Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week Part 2

Prayer for Tuesday Morning.

Blessed be G.o.d, the maker of heaven and earth, blessed be the Lord, who only doeth wondrous things, and blessed be His glorious name for ever who hath made both day and night through His glorious wisdom, and so ruled, that while the earth remaineth, they shall not cease, that man may rest by night, and proceed again to his labors by day. O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all: the earth is full of Thy riches. For such Thy gifts we should thank Thee ere the sun rises, and come into Thy presence when the light breaks forth. Therefore I bless Thee now also, for Thou hast suffered me securely to rest and sleep this night, and again awakened me to the joy of living. Thou hast mercifully sheltered me from the a.s.saults and malice of enemies. I supplicate Thy grace: grant that my soul may repose in Thy hands, my body continue in health according to Thy good pleasure, and be kept from all injury and peril. Be Thou my mighty protection and strong stay, a defence from heat, and my cover from the sun at noon, my preservation from stumbling, and my help from falling, that no harm may come unto me. O Merciful G.o.d, knowing the hour is come to awaken out of the sleep of sin and iniquity, for now is our salvation so near, the night is far spent, the day is at hand: so help us to cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, that we may walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying, but putting on the Lord Jesus Christ in the true faith and a Christian conduct. Thus awaken us each morning. Open Thou my ears that I may hear Thy holy Word with a believing heart and keep the same in my memory. Let my ears incline to the entreaties and prayers of the needy, not to forsake them in their distress. And when in my distress I cry unto Thee, hear Thou the voice of my supplications, and despise not my sighings in the hour of death. Let my prayers come before Thee early. Incline Thine ears to my entreaties. Satisfy us early with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Amen.

Wach auf, mein Herz, und singe.

Awake, my heart, rejoicing, Thy Maker's praises voicing,-- The Giver, good gifts sending; Their s.h.i.+eld, His folk defending.

All night while darkness 'bound me In deepest gloom around me, By Satan craved while sleeping G.o.d had me in His keeping.

Thou spak'st me words endearing; Sleep now, my child, unfearing; Sleep well, night's terrors spurning; Thou'lt see the sun returning.

Thy word performed, now waking, I see the bright dawn breaking, Safe kept from ills unnumbered While 'neath Thy care I slumbered.

An off'ring Thou desirest.

Behold what Thou requirest.

Nor lamb nor incense bringing, I come with prayer and singing.

Nor wilt Thou now despise them, But in Thy heart wilt prize them, Well knowing, yea, and surely My best I offer purely.

Approve my works when shown Thee.

Help Thou good councils only; Beginning, middle, closing, Lord, for the best disposing.

With blessings guard me waking, My heart Thy dwelling making, And with Thy Word, Lord, feed me Whilst heavenward Thou dost lead me.

Paul Gerhardt, 1648.

Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.

Prayer for Tuesday Evening.

Lord, Merciful G.o.d, Holy Father, in the daytime do I cry unto Thee with my voice, in my distress I call upon Thee, and at eventime I remember Thy goodness and mercy, which Thou hast wrought for me. And especially do I magnify Thee now, that purely out of fatherly grace and mercy, without any merit or worthiness on my part, Thou hast this day preserved me from all harm and danger and kept me from sudden death. Therefore do I now and at all times render unto Thee praise and thanksgiving, and pray Thee, for the sake of the bitter sufferings of Jesus Christ, to forgive me wherever I have sinned against Thee this day. Mercifully protect me during the night against my adversary, the devil, and against the fears and terrors of the night. Suffer me to rest without anxieties and worries, and may the eyes of my faith ever behold the l.u.s.tre of Thy countenance even during the shades of night. For Thou art that s.h.i.+ning and true light, which dispels all darkness that surrounds us. Thou, O Lord, art ever with me. Thou art my rock, and my fortress, my deliverer, my strength, in whom I will trust, my buckler, the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Lord, my G.o.d, at eventime do I lift up my hands unto Thee. Come unto me as the latter rains that make the earth fruitful. Abide with us, for the day is far spent and in the darkness there is none to defend us save Thou alone, our G.o.d. Hasten to uphold us. Defend us this night, lest our souls fall into the sleep of sin and our bodies be overcome with evil. Awake us again in due time, and make us to hear joy and peace, for we love Thy word and Thy testimonies, which are the delight of our souls. May our ears be saved from all messages of sorrow, and all anguish be turned from our souls; for Thou canst prosper all that liveth, and fill my life with Thy blessing; in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Die Nacht ist kommen, drin wir ruhen sollen.

Now G.o.d be with us, for the night is closing; The light and darkness are of His disposing; And 'neath His shadow here to rest we yield us, For He will s.h.i.+eld us.

Let evil thoughts and spirits flee before us; Till morning cometh, watch, O Master, o'er us; In soul and body Thou from harm defend us, Thine angels send us.

Let holy thoughts be ours when sleep o'ertakes us; Our earliest thoughts be Thine when morning wakes us; All day serve Thee, in all that we are doing Thy praise pursuing.

As Thy beloved, soothe the sick and weeping, And bid the prisoner lose his griefs in sleeping; Widows and orphans, we to Thee commend them; Do Thou befriend them.

We have no refuge, none on earth to aid us, Save Thee, O Father, Who Thine own hast made us; But Thy dear presence will not leave them lonely, Who seek Thee only.

Father, Thy name be praised, Thy kingdom given; Thy will be done on earth as 'tis in heaven; Keep us in life, forgive our sins, deliver Us now and ever.

Petrus Herbert, 1566.

St. 5, Anon., 1627.

Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863.

Prayer for Wednesday Morning.

Almighty, All-gracious G.o.d! All Thy creatures should praise and glorify Thee. The birds under the heavens magnify Thee with lovely songs early in the morning as their Lord and Maker. So will I too heartily thank Thee, that Thou hast preserved me under Thy shelter and protection during the night now past, and all my life even to the present hour, and awakening me from the sleep of the darkness of this night, hast suffered me to arise again in health and joy. I pray Thee for the sake of the saving resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, that Thou wouldst ever keep me together with all my loved ones from all danger and evil. O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever. Fill me also at this early hour with Thy grace, that I may pa.s.s this day rejoicing in Thy commandments, and free from mortal sin. Let me experience Thy grace as a dew from the womb of the morning, and as the refres.h.i.+ng moisture that diffuses at the break of day, making the land fruitful. Thou wouldest spread Thy goodness over me, that I may gladly and zealously do Thy will. Govern me with Thy Holy Spirit that I may serve Thee in righteousness and holiness of truth, well pleasing in Thy sight. Guard me that I sin not against Thee, nor defile my conscience with carnal l.u.s.ts that militate against the soul. Keep my tongue from evil, and my lips from speaking guile. Foolish talking or jesting, unbecoming of Christians, be ever far removed from me. Grant, that I offend none with my lips, nor backbite, judge nor condemn, defame nor vilify. O that I might put a lock to my lips and seal them with a strong seal, that they bring me not to naught, nor my tongue destroy me. Give me grace that I may know my shortcomings and correct them, and not fall into Thy righteous judgment and condemnation. Grant my prayer, O Eternal G.o.d, for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit.

Dayspring of Eternity, Light from endless Light proceeding, Let Thy beams upon us s.h.i.+ne As the shadows are receding; And dispel by Thy great might Our dark night.

As the soft refres.h.i.+ng dew Falls upon the drooping flower, So our fainting hearts renew By Thy Spirit's quickening power; Ne'er Thy bounteous grace withhold From Thy fold.

Let the glow of Thy pure love All our icy coldness banish; In the radiance from above May our doubts and fears all vanish, That ere dying we may be Found in Thee.

O Thou glorious Sun of grace, May Thy light be ne'er denied us!

Till we reach the heavenly place s.h.i.+ne upon our way to guide us, That at last among the blest We may rest.

Christian Knorr v. Rosenroth, 1684.

Tr. J. F. Ohl, 1915.

Prayer for Wednesday Evening.

Most Holy Trinity, One in essence, Three in person, who art my life, salvation, and eternal joy, I praise and thank Thee with mouth and heart that Thou hast so graciously protected me throughout this day. I pray Thy divine goodness to cover up all my shortcomings, and especially where this day, with my tongue, with vain and unprofitable words, slander or otherwise, I have sinned against Thee and Thy holy commandments.