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.