Office Hymns: Additional Hymns for Evening Prayer 100-110

Additional Hymns for Evening Prayer

100

All praise to thee, my God, this night – T Ken

All praise to thee, my God, this night,
for all the blessings of the light:
keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
beneath thine own almighty wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
the ill that I this day have done;
that with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

O may my soul on thee repose,
and with sweet sleep mine eyelids close;
sleep that shall me more vigorous make
to serve my God when I awake.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host:
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

101

Sun of my soul, thou Savior dear – Keble

Sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear,
it is not night if thou be near:
O may no earth-born cloud arise
to hide thee from thy servant's eyes.

When the soft dews of kindly sleep
my wearied eyelids gently steep,
be my last thought, how sweet to rest
for ever on my Saviour's breast.

Abide with me from mom till eve,
for without thee I cannot live;
abide with me when night is nigh,
for without thee I dare not die.

If some poor wandering child of thine
have spurned to-day the voice divine,
now, Lord, the gracious work begin;
let him no more lie down in sin.

Watch by the sick; enrich the poor
with blessings from thy boundless store;
be every mourner's sleep to-night
like infant's slumbers, pure and light.

Come near and bless us when we wake,
ere through the world our way we take;
till in the ocean of thy love
we lose ourselves in heaven above.

 

102

Now it is evening: time to rest from labor – P Herbert / H 1940

 

103

At even, ere the sun was set – H Twells

At even, ere the sun was set,
the sick, O Lord, around thee lay;
O in what divers pains they met!
O with what joy they went away!

Once more 'tis eventide, and we
oppressed with various ills draw near;
what if thy form we cannot see?
we know and feel that thou art here.

O Saviour Christ, our woes dispel;
for some are sick, and some are sad,
and some have never loved thee well,
and some have lost the love they had;

And some have found the world is vain,
yet from the world they break not free;
and some have friends who give them pain,
yet have not sought a friend in thee;

And none, O Lord, have perfect rest,
for none are wholly free from sin;
and they who fain would serve thee best
are conscious most of wrong within.

O Saviour Christ, thou too art man;
thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried;
thy kind but searching glance can scan
the very wounds that shame would hide.

Thy touch has still its ancient power;
no word from thee can fruitless fall:
Hear, in this solemn evening hour,
and in thy mercy heal us all.

104

God, that madest earth and heaven – R Herbert – R Whately

God, that madest earth and heaven,
darkness and light;
who the day for toil hast given,
for rest the night;
may thine angel guards defend us,
slumber sweet thy mercy send us;
holy dreams and hopes attend us,
all through the night.

Guard us waking, guard us sleeping,
and when we die,
may we in thy mighty keeping
all peaceful lie;
when the last dread call shall wake us,
do not thou, our God, forsake us,
but to reign in glory take us
with Thee on high.

105

Now from the altar of my heart – J Mason

Now from the altar of my heart
let incense flames arise;
assist me, Lord, to offer up
mine evening sacrifice.

Minutes and mercies multiplied
have made up all this day;
minutes came quick but mercies were
more fleet and free than they.

New time, new favor, and new joys
do a new song require;
till I shall praise thee as I would,
accept my heart's desire.

106

O Trinity of blessed Light – Ambrose / Neale

O Trinity of blessed light,
O Unity of royal might,
the fiery sun now goes its way;
shed thou within our hearts thy ray.

To thee our morning song of praise,
to thee our evening prayer we raise;
O grant us with thy saints on high
to praise thee through eternity.

To God the Father, heav’nly Light,
to Christ revealed in earthly night,
to God the Holy Ghost we raise
our equal and unceasing praise.

 

107

Now the day is over – S Gould

Now that 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.

108

O Brightness of the immortal Father's face – E Eddis trans

O brightness of the immortal Father's face,
most holy, heavenly, blest,
Lord Jesus Christ, in whom his truth and grace
are visibly expressed:

The sun is sinking now, and one by one
the lamps of evening shine;
we hymn the eternal Father, and the Son,
and Holy Ghost divine.

Worthy art thou at all times to receive
our hallowed praises, Lord.
O Son of God, be thou, in whom we live,
through all the world adored.

109

Lord, keep us safe this night – J Leland

Lord, keep us safe this night,
secure from all our fears;
may angels guard us while we sleep,
till morning light appears.

110

Our day of praise is done – J Ellerton

Our day of praise is done;
The evening shadows fall;
But pass not from us with the sun,
True Light that lightenest all.

Around the throne on high,
Where night can never be,
The white-robed harpers of the sky
Bring ceaseless hymns to Thee.

Too faint our anthems here;
Too soon of praise we tire;
But oh, the strains how full and clear
Of that eternal choir!

Yet, Lord, to Thy dear will
If Thou attune the heart,
We in Thine angel's music still
May bear our lower part.

'Tis Thine each soul to calm,
Each wayward thought reclaim,
And make our life a daily psalm
Of glory to Thy name.

A little while, and then
Shall come the glorious end;
And songs of angels and of men
In perfect praise shall blend.