegroom me admit,
And own me for His friend;
My soul shall feast on heavenly love,
Nor shall the banquet end.