I have no penitence nor tears, I have no merit of my own; But, ah! my soul is filled with fears, And gladly would its sin disown;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share. V And bring me nigh the throne of grace, That, ere the day of Judgment dire, I may behold Thy loving face, And flee Thine all consuming ire;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share. VI Swift draws the day of Judgment nigh; Wake, wake, my soul, the Judge is near! And call for mercy while thy cry Can enter His inclining ear;-- Spare me, O Lord, Thy creature spare, And let my soul Thy mercy share. I The Bridegroom comes! My soul, awake, And slumber from thine eyelids shake; Hark! in the midnight hour the cry; Bestir, my soul, for He is nigh. II Now trim your lamp, and let its light Illume the darkness of the night; And with the tarrying host attend The Bridegroom, as the Bridegroom's friend. III Hast thou no oil? O foolish soul! Why didst thou not the hours control? Why in the darkness slumber still, Without the oil your lamp to fill? IV Go, get your oil,--but no, too late! The Bridegroom's come, and closed the gate;-- "O let me knock, for He is kind, And will not leave my soul behind." V "O let me in, my lamp's aglow; How could I, Lord, Thy coming know? 'Twas night, I slumbered,--let me in: Forgive, O Lord, forgive my sin." VI Too late! The time has gone apace; Too late, 'tis gone, the hour of grace; O soul of mine, awake, awake, And slumber from thine eyelids shake. I O Judge of all, when sinful men To Thy dire judgment seat are brought,-- Tell not the error of my life, O tell it not. II When bowed with grief my tears are shed, Because my life with sin is fraught, To angel hosts tell not my sin, O tell it not. III O hide the secrets of my soul, And give the pardon I have sought, And to the myriads round Thy throne, O tell them not. IV O merciful and just Thou art; In pity view my woeful lot, And shame me not because of sin,-- O tell it not. I