Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America ‎#586

586. The world is very evil

1 The world is very evil;
The times are waxing late;
Be sober and keep vigil;
The Judge is at the gate:
The Judge that comes in mercy,
The Judge that comes with might,
To terminate the evil,
To diadem the right.

2 Arise, arise, good Christian,
Let right to wrong succeed;
Let penitential sorrow
To heavenly gladness lead;
To light that hath no evening,
That knows no moon nor sun,
The light so new and golden,
The light that is but one.

3 The home of fadeless splendor,
Of flowers that fear no thorn,
Where they shall dwell as children
Who here as exiles mourn;
The peace of all the faithful,
The calm of all the blest,
Inviolate, unvaried,
Divinest, sweetest, best.

4 O happy, holy portion,
Refection for the blest,
True vision of true beauty,
Sweet cure for all distrest!
Strive, man, to win that glory;
Toil, man, to gain that light;
Send hope before to grasp it,
Till hope be lost in sight.

Text Information

• First Line: The world is very evil
• Translator: John Mason Neale, 1818 - 66
• Author: Bernard of Cluny, XII cent.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1958
• Topic: The Church Year: Advent; The Church Year: Lent; The Life In Christ: Life Everlasting
• Notes: This hymn may also be sung to ST. ALPHEGE (No. 527)

Tune Information

• Name: OSLO
• Meter: 7 6, 7 6. D.
• Key: e minor
• Source: Scandinavian Folksong
• Copyright: Harmony from Enlarged Songs of Praise by permission of the Oxford University Press