"Day of Wrath, O Day of Mourning"
                       by Thomas de Celano, 13th century
                   Translated by William J. Irons, 1812-1883
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)
                                       


        1. Day of wrath, O day of mourning!
        See fulfilled the Prophet's warning,
        Heaven and earth in ashes burning.

        2. Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth
        When from heav'n the Judge descendeth
        On whose sentence all dependeth!

        3. Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth,
        Thro' earth's sepulchers it ringeth,
        All before the throne it bringeth.

        4. Death is struck and nature quaking;
        All creation is awaking,
        To its Judge an answer making.

        5. Lo, the book, exactly worded,
        Wherein all hath been recorded;
        Thence shall judgment be awarded.

        6. When the Judge His seat attaineth
        And each hidden deed arraigneth,
        Nothing unavenged remaineth.

        7. What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
        Who for me be interceding
        When the just are mercy needing?

        8. King of majesty tremendous,
        Who dost free salvation send us,
        Fount of pity, then befriend us.

        9. Think, good Jesus, my salvation
        Caused Thy wondrous incarnation;
        Leave me not to reprobation!

        10. Faint and weary Thou hast sought me,
        On the cross of suffering bought me;
        Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

        11. Righteous Judge, for sin's pollution
        Grant Thy gift of absolution
        Ere that day of retribution!

        12. Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
        All my shame with anguish owning:
        Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning!

        13. From that sinful woman shriven,
        From the dying thief forgiven,
        Thou to me a hope hast given.

        14. Worthless are my prayers and sighing;
        Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
        Rescue me from fires undying.

        15. With Thy favored sheep, oh, place me!
        Nor among the goats abase me,
        But to Thy right hand upraise me.

        16. While the wicked are confounded,
        Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
        Call me, with Thy saints surrounded.

        17. Low I kneel with heart-submission,
        See, like ashes, my contrition;
        Help me in my last condition!

        18. Day of sorrow, day of weeping,
        When, in dust no longer sleeping,
        Man awakes in Thy dread keeping!

        19. To the rest Thou didst prepare me
        On Thy cross; O Christ, upbear me!
        Spare, O God, in mercy spare me!

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #607 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Zephaniah 1:15, 16
        Author: Thomas de Celano, c. 1250
        Translated by: William J. Irons, 1848, alt.
        Titled: "Dies irae, dies illa"
        Tune: "Dies irae"
        Latin melody, c. 1200