As the bird flies home to its parent nest,
When the hunter seeks his prey,
O child of God, to thy Father haste,
From the tempter’s snare away.

Refrain

Under His wings thy defense shall be,
He with His feathers shall cover thee,
Cover thee, cover thee,
He with His feathers will cover thee.

When the winds are cold, and the days are long,
And thy soul from care would hide,
Fly back, fly back, to thy Father then,
And beneath His wings abide.

Refrain

Oh, the tranquil joy of that dear retreat,
Where the Savior bids thee rest,
With steadfast hope, and a trusting faith,
In His love secure and blest.

Refrain

’Tis the Lord thy God that to thee has said,
He will guide thee with His eye;
In all thy need, like the weary dove,
To Thy only refuge fly.

Refrain

The day is past and over;
All thanks, O Lord, to Thee!
We pray Thee that offenseless
The hours of dark may be.
O Jesus, keep us in Thy sight,
And guard us through the coming night.

The joys of day are over;
We lift our hearts to Thee,
And call on Thee that sinless
The hours of dark may be.
O Jesus, make their darkness light,
And guard us through the coming night.

Lord, that in death I sleep not,
And lest my foe should say,
“I have prevailed against him,”
Lighten mine eyes, I pray:
O Jesus, keep me in Thy sight,
And guard me through the coming night.

The toils of day are over;
We raise our hymn to Thee,
And ask that free from peril
The hours of dark may be.
O Jesus, keep us in Thy sight,
And guard us through the coming night.

Be Thou our souls’ Preserver,
O God, for Thou dost know
How many are the perils
Through which we have to go.
Lord Jesus Christ, O hear our call
And guard and save us from them all.

Lord, when we have not any light,
And mothers are asleep;
Then through the stillness of the night,
Thy little children keep.

When shadows haunt the quiet room,
Help us to understand
That Thou art with us through the gloom,
To hold us by the hand.

And though we do not always see
The holy angels near,
O may we trust ourselves to Thee,
Nor have one foolish fear.

So in the morning may we wake,
When wakes the kindly sun,
More loving for our Father’s sake
To each unloving one.

Now rest beneath night’s shadow
The woodland, field, and meadow,
The world in slumber lies;
But Thou, my heart, awake thee,
To prayer and song betake thee;
Let praise to thy Creator rise.

The radiant sun hath vanished,
His golden rays are banished
By night, the foe of day;
But Christ, the Sun of gladness,
Dispelling all my sadness,
Within my heart holds constant sway.

The rule of day is over
And shining jewels cover
The heaven’s boundless blue.
Thus I shall shine in heaven,
Where crowns of gold are given
To all who faithful prove and true.

To rest my body hasteth,
Aside its garments casteth,
Types of mortality;
These I put off and ponder
How Christ will give me yonder
A robe of glorious majesty.

Lord Jesus, who dost love me,
Oh, spread Thy wings above me
And shield me from alarm!
Though evil would assail me,
Thy mercy will not fail me:
I rest in Thy protecting arm.

My loved ones, rest securely,
For God this night will surely
From peril guard your heads.
Sweet slumbers may He send you
And bid His hosts attend you
And through the night watch o’er your beds.

Now that the daylight dies away,
By all Thy grace and love,
Thee, Maker of the world, we pray
To watch our bed above.

Let dreams depart and phantoms fly,
The offspring of the night,
Keep us, like shrines, beneath Thine eye,
Pure in our foe’s despite.

This grace on Thy redeemed confer,
Father, co-equal Son,
And Holy Ghost, the Comforter,
Eternal Three in One.

Now the day is over,
Night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening
Steal across the sky.

Now the darkness gathers,
Stars begin to peep,
Birds, and beasts and flowers
Soon will be asleep.

Jesus, give the weary
Calm and sweet repose;
With Thy tenderest blessing
May mine eyelids close.

Grant to little children
Visions bright of Thee;
Guard the sailors tossing
On the deep, blue sea.

Comfort those who suffer,
Watching late in pain;
Those who plan some evil
From their sin restrain.

Through the long night watches
May Thine angels spread
Their white wings above me,
Watching round my bed.

When the morning wakens,
Then may I arise
Pure, and fresh, and sinless
In Thy holy eyes.

Glory to the Father,
Glory to the Son,
And to Thee, blest Spirit,
While all ages run.

Softly the silent night falleth from God,
On, weary wanderers, over life’s road;
And as the stars on high light up the dark’ning sky,
Lord, unto Thee we cry—Father above.

Softly on failing wing daylight has passed;
Sleep, like an angel, kind, folds us at last;
Peace be our lot this night, safe be our slumber light,
Watched by Thy angels bright, Father above.

And when the gleam of morn touches our eyes,
And the returning day bids us arise,
Happy beneath Thy will, steadfast in joy or ill,
Lord, may we serve Thee still, Father above.

I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;
His baptism in Jordan river,
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of cherubim;
The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,
The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the star lit heaven,
The glorious sun’s life giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward;
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart’s idolatry,
Against the wizard’s evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

The shadows of the evening hours fall from the darkening sky;
Upon the fragrance of the flowers the dews of evening lie;
Before Thy throne, O Lord of Heav’n, we kneel at close of day;
Look on Thy children from on high, and hear us while we pray.

The sorrows of Thy servants, Lord, O do not now despise,
But let the incense of our prayers before Thy mercy rise.
The brightness of the coming night upon the darkness rolls;
With hopes of future glory, chase the shadows from our souls.

Slowly the rays of daylight fade, so fade within our heart
The hopes in earthly love and joy, that one by one depart.
Slowly the bright stars, one by one, within the heavens shine:
Give us, O Lord, fresh hopes in heaven, and trust in things divine.

Let peace, O Lord, Thy peace, O God, upon our souls descend;
From midnight fears and perils, now our trembling hearts defend.
Give us a respite from our toil; calm and subdue our woes.
Through the long day we labor, Lord, O give us now repose.

To Thee before the close of day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That, with Thy wonted favor, Thou
Wouldst be our Guard and Keeper now.

From all ill dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Withhold from us our ghostly foe,
That spot of sin we may not know.

O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Thine only Son,
Who, with the Holy Ghost and Thee,
Doth live and reign eternally.

Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That Thou with wonted love wouldst keep
Thy watch around us while we sleep.

O let no evil dreams be near,
Nor phantoms of the night appear;
Our ghostly enemy restrain,
Lest aught of sin our bodies stain.

Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who with the Holy Ghost and Thee
Doth live and reign eternally.

The day is past and gone,
The evening shades appear;
O may we all remember well
The night of death draws near.

We lay our garments by,
Upon our beds to rest;
So death shall soon disrobe us all
Of what is here possessed.

Lord, keep us safe this night,
Secure from all our fears;
May angels guard us while we sleep,
Till morning light appears.

Holy Father, bless us
As the day we close,
And the night’s refreshing
Grant us in repose.

All the day Thy presence
Made our hearts to burn,
As we heard Thy counsel,
Felt Thy love’s concern.

So tonight we pray Thee
Leave us not alone;
But through light and shadow
Keep us as Thine own.

Grant to us in slumber
To be very near,
In Thy goodness quelling
Needless doubt and fear.

When at length the dawning
Sweeps the night away,
Help us rise triumphant,
Worthy of the day.

In mercy, Lord, remember me,
Through all the hours of night,
And grant to me most graciously
The safeguard of Thy might.

With cheerful heart I close mine eyes,
Since Thou wilt not remove;
O in the morning let me rise
Rejoicing in Thy love.

Or if this night should prove my last,
And end my transient days,
Lord, take me to Thy promised rest,
Where I may sing Thy praise.

Stars of evening, softly gleaming
In the fading west,
With your heavenly light is streaming
Hope to hearts oppressed!
Toil is over, cease from sorrow,
Till tomorrow
Sleep and rest!

Hark! the evening bells are bringing
Hope of glad release,
Welcome strains their chimes are ringing:
“Labor now shall cease;
Thou the day be long and dreary,
To the weary
Cometh peace!”

Heavenly Father! watch beside us
Till the dawn of light,
And whatever may betide us,
Guard us by thy might!
Trusting in thy gracious keeping,
Calmly sleeping
Through the night.

So when death’s dark clouds fall slowly
Over land and sea,
May thy light, serene and holy,
On our pathway be;
Leading us to joy transcending
In unending
Rest with thee!

This night, O Lord, we bless Thee
For Thy protecting care,
And, ere we rest, address Thee
In lowly, fervent prayer:
From evil and temptation
Defend us through the night,
And round our habitation
Be Thou a wall of light.

On Thee our whole reliance
From day to day we cast,
To Thee, with firm affiance,
Would cleave from first to last;
To Thee, through Jesus’ merit,
For needful grace we come,
And trust that Thy good Spirit
Will guide us safely home.

What may be on the morrow
Our foresight cannot see;
But be it joy or sorrow,
We know it comes from Thee.
And nothing cane take from us,
Where’er our steps may move,
The staff of Thy sure promise,
The shield of Thy true love.

Because thy trust is God alone,
Thy refuge is the Highest One;
No evil shall upon thee come,
Nor plague approach thy guarded home.

Angelic guards at His commands
Will bear thee safely in their hands,
Will keep thee, lest, if left alone,
Thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Though fierce and treacherous foes assail,
Their power and wrath shall not prevail;
Their cruel strength, their venomed spite,
Thou shalt o’ercome with conquering might.

Because on Me he set his love,
I will his constant Savior prove,
And since to him My Name is known,
I will exalt him as Mine own.

As oft as he shall call me on Me,
Most gracious shall My answer be;
I will be with him in distress,
And in his trouble I will bless.

Complete deliverance I will give,
And honor him while he shall live;
Abundant life I will bestow,
To him, My full salvation show.

Ye sons of men, a feeble race,
Exposed to every snare,
Come, make the Lord your dwelling place,
And try and trust His care.

No ill shall enter where you dwell;
Or if the plague come nigh,
And sweep the wicked down to hell,
’Twill raise His saints on high.

He’ll give His angels charge to keep
Your feet in all their ways;
To watch your pillow while you sleep,
And guard your happy days.

Their hands shall bear you, lest you fall
And dash against the stones:
Are they not servants at His call,
And sent t’attend His sons?

Adders and lions ye shall tread;
The tempter’s wiles defeat;
He that hath broke the serpent’s head
Puts him beneath your feet.

“Because on Me they set their love,
I’ll save them,” saith the Lord;
“I’ll bear their joyful souls above
Destruction and the sword.

“My grace shall answer when they call,
In trouble I’ll be nigh;
My power shall help them when they fall,
And raise them when they die.

“They that on earth My Name have known
I’ll honor them in Heav’n;
There My salvation shall be shown,
And endless live be giv’n.”

All praise be to God, whom all things obey,
From angels and men for ever and aye:
Who sendeth on earth the powers of His throne,
His providence good and love to make known.

His angels are they of countenance fair,
The arm of His strength, His hand of kind care:
His message of peace to us they reveal,
His wisdom most high they seal or unseal.

By martyrs of old they stood in the flame,
And bade them not flinch, but call on God’s Name.
Thro’ torment, thro’ shame, thro’ darkness of death
They led without fear the sires of our faith.

They stand with the few, they fight for the free,
God’s reign to advance o’er land and o’er sea:
And when the brave die or fall in the fight,
Their spirits they bear to rest in God’s sight.

For patience and toil a crown they prepare;
They found for the meek a kingdom full fair;
No famine nor plague ’gainst them doth prevail;
Their bread cannot lack, their cruse cannot fail.

We pray Thee, who art Thy angels’ reward,
Thy flock to defend forget not, O Lord;
But prosper their aid, that us they may bring
To see the true face of Jesus, our King.

Around the throne of God a band
Of bright and glorious angels stand;
Sweet harps within their hands they hold,
And on their heads are crowns of gold.

Some wait around Him ready still
To sing His praise and do His will,
And some, when He commands them, go
To guard His servants here below.

Lord, give Thine angels every day
Command to guard us on our way,
And bid them every evening keep
Their watch around us while we sleep.

So shall no wicked thing draw near
To do us harm or cause us fear;
And we shall dwell, when life is past,
With angels round Thy throne at last.

Call Jehovah thy salvation, rest beneath th’Almighty’s shade.
In His secret habitation dwell, and never be dismayed.
There no tumult shall alarm thee, thou shalt dread no hidden snare.
Guile nor violence can harm thee, in eternal safeguard there.

From the sword at noonday wasting, from the noisome pestilence,
In the depth of midnight blasting, God shall be thy sure defense.
He shall charge His angel legions watch and ward over thee to keep.
Though thou walk through hostile regions, though in desert wilds thou sleep.

Since, with pure and firm affection, thou on God hast set thy love,
With the wings of His protection, He will shield thee from above.
Thou shalt call on Him in trouble, He will hearken, He will save.
Here for grief reward thee double, crown with life beyond the grave.

Christ, the fair glory of the holy angels,
Thou Who hast made us, Thou Who o’er us rulest,
Grant of Thy mercy unto us Thy servants
Steps up to Heaven.

Send Thy archangel, Michael, to our succor;
Peacemaker blessèd, may he banish from us
Striving and hatred, so that for the peaceful
All things may prosper.

Send Thy archangel, Gabriel, the mighty;
Herald of Heaven, may he from us mortals
Spurn the old serpent, watching o’er the temples
Where Thou art worshipped.

Send thy archangel, Raphael, the restorer
Of the misguided ways of men who wander,
Who at Thy bidding strengthens soul and body
With Thine anointing.

Father almighty, Son and Holy Spirit,
God ever blessèd, be Thou our Preserver;
Thine is the glory which the angels worship,
Veiling their faces.

Jesus, Brightness of the Father,
Life and Strength of all who live,
For creating guardian angels
Glory to Thy Name we give
And Thy wondrous praise rehearse,
Singing in harmonious verse.

Blessèd Lord, by their protection
Shelter us from harm this day,
Keep us pure in flesh and spirit,
Save us from the Foe, we pray,
And vouchsafe us by Thy grace
In Thy paradise a place.

Glory to th’almighty Father
Sing we with the heav’nly host;
Glory to the great Redeemer,
Glory to the Holy Ghost;
Three in One and One in Three,
Throughout all eternity!

Lord, I would own Thy tender care,
And all Thy love to me;
The food I eat, the clothes I wear,
Are all bestowed by Thee.

’Tis Thou preservest me from death
And dangers every hour;
I cannot draw another breath
Unless Thou give me power.

Kind angels guard me every night,
As round my bed they stay:
Nor am I absent from Thy sight
In darkness or by day.

My health, and friends, and parents dear,
To me by God are giv’n;
I have not any blessing here
But what is sent from Heav’n.

Such goodness, Lord, and constant care,
I never can repay;
But may it be my daily prayer,
To love Thee and obey.

Now all the woods are sleeping,
And night and stillness creeping
O’er city, man, and beast;
But thou, my heart, awake thee,
To prayer awhile betake thee,
And praise thy Maker ere thou rest.

My Jesus, stay Thou by me,
And let no foe come nigh me,
Safe sheltered by Thy wing;
But would the foe alarm me,
O let him never harm me,
But still Thine angels round me sing!

My loved ones, rest securely,
From every peril surely
Our God will guard your heads;
And happy slumbers send you,
And bid His hosts attend you,
And golden armed watched o’er your beds.

Onward, Christian, though the region
Where thou art be drear and lone;
God has set a guardian legion
Very near thee; press thou on.

By the thorn road, and none other,
Is the mount of vision won;
Tread it without shrinking, brother,
Jesus trod it; press thou on.

Be this world the wiser, stronger,
For thy life of pain and peace;
While it needs thee, oh, no longer
Pray thou for thy quick release.

Pray thou, Christian, daily rather
That thou be a faithful son,
By the prayer of Jesus, “Father
Not my will, but Thine, be done.”

Softly sighs the breath of evening,
Stealing through the shadowy grove,
While the stars, in heaven shining,
Keep their silent watch above.

Heav’nly Father, while we’re sleeping,
Send Thy guardian angels bright,
Faithful watch above us keeping,
To protect us through the night.

When the morning, gently breaking,
Tints the sky with golden rays,
May Thy loving children, waking,
Sing their heav’nly Father’s praise.