"The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us"

                           by Johann Walther

           Translated by Matthias Loy, 1828-1915

                                 Text From:

                      THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. The Bridegroom soon will call us:

        Come, all ye wedding-guests!

        May not His voice appal us

        While slumber binds our breasts!

        May all our lamps be burning

        And oil be found in store

        That we, with Him returning,

        May open find the door!



        2. There shall we see delighted

        Our dear Redeemer's face,

        Who leads our souls benighted

        To glory by His grace.

        The patriarchs shall meet us,

        The prophets' holy band,

        Apostles, martyrs, greet us

        In that celestial land.



        3. They will not blush to own us

        As brothers, sisters dear;

        Love ever will be shown us

        When we with them appear.

        We all shall come before Him

        Who for us man became,

        As Lord and God adore Him,

        And ever bless His name.



        4. Our Father, rich in blessing,

        Will give us crowns of gold

        And, to His bosom pressing,

        Impart a bliss untold,

        Will welcome with embraces

        Of never-ending love,

        And deck us with His graces

        In blissful realms above.



        5. In yonder home shall never

        Be silent music's voice;

        With hearts and lips forever

        We shall in God rejoice.

        The angels shall adore Him,

        All saints shall sing His praise

        And bring with joy before Him

        Their sweetest heavenly lays.



        6. In mansions fair and spacious

        Will God the feast prepare

        And, ever kind and gracious,

        Bid us its riches share.

        There bliss that knows no measure

        From springs of love shall flow,

        And never-changing pleasure

        His bounty will bestow.



        7. Thus God shall from all evil

        Forever make us free,

        From sin and from the devil,

        From all adversity,

        From sickness, pain, and sadness,

        From troubles, cares, and fears,

        And grant us heavenly gladness

        And wipe away our tears.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #67 from The Lutheran Hymnal

        Text: Matthew 25: 6

        Author: Johann Walther, 1552, cento

        Translated by: Matthias Loy, 1880

        Titled: "Der Braeut'gam wird bald rufen"

        Tune: "Ach Gott vom Himmelreiche"

        1st Published in: "Musae Sioniae," VII, 1609