Scripture Verse

Under His wings you will find refuge…You will not fear the terror of night. Psalm 91:4–5

Introduction

portrait
John M. Neale (1818–1866)
Wikipedia

button

Words: Ana­to­li­us, prob­ab­ly 6th Cen­tu­ry (Τὴν ἡμέραν διελθὼν). Trans­lat­ed from Greek to Eng­lish by John M. Neale, Hymns of the East­ern Church, 1853.

Music: Du Frie­dens­fürst, Herr Je­su Christ Bar­tho­lo­ma­us Ge­si­us, 1601. Har­mo­ny by Jo­hann S. Bach, 1724 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Johann Bach (1685–1750)

Background

This li­ttle hymn, which, I be­lieve, is not used in the pub­lic ser­vice of the Church, is a great fa­vour­ite in the Greek Isles. Its pe­cul­iar style and evi­dent an­ti­qu­ity may well lead to the be­lief that it is the work of St. Ana­to­li­us. It is, to the scat­tered ham­lets of Ch­ios and Mi­ty­lene, what Bi­shop Ken’s ev­en­ing hymn is to the vi­llage of our land, and its me­lo­dy is sin­gu­lar­ly plain­tive and sooth­ing.

John Ma­son Neale

Lyrics

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.