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| DAY of wrath, that day of burning, | |
| Seer and Sibyl speak concerning, | |
| All the world to ashes turning. | |
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| Oh, what fear shall it engender, | |
| When the Judge shall come in splendor, | 5 |
| Strict to mark and just to render! | |
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| Trumpet, scattering sounds of wonder, | |
| Rending sepulchres asunder, | |
| Shall resistless summons thunder. | |
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| All aghast then Death shall shiver, | 10 |
| And great Nature’s frame shall quiver, | |
| When the graves their dead deliver. | |
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| Volume, from which nothing’s blotted, | |
| Evil done nor evil plotted, | |
| Shall be brought and dooms allotted. | 15 |
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| When shall sit the Judge unerring, | |
| He ’ll unfold all here occurring, | |
| Vengeance then no more deferring. | |
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| What shall I say, that time pending? | |
| Ask what advocate’s befriending, | 20 |
| When the just man needs defending? | |
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| Dreadful King, all power possessing, | |
| Saving freely those confessing, | |
| Save thou me, O Fount of Blessing! | |
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| Think, O Jesus, for what reason | 25 |
| Thou didst bear earth’s spite and treason, | |
| Nor me lose in that dread season! | |
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| Seeking me Thy worn feet hasted, | |
| On the cross Thy soul death tasted: | |
| Let such travail not be wasted! | 30 |
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| Righteous Judge of retribution! | |
| Make me gift of absolution | |
| Ere that day of execution! | |
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| Culprit-like, I plead, heart-broken, | |
| On my cheek shame’s crimson token: | 35 |
| Let the pardoning word be spoken! | |
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| Thou, who Mary gav’st remission, | |
| Heard’st the dying Thief’s petition, | |
| Cheer’st with hope my lost condition. | |
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| Though my prayers be void of merit, | 40 |
| What is needful, Thou confer it, | |
| Lest I endless fire inherit. | |
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| Be there, Lord, my place decided | |
| With Thy sheep, from goats divided, | |
| Kindly to Thy right hand guided! | 45 |
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| When the accursed away are driven, | |
| To eternal burnings given, | |
| Call me with the blessed to heaven! | |
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| I beseech Thee, prostrate lying, | |
| Heart as ashes, contrite, sighing, | 50 |
| Care for me when I am dying! | |
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| Day of tears and late repentance, | |
| Man shall rise to hear his sentence: | |
| Him, the child of guilt and error, | |
| Spare, Lord, in that hour of terror! | 55 |
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