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Hymns of My Youth: Wake, Awake

Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout, “Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the prudent, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the prudent answered, “No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, “Lord, lord, open up for us.” But he answered, “Truly I say to you, I do not know you.” Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.

—Matthew 25:1–13

A beautiful eschatological hymn:

426 Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying

Wake, awake, for night is flying:
The watchmen on the heights are crying;
Awake, Jerusalem, arise!
Midnight’s solemn hour is tolling,
His chariot wheels are nearer rolling;
He comes, prepare, ye virgins wise.
Rise up with willing feet
Go forth, the bridegroom meet;
Hallelujah!
Bear thro’ the night your well-trimmed light,
Speed forth to join the marriage rite.

Zion hears the watchmen singing,
Her heart with deep delight is springing,
At once she wakes, she hastes away:
Forth her Bridegroom hastens glorious,
In grace arrayed, in truth victorious;
Her grief is joy, her night is day:
All hail, incarnate Lord,
Our crown, and our reward!
Hallelujah!
We haste along, in pomp and song,
And gladsome join the marriage throng.

Hear Thy praise, O Lord, ascending
From tongues of men and angels blending
With harp and flute and psaltery.
By Thy pearly gates in wonder
We stand, and swell the voice of thunder,
In bursts of choral melody:
To mortal eyes and ears
What glory now appears!
Hallelujah!
We raise the song, we swell the throng,
To praise Thee ages all along.

—The Concordia Hymnal(Augsburg Publishing House), 1960.

Wake, Awake (brass)