Scripture Verse

The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise. 2 Peter 3:10

Introduction

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Walter Scott
1771–1832

Words: Tho­mas of Ce­la­no, 13th Cen­tu­ry (Di­es Ir­ae). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Wal­ter Scott, 1805. This trans­la­tion forms the con­clud­ing stan­zas of the sixth can­to of The Lay of the Last Min­strel, ti­tled A Hymn for the Dead.

Music: St. Cross (Dykes) John B. Dykes, in Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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Last Day of Pompeii
Karl P. Bryullov
1799–1852

Lyrics

That day of wrath, that dreadful day,
[or, The day of wrath…]
When Heav’n and earth shall pass away!
What pow’r shall be the sinner’s stay?
How shall he meet that dreadful day?

When, shriveling like a parchèd scroll,
The flaming heav’ns together roll;
When louder yet, and yet more dread;
Swells the high trump that wakes the dead.

O on that day, that wrathful day
When man to judg­ment wakes from clay,
Be Thou the trembling sinner’s stay,
Though Heav’n and earth shall pass away.