65. Day of wrath! O day of mourning
8.8.8
Dies Irae (Dykes):
John Bacchus Dykes, 1861
Dies Irae (Plainsong):
Plainsong, Modes II and I
Latin; Thomas of Celano, 13th cent.;
Tr. William J. Irons, 1849
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Day of wrath! O day of mourning!
See fulfilled the prophets' warning,
Heaven and earth in ashes burning!
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O what fear man's bosom rendeth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth.
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Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
Through earth's sepulchers it ringeth;
All before the throne it bringeth.
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Death is struck, and nature quaking,
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.
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Lo! the book, exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded:
Thence shall judgment be awarded.
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When the Judge his seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.
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What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?
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King of Majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us!
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Think, good Jesus, my salvation
Cost thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation!
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Faint and weary, thou hast sought me,
On the cross of suffering bought me.
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?
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Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution
Grant thy gift of absolution,
Ere the day of retribution.
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Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!
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Thou the sinful woman savedst;
Thou the dying thief forgavest;
And to me a hope vouchsafest.
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Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying!
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With thy favoured sheep O place me;
Nor among the goats abase me;
But to thy right hand upraise me.
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While the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me with thy saints surrounded.
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Low I kneel, with heart submission,
See, like ashes, my contrition;
Help me in my last condition.
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Ah! that day of tears and mourning!
From the dust of earth returning
Man for judgment must prepare him;
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!
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Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant them thine eternal rest.
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