1 Day of wrath, that day dismaying,
Shall fulfill the prophet’s saying,
Earth in smoldering ashes laying.

2 Oh, how great the dread, the sighing,
When the Judge, the All-descrying,
Shall appear, all secrets trying.

3 Then shall ring the trump’s weird knelling
Through each tomb and charnel dwelling,
All before the throne compelling.

4 Death shall stand in consternation;
Nature quake; and all creation
Rise to answer the citation.

5 From the book shall shine the writing,
All the by-gone past reciting,
And the world of sin indicting.

6 Then the Judge shall sit, revealing
Hidden deed, word, thought, and feeling,
And to each just sentence dealing.

7 What shall wretched I be crying,
To what friend for succor flying,
When the just in dread are sighing?

8 King of might and awe, defend me!
Freely Thy salvation send me!
Fount of pity, save, befriend me!

9 Think, kind Jesus, my salvation
Caused Thy wondrous incarnation:
Leave me not to reprobation!

10 Faint and weary Thou hast sought me;
On the cross of suffering bought me:
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

11 Righteous Judge of retribution,
Grant Thy gift of absolution,
Ere that reckoning day’s conclusion!

12 Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning:
Spare, O God, Thy suppliant groaning!

13 Thou the sinful woman savedst:
Thou the dying thief forgavedst:
And to me a hope vouchsafest.

14 Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying!

15 With Thy favored sheep O place me:
Nor among the goats abase me,
But to Thy right hand upraise me.

16 While the wicked are confounded,
Doomed in flames of woe unbounded:
Call me, with Thy saints surrounded.

17 Low I kneel, with heart-submission:
See, like ashes, my contrition:
Help me in my last condition!