THE DAY IS PAST AND OVER
"Under His wings you will find refuge...You will not fear the terror of
night." Psalms 91:4-5
Words: Anonymous, probably 6th Century; translated from Greek to
English by John Mason Neale, 1853. Neale speculated the hymn might have
been written by St. Anatolius.
Music: "Du Freidensfürst, Herr Jesu Christ," Bartholomaus Gesius, 1601;
harmony by Johann Sebastian Bach, 1724.
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.