"Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers"
               by Laurentius Laurenti, 1660-1722
          Translated by Sarah Findlater, 1823-1907
                                  Text From:
                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. Rejoice, rejoice, believers,
        And let your lights appear!
        The evening is advancing,
        And darker night is near.
        The Bridegroom is arising,
        And soon He draweth nigh;
        Up, pray and watch and wrestle!
        At midnight comes the cry.

        2. The watchers on the mountain
        Proclaim the Bridegroom near;
        Go meet Him as He cometh,
        With hallelujahs clear.
        The marriage-feast is waiting,
        The gates wide open stand;
        Up, up, ye heirs of glory;
        The Bridegroom is at hand!

        3. Ye saints, who here in patience
        Your cross and sufferings bore,
        Shall live and reign forever,
        When sorrow is no more.
        Around the throne of glory
        The Lamb ye shall behold;
        In triumph cast before Him
        Your diadems of gold!

        4. Our Hope and Expectation,
        O Jesus, now appear;
        Arise, Desire of nations,
        O'er this benighted sphere.
        With hearts and hands uplifted,
        We plead, O Lord, to see
        The day of earth's redemption,
        That brings us unto Thee!

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #72 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Matt. 25:6
        Author: Laurentius Laurenti, 1700, cento
        Translated by: Sarah Findlater, 1854, alt.
        Titled: "Ermuntert euch, ihr Frommen"
        Composer: Melchior Teschner, 1613
        Tune: "Valet will ich dir geben"