The Bridegroom at Hand.

From: Hymns and Poems By: Edward Denny

• 1 min. read • grade level: 6

"I sleep, but my heart waketh."—Song of Sol. 5:2²I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. (Song of Solomon 5:2).

CHILDREN of light, awake! awake!
Ye slumbering virgins rise;
Go meet the royal Bridegroom now,
And show that ye are wise.

Like foolish virgins, ye have fail'd
Your holy watch to keep;
And lo, he comes, and almost finds
Your languid souls asleep!

Through love, the Man of Sorrows oft
Hath watch'd and wept for you;
Then gave away his life to prove
That all that love was true.

Then wake, for, lo, the midnight cry
Of warning in the air,
Bids all his church, to greet him now,
Their dying lamps prepare.

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.