1.

One day I beheld in the Spirit
Ten virgins go forth on life’s way,
Each one with her lamp trimmed and burning,
And vessels all ready had they.
They went forth to meet their beloved—
Their Bridegroom—but O what a woe!
Not all were permitted to enter;
Away from Him five had to go.

Chorus:

Buy oil for your lamp and your vessel;
Make haste, friends, for night soon will fall!
And woe unto him whose lamp faileth
When darkness descends o’er us all.

2.

The wise understood to be ready
With oil both in vessel and lamp;
And sources of oil they discovered
In secret, outside of the camp.
The foolish lightheartedly reasoned,
“Our Bridegroom is loving and kind,
And surely He’ll never reject us.”
They thought He’d not leave them behind.

3.

The heavenly Bridegroom did tarry,
While over the earth darkness crept.
The world became used to this darkness;
The virgins all slumbered and slept.
Then suddenly all heard the challenge:
“Behold! Now the Bridegroom doth come!”
They woke at the voice of the angel,
But where in the night could they run?

4.

The foolish were stricken with panic;
Their lamps had gone out in the night.
They cried, “Give us oil from your vessels;
Don’t leave us without any light.”
The wise answered gently but firmly,
“We’ve only enough for ourselves.
But hasten, go buy from the sellers;
Then you’ll have enough for yourselves.”

5.

But while they were hast’ning to purchase,
The Bridegroom in glory appeared.
The wise then were able to meet Him
And enter the marriage with cheer.
At last came the others, so rueful,
“O hear us and open, dear Lord.”
But Jesus replied, “I don’t know you!”
They stood at a firmly closed door.

Written in 1946 by Elihu Pedersen (published in 1947)Probably Swedish folk tuneText © Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters ForlagNorway ⋅ E