Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week Part 4

Prayer for Friday Morning.

Blessed be G.o.d, my Maker! Blessed be G.o.d, my Savior! Blessed be G.o.d, my Comforter! Who giveth unto me my health, my life, and every blessing; my very present help and my protection. Thou hast kept me according to Thy great and most blessed compa.s.sion during this night now past against the onslaughts of Satan, and preserved me in health. I beseech Thee, Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, take me this day also into Thy divine protection, and s.h.i.+eld me that no evil may a.s.sail my life. For into Thy hands do I this day and all days commend my body and soul, my thoughts, words, and deeds, all that I do or leave undone, my going out and my coming in, my walks and ways, my rising up and my lying down, my will and counsel, my thoughts and desires, my faith and profession, the end of my life, the day and hour of my death, my pa.s.sing away and my resurrection. O Lord G.o.d, do Thou with me as Thou wilt: for Thou knowest what serves best Thy glory and my salvation. Keep me in Thy fear and in the true knowledge of Thee. Protect me from the deeds of unrighteousness.

And if perchance and by reason of my frailty I sin against Thee, I pray Thee take not from me Thy mercy; turn not from me Thy grace; withdraw not Thy help. For there is none other G.o.d nor Helper but Thee, and as there is none before Thee, there is none after Thee. Thou art the first and the last, Alpha and Omega, and there is none other G.o.d beside Thee. Therefore do I call only upon Thee: may Thy goodness rule over me. Cause me to hear Thy loving kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust. Lead me on the paths of righteousness, that I may not walk in the counsel of the unG.o.dly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor yet sit in the seat of the scornful, but that my heart may ever delight in Thy word and commandments, and meditate upon them day and night; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Die h.e.l.le Sonn leucht jetzt herfuer.

The morning sun s.h.i.+nes in the skies, And we from peaceful slumbers rise.

All praise to G.o.d who hath this night Protected us from Satan's might.

Lord Jesus, s.h.i.+eld us now by day From sin and error on our way.

To us Thy holy angels send, And let them to our wants attend.

Make Thou our hearts obedient, To use Thy word and sacrament, To do Thy will whate'er betide, Thus pleasing Thee, our trusty guide.

Bless Thou the labor of our hands And help us keep Thy law's demands, That all our work, begun in Thee, May to Thy praise and glory be.

Nicolaus Hermann, 1560.

Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.

Prayer for Friday Evening.

Blessed be the Lord G.o.d, who only doeth wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory! Daily will I praise the Lord, and at eventime my mouth shall thank Him while I have any being. For when I cry with my voice, He hears me, and gives ear to my supplication. When I pray, He attends to my voice.

The Lord is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore do I laud and magnify Thee, Eternal G.o.d, that Thou hast this day so mercifully kept me from every harm and evil. My heart is glad and my soul glorifies Thee for Thy goodness and mercy. Ever shall my tongue speak of Thee and say, Blessed be the Lord, and blessed be Thy holy name!

I pray Thee, graciously pardon, wherever I have this day sinned against Thee, and grant me and mine Thy protection during the coming night. Be Thou my s.h.i.+eld, and my shade upon my right hand. O Lord, preserve me from all evil, preserve my soul. Be gracious unto me, for in Thee do I put my trust. I trust in the Lord, and cry to G.o.d, the Highest, to G.o.d Who endeth all mine affliction. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. He will guide my steps on the paths of righteousness, that I slip not and my feet do not falter. He will not suffer my feet to be moved, and His word is a light unto my path. Therefore as I lay me down, I will not be afraid of sudden terror, neither of the desolation of wicked people, when it cometh. For Thou keepest my foot from being taken, and deliverest me from the snares of death. O Lord G.o.d, lift upon me the light of Thy countenance, that I may lie down and sleep in peace, and dwell in safety under Thy protection. For Thou alone, O Lord, can help me. In Thy name will I lie down to rest and let my eyelids slumber. Thou, O Lord, wilt again awaken me with rejoicing, to the glory and praise of Thine eternal majesty; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hinunter ist der Sonnen Schein.

Sunk is the sun's last beam of light, And now the world is wrapt in night.

Christ, light us with Thy heavenly ray, Nor let our feet in darkness stray.

Thanks, Lord, that Thou throughout the day Hast kept all grief and harm away; That angels tarried round about Our coming in and going out.

Whate'er of wrong we've done or said, Let not the charge on us be laid; That, through Thy free forgiveness blest, In peaceful slumber we may rest.

Thy guardian angels round us place All evil from our couch to chase; Our soul and body, while we sleep, In safety, gracious Father, keep.

Nicolaus Hermann, 1560.

Tr. Frances Elizabeth c.o.x, 1841.

Prayer for Sat.u.r.day Morning.

O Thou Very and Eternal G.o.d, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Thee do I lift up my heart in dutiful grat.i.tude. I will not hide Thy righteousness within my heart. I will declare Thy salvation. I will not conceal Thy loving kindness and Thy truth from the great congregation, and all the good that Thou hast shown me will I not keep silent. For it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High: to shew forth Thy loving kindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night. Therefore my soul doth magnify Thee, that Thou in Thy immeasurable grace hast kept me during the night now past. Blessed be Thou, Lord G.o.d Sabaoth, who art merciful unto all, that seek Thee and love Thy salvation. Blessed is Thy holy name in all the earth, who art our refuge and our help! Blessed are all Thy works which Thou doest for the children of men! I beseech Thee, protect me this day, that the Evil One may not harm me, and the hands of the wicked touch me not. Lord G.o.d, my Savior, early will I seek Thee, early do I cry unto Thee. Grant, that I may fulfill the duties of my calling and all that is committed unto me with diligence and trust to the glory of Thy name and the betterment of my fellowman, so that I may not misuse the light of this day, neither any of Thy creatures in the service of sin and vanity, neither grieve Thee, nor transgress the covenant of my Baptism with anything I do or leave undone. Vouchsafe unto me Thy grace, that I may guard myself against the six things which Thou dost hate, yea, seven which are an abomination unto Thee: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. From such and the like vices preserve me, O G.o.d, that I may nevermore be led nor consent to them, but teach me to do Thy will; for Thou art my G.o.d: Thy Spirit is good. Lead me into the land of uprightness, that I may serve Thee in a life that is without blame, and my deeds and all my conduct be pleasing in Thy sight; for Christ's sake. Amen.

Die gueldne Sonne.

The sun, ascending, To us is lending Bliss, joy, and gladness, Cure for all sadness, Filling the world with its rich, golden light.

I was reclining When no light was s.h.i.+ning; But the sun's beauty Now calls me to duty, As I behold it so fair and so bright.

Mine eye beholdeth What G.o.d unfoldeth: Heaven's bright glory Tells me the story Of His unlimited power and love, And how the sainted In beauty untainted, Free from things mortal, Beyond death's dark portal, Dwell in the heavenly mansions above.

To G.o.d in heaven Be praises given; Come, let us offer And gladly proffer To the Creator the gifts that we prize.

He well receiveth A heart that believeth, Hymns that adore Him Are precious before Him And to His throne like sweet incense arise.

At the day's ending Sweet slumbers sending, And in the morning All things adorning, These are His works and His blessings so true.

When night descendeth Protection He lendeth When morn appeareth Our spirits He cheereth, Causing His mercy to crown us anew.

Father above me, Thou who dost love me, Bless my beginning, Keep me from sinning, Move ev'ry hindrance well out of my way.

Strength ever lend me, From Satan defend me, Spare me temptation, So that in my station I may Thy holy commandments obey.

Let me with pleasure See the full measure Which upon others, Who are my brothers, Thou of Thy blessings dost richly bestow.

Bid envy vanis.h.!.+

All greediness banis.h.!.+

Make me Thy dwelling, Sin's darkness dispelling.

Grant that in virtue I daily may grow.

What is man's being?

It is like seeing Autumn's bleak shadows Sweep o'er the meadows When the cold winds drive the clouds on their way.

All that we cherish Must crumble and perish.

Plants must stop growing, And stars must cease glowing; Heaven and earth are not destined to stay.

All else decayeth, G.o.d only stayeth, He of creation Is the foundation.

His will and word must forever abide.

His grace endureth And for us secureth Comfort in sorrow And help for the morrow, Keeping us cheerful, whate'er may betide.