"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.

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        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
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain.  You may
        freely distribute, copy or print this text.  Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
        Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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