#607 - It is Now Time

Composer
- published in Geistliche Lieder, Joseph Klug
  (1500-1542), 1535
Also known as:
- Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit¹⁾
- The day is Surely Drawing Near
- Great God, What Do I See and Hear?
- Nun Freut Euch
- Luther's Hymn
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Condensed Incipit: 1321231345321321231345321
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Lyrics:
Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit,
Dass Gottes Sohn wird kommen
In seiner grossen Herzlichkeit,
Zu richten Bös' umd Frommen.
Dann wird das Lachen werden teu'r,
Wenn alles wird vergehn in Feu'r,
Wie Petrus davon schreibet.

Posaunen wird man hören gehn
An aller Welt ihr Ende,
Darauf bald werden auferstehn
All' Toten gar behende;
Die aber noch das Leben han,
Die wird der Herr von Stunden an
Verwandeln umd verneuen.

Danach wird man ablesen bald
Ein Buch, darin geschrieben,
Was alle Menschen, jung und alt,
Auf Erden hab'n getrieben
Da dann gewiss ein jedermann
Wird hören, was er hat getan
In seinem ganzen Leben.

O weh demselben, welcher hat
Des Herren Wort verachtet
Und nur auf Erden früh und spat
Nach grossem Gut getrachkt!
Der wird fürwahr ganz kahl bestehn
Und mit dem Satan müssen gehn
Von Christo in die Hölle.

O Jesu, hilf zur selben Zeit
Von wegen deiner Wunden,
Dass ich im Buch der Seligkeit
Werd' angezeichnet funden!
Daran ich denn auch zweifle nicht,
Denn du hast ja den Feind gericht't
Und meine Schuld bezahlet.

Derhalben mein Fürsprecher sei,
Wenn du nun wirst erscheinen.
Und lies mich aus dem Buche frei,
Darinnen stehn die Deinen,
Auf dass ich samt den Brüdern mein
Mit dir geh' in den Himmel ein,
Den du uns hast erworben.

O Jesu Christ, du machst es lang
Mit deinem Jüngsten Tage!
Den Menschen wird auf Erden bang
Von wegen vieler Plage.
Komm doch, komm doch, du Richter gross,
Und mach uns in Genaden los
Von allem Übel! Amen.
- (unknown), c1565
- adapted by Bartholomäus Ringwaldt
  - #607 - It is Now Time
  - #703 - O Helligaand, du skat saa skjon (Oh Holy Ghost, You Precious Treasure—Norwegian)
  (1532-1599), 1581
Lyrics:
The day is surely drawing near,
When God's Son, the Anointed,
Shall with great majesty appear,
As Judge of all appointed.
All mirth and laughter then shall cease
When flames on flames will still increase,
As Scripture truly teacheth.

A trumpet loud shall then resound,
And all the earth be shaken;
Then all who in their graves are found
Shall from their sleep awaken.
But all that live shall in that hour,
By the Almighty's boundless power
Be changed at His commanding.

A book is opened then to all,
A record truly telling
What each hath done, both great and small,
When he on earth was dwelling;
And every heart be clearly seen,
And all be known as they have been,
In thoughts and words and actions.

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.

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.

Therefore, my Intercessor be,
And for Thy blood and merit
Declare my name from judgment 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.

O Jesus Christ, do not delay,
O 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 every evil.
- trans. Philip Adam Peter (1832-1919), 1872
Lyrics:
Great God, what do I see and hear?
The end of things created!
The Judge of mankind doth appear,
On clouds of glory seated.
The trumpet sounds, the graves restore,
The dead which they contained before!
Prepare, my soul, to meet Him.

The dead in Christ shall first arise
At the last trumpet's sounding.
Caught up to meet Him in the skies,
With joy their Lord surrounding.
No gloomy fears their souls dismay,
His presence sheds eternal day
On those prepared to meet Him.

But sinners, filled with guilty fears,
Behold His wrath prevailing.
In woe they rise, but all their tears
And sighs are unavailing.
The day of grace is past and gone;
Trembling they stand before His throne,
All unprepared to meet Him.

Great God, to Thee my spirit clings,
Thy boundless love declaring.
One wondrous sight my comfort brings,
The Judge my nature wearing.
Beneath His cross I view the day
When Heav'n and earth shall pass away,
And thus prepare to meet Him.
- trans. William Bengo Collyer (1782-1854), 1802

See also:
- #77 - Midsommar-sang (Midsummer Hymn—Swedish)
- #700 - Hvad kan os komme til for nod (No Harm can come to us—Norwegian)

#77 - Midsommar-sang (Midsummer Hymn—Swedish), #607 - It is Now Time and #700 - Hvad kan os komme til for nod (No Harm can come to us—Norwegian) are the same melody, although the accompaniment differs significantly.

Although the melody is often attributed to Martin Luther

, it is doubtful that he was the actual composer. Luther was responsible for the alternate text: Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein, 1523.

¹⁾

See: References » Original Sources

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