As a Thief in the Night

Lyrics by Zeres Vitto

© 2026 Zeres Vitto. All rights reserved.

Verse 1

The books are open now above,

Before the Ancient of Days;

Each thought and word, each secret deed

Lies open to His gaze.

No mortal knows the hour or day

His case shall pass in review;

The Judge of all the earth is just,

And every record true.

Chorus

As a thief, the hour may come,

Unseen by mortal sight;

Life or death before the throne,

Each case is judged aright.

Awake, awake while mercy pleads,

Before probation’s close;

For none can know when his own name

Before the Judge shall go.

Verse 2

O house of God, the warning hear,

The judgment has begun;

The light entrusted to your care

Will speak of what you’ve done.

Not by profession shall we stand,

Nor by a favored name;

But by the faith that works through love

And honors Christ’s dear name.

Verse 3

O world, the invitation still

Resounds from shore to shore;

The Savior knocks with wounded hands,

Yet soon will plead no more.

The markets hum, the nations boast,

The careless laugh and play;

But heaven’s court moves silently,

And time slips fast away.

Bridge

Though mercy’s door stands open still,

None know their final day;

For death may seal the chosen course

Before the close of grace.

And those who long resist God’s voice,

Rejecting every plea,

May harden hearts against the light

Till truth they cannot see.

Today the Spirit gently calls,

Today His grace invites;

But none can know how near the hour

When probation’s light shall end.

Chorus

As a thief, the hour may come,

Unseen by mortal sight;

Life or death before the throne,

Each case is judged aright.

Awake, awake while mercy pleads,

Before probation’s close;

For none can know when his own name

Before the Judge shall go.

Verse 4

After the final warning cry,

Before the eastern sky

Is filled with glory, power, and light

And every waiting eye,

A judgment passes one by one

Through every recorded name;

And every case is settled there

For death or endless life.

Verse 5

Today His voice still calls the heart,

Today His grace is free;

Today the blood within the veil

Still pleads for you and me.

But when the final name is heard

And mercy’s work is done,

The sentence fixed for every soul

Can never be undone.

Final Chorus

As a thief, the hour may come,

Unseen by mortal sight;

Life or death before the throne,

Each case is judged aright.

Therefore fear God and give Him praise,

Walk daily in the light;

For none can know when his own name

Shall come before the Judge.

Final Ending

Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not your heart delay;

For death may come or judgment pass

Before another day.

Seek refuge in the Lamb of God,

Walk daily in His light;

While Jesus still intercedes above,

And mercy pleads tonight.

The books remain before the throne,

The hour is out of sight;

Yet heaven’s judgment hastens on,

Unseen by mortal sight.

For none can know when comes his hour

Or when shall end his night;

Therefore be ready every day—

Your name may come tonight.