Until the day shall break, and shadows flee,
Which from infernal regions earth invade,
And He whom every human eye shall see
Shall come with might and majesty arrayed—
Till then shall violence unfettered reign,
And guiltless blood the field of battle stain.
Till He shall come whose voice like thunder loud
The pillars of the universe shall shake,
And all the arrogant and godless proud
Shall at His presence like the aspen quake—
Till then the man that to the earth lays claim
Shall nations sack with sword and fire and flame.
Till He shall come to whom by right belong
The throne, the kingdom, glory, power, and might,
Till He shall plant His foot upon the wrong,
And from the dust lift crushed and bleeding right—
Till then shall kings and kingdoms rise and fall,
And woeful wars for hapless victims call.
Till He shall come who shall the glittering sword
Into a ploughshare beat, and ruthless spear
Into a pruning-hook, must red blood poured
Forth from the fainting heart the earth besmear—
Till then when shall appear the Prince of Peace
Must fearful sights and sorrows sore increase.
Till He shall come His faithful witnesses
Reproached by all must tread a lonely path,
And clothed in sackcloth warning voices raise
Against the world of coming righteous wrath.
Then shall their robes of byssus pure and white
Shame the bright sun in all his glorious might.
Until that day with earnest voice we cry,
Come, O Beloved! Why delay so long?
Our importunity do not deny:
Come in Thy love so mighty, true, and strong.
Already beams of morn the night cloud lace;
Come, Jesus Lord, we long to see Thy face.