Die Nacht Ist Kommen, Drin Wir Ruhen Sollen
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.
Let evil thoughts and spirits flee before 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 done on earth as ’tis in heaven;
Keep us in life, forgive our sins, deliver
Us now and ever.
Petrus Herbert, 1566.
St. 5, Anon., 1627.
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863.