PRAYER for TUESDAY EVENING

Die Nacht ist kommen, drin wir rhuen sollen.

Petrus Herbert, 1556

St. 5, Anon., 1627.

Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863.  

 Now God be with us, for the night

is closing;

The light and darkness are of His

disposing;

And 'neath His shadow here to rest we yield us,

For He will shield us.

Till morning cometh, watch, O

Master, o'er us;

In soul and body Thou from

harm defend us,

Thine angels send us.

Let holy thoughts be ours when

sleep o'ertakes us;

Our earliest thoughts be Thine

when morning wakes us;

All day serve Thee, in all that we are doing

Thy praise pursuing.

As Thy beloved, soothe the sick

and weeping,

And bid the prisoner lose His 

griefs in sleeping;   

Widows and orphans, we to Thee

commend them;

Do Thou befriend them.

We have no refuge, none on earth

to aid us,

Save Thee, O Father, Who Thine

own hast made us;

But Thy dear presence will not 

leave them lonely,

Who seek Thee only.

Father, Thy name be praised, Thy

kingdom given;

Thy will be onde on earth as 'tis

in heaven;

Keep us in life, forgive our sins,

deliver us now and ever.

More modern interpretation of this prayer:  PRAYER for TUESDAY EVENING

Lord, Merciful God, Holy Fahter, in the daytime do I cry unto Thee with my voice, in my distress I call upon Thee, and at eventime I remember Thy goodness and mercy, which Thou has wrought for me.  And especially do I magnify Thee now, that purely out of fatherly grace and mercy, without any merit or worthiness on my part, Thou hast this daypreserved me from all harm and danger and kept me from sudden death.  Therefore do I now and at all times render unto Thee praise and thanksgiving, and pray Thee, for the sake of the bitter sufferings of Jesus Christ, to forgive me wherever I have sinned against Thee this day.  Mercifully protect me during the night against my adversary, the devil, and against the fears and terrors of the night.  Suffer me to rest without anxieties and worries, and may the eyes of my faith ever behold the lustre of Thy countenance even during the shades of night.  For Thou art that shining and true light, which dispels all darkness that surrounds us.  Thou, O Lord, art ever with me.  Thou art my rock, and my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  Lord, my God, at eventime do I lift up my hands unto Thee.  Come unto me as the latter rains that make the earth fruitful.  Abide with us, for the day is far spent and in the darkness there is none to defend us save Thou alone, our God.  Hasten to uphold us.  Defend us this night, lest our sols fall into the sleep of sin and our bodies be overcome with evil.  Awake us again in due time, and make us to hear joy and peace, for we love Thy word and Thy testimonies, which are the delight of our souls.  May our ears be saved from all messages of sorrow, and all anguish be turned from our souls; for Thou canst prosper all that liveth, and fill my life with Thy blessing; in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.