O’er the distant mountains breaking
Comes the reddening dawn of day;
Rise, my soul, from sleep awaking,
Rise, and sing, and watch, and pray;
’Tis the Savior, blessèd Lord,
On His bright returning way.

O Thou long expected! Weary
Waits my anxious soul for Thee;
Life is dark, and earth is dreary,
When Thy light I do not see;
O my Savior, blessèd Lord,
When wilt Thou return to me?

Long, too long, in sin and sadness,
Far away from Thee I pine;
When, O when, shall I the gladness
Of Thy Spirit feel in mine?
O, my Savior, blessèd Lord,
When shall I be wholly Thine?

Nearer is my soul’s salvation,
Spent the night, the day at hand;
Keep me in my lowly station,
Watching for Thee, till I stand,
O my Savior, blessèd Lord,
In Thy bright, Thy promised land.

With my lamp well trimmed and burning,
Swift to hear and slow to roam,
Watching for Thy glad returning
To restore me to my home.
Come, my Savior, blessèd Lord,
Thou hast promised, quickly come!

Watch and pray that when the Master cometh,
If at morning, noon or night,
He may find a lamp in every window,
Trimmed and burning clear and bright.

Refrain

Watch and pray, the Lord commandeth;
Watch and pray, ’twill not be long:
Soon He’ll gather home His loved ones,
To the happy vale of song.

Watch and pray; the tempter may be near us;
Keep the heart with jealous care,
Lest the door, a moment left unguarded,
Evil thoughts may enter there.

Refrain

Watch and pray, nor let us ever weary;
Jesus watched and prayed alone:
Prayed for us when only stars beheld Him,
While on Olive’s brow they shone.

Refrain

Watch and pray, nor leave our post of duty,
Till we hear the Bridegroom’s voice:
Then, with Him the marriage feast partaking,
We shall evermore rejoice.

Refrain