Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church ‎#459

459. Now God be with us, for the night is closing

1 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.

2 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.

3 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.

4 As Thy belovéd, 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.

5 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.

6 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.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Now God be with us, for the night is closing
• Author: Petrus Herbert (1566)
• Author (stanza 5): Anon. (1627)
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1917
• Topic: Times and Seasons: Evening

Tune Information

• Name: HOREB
• Composer: Joseph Barnby (1872)
• Meter: 11 11, 11 5
• Key: E♭ Major