1 What means this running “to and fro?”
This increased knowledge here below?
These new inventions ev’ry day?
What message do they all convey?
In accents clear, they make reply,
Jesus, the Saviour, draweth nigh!

2 Why should the sun go hide his face,
And ev’ry star flee from its place?
What makes the wild tornadoes blow?
What shakes the earth till seas o’erflow?
All nature hastens to reply,
Jesus, the Saviour, draweth nigh!

3 Why are the nations sore distressed,
Hearts filled with anguish and unrest?
Why has the church, at just this hour,
The form of goodness without pow’r?
Awake! Awake! Help raise the cry,
Jesus, the Saviour, draweth nigh!

4 “Arise and shine!” “Shake off thy dust!”
Put on thy beauteous robes of trust.
No time for doubt, no time for fear,
Earth’s sands are run, the end is here.
Lift up thy voice, and sound the cry,
Jesus, the Saviour, draweth nigh!