Sleepers, Wake! The Watch Cry Pealeth

Sleepers

wake! the watch cry peal­eth

While slum­ber deep each eye­lid seal­eth:

Awake

Je­ru­sa­lem

awake!

Midnight’s so­lemn hour is toll­ing

And ser­aph-notes are on­ward roll­ing;

They call on us our part to take.

Come forth

ye vir­gins wise:

The Bride­groom comes

arise!

Alleluia! Each lamp be bright with rea­dy light

To grace the mar­riage feast to­night.

Zion hears the voice that sing­eth

With sud­den joy her glad heart spring­eth

At once she wakes

she stands ar­rayed:

Her light is come

her star as­cend­ing

Lo

girt with truth

with mer­cy blend­ing

Her Bride­groom there

so long de­layed.

All hail! God’s glo­ri­ous Son

All hail! our joy and crown

Alleluia! The joy­ful call we an­swer all

And fol­low to the brid­al hall.

Praise to Him who goes be­fore us!

Let men and an­gels join in chor­us

Let harp and cym­bal add their sound.

Twelve the gates

a pearl each por­tal:

We haste to join the choir im­mor­tal

Within the Ho­ly Ci­ty’s bound.

Ear ne’er heard aught like this

Nor heart con­ceived such bliss.

Alleluia! We raise the song

we swell the throng

To praise Thee ag­es all along.