“Watchman, what of the night?... The morning cometh, and also the night.” (Isa. 21:11,1211The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? 12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: return, come. (Isaiah 21:11‑12)).
“Watchman, what of the night?”
“It is gloomy, and thick, and dark;
Alas! wherever I turn my sight,
And seek for a faithful watcher’s light,
I can scarcely discern a spark.
I hear the drunken reveler’s cry,
The mocker’s taunt, and the skeptic’s lie;
But few believe that the Lord is nigh:
All is gloomy, and sad, and dark.”
“Watchman, what of the night?”
“It is murky, and chill, and drear:
The lamps erst burning so clear and bright!
The hearts once glowing with warm delight,
At the hope that the Lord was near;
Many are quenched to burn no more;
Few are trimmed, and their luster pour;
Alas! in so many, first-love is o’er;
All is murky, and chill, and drear.”
“Watchman, what of the night?”
“O list! ‘tis the midnight cry!
It fills the sleepers with joy or fright;
These cheeks grow pale, and those grow bright!
The Bridegroom, He draweth nigh!
The slumbering virgins from sleep awake;
The wise their lamps fresh-trimmed all take;
The knees of the foolish with terror quake,
At the sound of the midnight cry.”
“Watchman, what of the night?”
“The night is fast passing away;
The Morning Star, with effulgence bright,
Shall shortly burst on our raptured sight,
And usher the longed-for day.
He cometh! He cometh! awake! arise!
Behold! the Day Star illumines the skies;
Ye slumbering virgins unveil your eyes,
The night is just passing away.”
“Watchman, what of the night?”
The work of the watchman is o’er:
“The morning’s come and also the night,”
Eternity’s darkness—eternity’s light.
‘Inquire ye,.... inquire ye no more.’
His word is ended, and work is done;
The marriage supper is e’en begun;
The conflict over, the victory won;
The work of the watchman is o’er.