Scripture Verse

Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. Matthew 25:1

Introduction

portrait
Eden R. Latta (1839–1915)

Words: Ed­en R. Lat­ta, in Songs of Love and Praise No. 2, ed­it­ed by John R. Swe­ney, Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick & Hen­ry L. Gil­mour (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: John J. Hood, 1895), page 79.

Music: Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
William J. Kirkpatrick
(1838–1921)
illustration
Virgins with Lamps

Will our lamps be filled and rea­dy,
When the Bride­groom comes?
And our lights be clear and stea­dy,
When the Bride­groom comes?
In the night, that so­lemn night,
Will our lamps be burn­ing bright,
When the Bride­groom comes?

Refrain

O be rea­dy! O be rea­dy!
O be rea­dy when the Bride­groom comes!
O be rea­dy! O be rea­dy!
O be rea­dy when the Bride­groom comes!

Shall we hear a wel­come sound­ing,
When the Bride­groom comes?
And a shout of joy re­sound­ing,
When the Bride­groom comes?
In the night, that so­lemn night,
Will our lamps be burn­ing bright,
When the Bride­groom comes?

Refrain

Don’t de­lay our pre­pa­ra­tion
Till the Bride­groom comes,
Lest there be a se­pa­ra­tion,
When the Bride­groom comes.
In the night, that so­lemn night,
Will our lamps be burn­ing bright,
When the Bride­groom comes?

Refrain

It may be a time of sor­row,
When the Bride­groom comes;
If our oil we hope to bor­row,
When the Bride­groom comes.
In the night, that so­lemn night,
Will our lamps be burn­ing bright,
When the Bride­groom comes?

Refrain

Oh, there’ll be a glo­ri­ous meet­ing,
When the Bride­groom comes;
And a hal­le­lu­jah greet­ing,
When the Bride­groom comes.
In the night, that joy­ful night,
With our lamps all burn­ing bright,
When the Bride­groom comes.

Refrain