That Day of Wrath, That Dreadful Day Lyrics
Author: Thomas of Celano (13th cent.); Translator: Sir Walter Scott (1805)
1 That day of wrath, that dreadful day
When heav’n and earth shall pass away!
What pow’r shall be the sinner’s stay?
How shall he meet that dreadful day?
2 When, shriveling like a parched scroll,
The flaming heav’ns together roll;
When louder yet, and yet more dread,
Swells the high trump that wakes the dead;
3 O on that day, that wrathful day
When man to judgment wakes from clay,
Be thou the trembling sinner’s stay,
Though heav’n and earth shall pass away.
That Day of Wrath, That Dreadful Day Hymn Story
This hymn, “That Day of Wrath, That Dreadful Day” was originally composed in old Latin by a Franciscan Friar named Thomas of Celano. . This friar lived in the thirteenth century. It was translated into English by Sir Walter Scott.
Its name in Latin is Dies Irae. The original version consisted of twenty-two verses of three lines each.
The English translation has condensed these verses into only three verses of four lines, beginning with, “That day of wrath, that dreadful day.”
The present English version was part of a long poem by Sir Walter Scotts, known as “The Lay of the Last Minstrel”.
Below are more hymns’ lyrics and stories:
Before the Throne of God Above
The Lord Bless You and Keep You Lyrics
The Great Archangel’s Trump Shall Sound
Servants of God His Praise Proclaim
