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!
The Lutheran Hymnal
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”
I'm partial to pairing this text with the Lancashire tune ("Lead on, O King Eternal")
The other two hymns based on this text are "The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us" (LSB 514) and "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying" (LSB 516), and we sang both of those, as well.