Hymns of the Holy Eastern Church ‎#118

118. Sticheron (From the Burial Office for a Layman)

Come friends behold me here,
Speechless and breathless lying;
Held in the arms of death;--
Come with your tears and sighing.

But yesterday I lived,
And walked, and spoke with you:
Come friends, with the last kiss.
Bid me a long adieu.

For I shall walk no more
The wonted paths we trod;
My voice is stilled, I go
To speak alone with God.

The Judge has called me hence,--
To Whom the wise and great,
The warrior and the king,
Are men of one estate.

Ah! not the name I bore
Shall final doom recall;
The life of each lies bare,
Before the Judge of all.

For all the good I've done,
For all the ill and blame,--
Shall come to me in full,
The honour or the shame.

Call ye on Christ our God
That by His saving might,
I may a dwelling find
Among the sons of light.

Text Information

• First Line: Come friends behold me here
• Title: Sticheron (From the Burial Office for a Layman)
• Greek Title: ὁρῶντές με ἄφωνον καὶ ἄπνουν προκείμενον
• Translator: John Brownlie
• Meter: 6.7.6.7
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1902
• Source: Euchologion, p. 419

Tune Information

(No tune information)