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Behold the Bridegroom cometh
in the middle of the night,
and blest is he whose loins are girt,
whose lamp is burning bright;
but woe to that dull servant,
whom the Master shall surprise
with lamp untrimmed, unburning,
and with slumber in his eyes.
Do thou, my soul, beware,
lest thou in sleep sink down,
lest thou be given o'er to death,
and lose the golden crown;
but see that thou be sober,
with a watchful eye, and thus
cry “Holy, holy, holy God, have mercy upon us.”
That day, the day of fear, shall come;
my soul, slack not thy toil,
but light thy lamp, and feed it well,
and make it bright with oil;
who knowest not how soon may sound
the cry at eventide,
“Behold, the Bridegroom comes! Arise!
Go forth to meet the bride.”
Beware, my soul; beware, beware,
lest thou in slumber lie,
and, like the five, remain without,
and knock, and vainly cry;
but watch, and bear thy lamp undimmed,
and Christ shall gird thee on
his own bright wedding-robe of light
the glory of the Son.
Greek, ca. eighth century; trans. Gerard Moultrie (1829-1885)