Christ My Song - 1495
The shades of evening chase away - Good night
(Carl Johann Philipp Spitta/Richard Massie/
Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Good night.
1. The shades of evening chase away
the last faint light of lingering day,
and night o'er weary nature throws
her welcome curtain of repose.
May we, good Lord, this night be blessed
with balmy sleep and peaceful rest! PDF - Midi
2. For all the good thou hast bestowed,
food, raiment, and a safe abode,
for ills averted, wants supplied,
a thousand nameless gifts beside,
both heart and tongue sing praise to thee,
and give thee thanks with fervency.
3. Impute not, Lord, to us, we pray,
what we have done amiss this day;
we mourn our sin with bitter smart,
and sprinkle both our house and heart
with thy dear Son's most precious blood,
to purify and make all good.
4. Grant us, O Lord, the rest we need,
for which the weary eye doth plead;
the wakeful watchman's steady guard,
the door and window strongly barred,
the warm soft bed, by thee unblessed,
give no true peace nor inward rest.
5. If thou, O Lord, dost not control
the restless movements of the soul,
the heart must reel, tossed to and fro,
like swelling waves when tempests blow,
and many an hour be spent in vain
in seeking rest, and ease from pain.
6. Then bring our hearts to rest, and close
our weary eyes with sweet repose;
protect us with thy mighty power,
awake us at the wonted hour;
then shall we thank thee with delight
for thy sweet gift – a blessed night!
Richard Massie, Lyra Domestica II, 1864, 44-45.
Translated from the German Vollendet hat der Tag die Bahn - Zur guten Nacht of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta.