1. The day is surely drawing near
   When Jesus, God’s Anointed,
   Shall with great majesty appear
   As Judge of all appointed.
   Then fright shall banish idle mirth,
   And flames on flames shall ravage earth
   As Scripture long hath warned us.

2. The final trumpet then shall sound
   And all the earth be shaken,
   And all who rest beneath the ground
   Shall from their sleep awaken.
   But all that live shall in that hour,
   By God’s almighty, boundless pow’r,
   Be changed at His commanding,

3. Then shall be opened unto all
   A book, a record telling
   What each hath done, both great and small,
   When he on earth was dwelling,
   And ev’ry heart be clearly seen,
   And all be known as they have been
   In thought and words and actions.

4. Then woe to those who scorned the Lord
   And sought but carnal pleasures,
   Who here despised His precious Word
   And loved their earthly treasures!
   With shame and trembling they will stand
   And at the Judge’s stern command
   To Satan be delivered.

5. O Jesus, who my debt didst pay
   And for my sin wast smitten,
   Within the Book of Life, oh, may
   My name be also written!
   I will not doubt; I trust in Thee,
   From Satan Thou hast made me free
   And from all condemnation.

6. Therefore my Intercessor be
   And for Thy blood and merit
   Read from Thy book that I am free
   With all who life inherit,
   That I may see Thee face to face
   With all Thy saints in that blest place
   Which Thou for us hast purchased.

7. O Jesus Christ, do not delay,
   But hasten our salvation;
   We often tremble on our way
   In fear and tribulation.
   Then hear us when we cry to Thee;
   Come, mighty Judge, and make us free
   From ev’ry evil! Amen.

Es ist gewißlich an der Zeit
Bartholomäus Ringwaldt, 1586
Reworking of an old German song based on the Latin hymn Dies irae, dies illa
Tr. Philip A. Peter, 1880, alt.
Source: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 611, alt.