Scripture Verse

The Lord is our defense. Psalm 89:18

Introduction

Words: Un­known au­thor, 12th Cen­tu­ry (Sal­va­tor mun­di Do­mi­ne). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Will­iam J. Cope­land & the com­pil­ers of Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern.

Music: Ware­ham Will­iam Knapp, 1738 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Copeland (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
William Knapp (1698–1768)

Lyrics

O Sav­ior, Lord, to Thee we pray,
Whose love has kept us safe today,
Protect us through the coming night,
And ever save us by Thy might.

Be with us now, in mercy nigh,
And spare Thy servants when they cry;
Our sins blot out, our prayers receive,
Thy light throughout our darkness give.

Let not dull sleep the soul oppress,
Nor secret foe the heart possess;
Our flesh keep chaste, that it may be
A holy temple meet for Thee.

To Thee, who dost our hearts renew,
With fervent prayer we humbly sue,
That pure in thought and free from stain,
We from our beds may rise again.

All praise to God the Fa­ther be,
All praise, eter­nal Son, to Thee,
Whom with the Spi­rit we adore
Forever and for­ev­er­more.