| Things to listen for |
German text |
- What kind of music is the orchestra playing?
- What are the women's voices doing?
- What are the men's voices doing?
- What kind of musical figure is the "Alleluja"?
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Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme
Der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne,
Wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem!
Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde;
Sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde:
Wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen?
Wohl auf, der Bräutgam kommt;
Steht auf, die Lampen nehmt!
Alleluja!
Macht euch bereit zu der Hochzeit,
Ihr müsset ihm entgegen gehn!
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| Winkworth (1858) translation |
Literal translation |
Wake, awake, for night is flying;
The watchmen on the heights are crying:
Awake, Jerusalem, at last!
Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices;
Come forth, ye virgins, night is past;
The Bridegroom comes, awake;
Your lamps with gladness take;
Alleluia!
And for His marriage feast prepare
For ye must go and meet Him there. |
Wake ye up, the voice is calling
of the watchmen high on the ramparts,
wake up, thou city of Jerusalem!
This hour is called midnight;
they call us with ringing voices:
where are ye, wise virgins ?
Get up, the bridegroom comes;
Stand up, take your lamps!
Halleluiah!
Make yourselves ready for the wedding,
you must go to meet him! |
- A parable is an extended simile ("X is like Y") or metaphor ("X is Y"); as such, it may be subject to multiple interpretations; see John 16:29.
- Compare Matthew 25:1 with Acts 1:6. What misconception is Jesus trying to correct? See also Matthew 4:8-10, John 18:36, Luke 17:21.
- What did "the bridegroom was delayed" signify to a Jewish audience at the time of Jesus? See Isaiah 62:1-7(in Hebrew, Hephzibah = "My Delight Is in Her", Beulah = "Married"). What would it signify at the time of the writing of the Gospel of Matthew, following the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD?
- What are we waiting for, 2000 years later? See Romans 8:18-25.
- What does it mean to be awake? See Luke 12:35-37 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
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