Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week / Together With Confessional, Communion, and Other Prayers and Hymns for Mornings and Evenings, and Other Occasions

by Johann Habermann

Werde munter, mein Gemuete.

Soul of mine, to God awaking,

And ye senses, ev’ry one,

Come, your quiet haunts forsaking,

Tell what God to me has done.

How He this entire day

Has been with me on my way,

To my many wants attending

And from ills protection lending.

Praise and thanks to Thee I render,

Father Thou of mercies great.

Thou hast been my strong Defender,

And Thy love does not abate.

Thou hast shielded me from woe,

Lent me strength and quenched the foe,

So that I, such help beholding,

Rest secure in Thine enfolding.

If from Thee I have departed,

I return again to Thee,

Knowing Thou art tender-hearted,

Since Thy Son has died for me.

I can not deny the guilt,

But for me His blood was spilt,

And Thy grace, all sin exceeding,

Lends forgiveness at His pleading.

O Thou Light, with brightness filling

Ev’ry true and pious soul,

Into me Thy grace instilling,

Make my troubled spirit whole.

Deign this night to stay with me,

And let me abide in Thee,

That, while darkness may enthrall me,

Yet no evil may befall me.

Grant that I in peace may slumber,

Finding sweet and quiet rest.

Let no cares my soul encumber,

Keep it by Thy presence blest.

Mind and body, child and wife,

All my goods and all my life,

Friends and foes (again befriended)

Be this night to Thee commended.

Let no terrors overtake me,

Shield me well from base attack.

Let no grievous pain awake me,

War and pestilence keep back.

Ward off fire, water, death,

All that threatens life and breath.

Spare me violence, extortion

And, withal, a sinner’s portion.

O immortal God, endue me

With the gifts for which I ask.

Jesus, lest some ill pursue me,

Prosper me in ev’ry task.

Holy Spirit, comfort, friend,

On whose counsel I depend,

Listen to my earnest pleading,

Amen. Thou my prayer art heeding.

Johann Rist, 1642.

H. Brueckner, 1918.

A Daily Prayer.
To be spoken mornings or evenings.

Dear God and Lord! I live, yet know not how long. I die, yet know not when. Thou, O Heavenly Father, knowest. Lo, dear Lord, is this hour, this day (this night) the last of my life: Thy will be done! Thou alone knowest best. As Thou wilt I am willing through the true faith in Jesus Christ, my Redeemer, to live or die. But, O God, do Thou grant me this petition, that I may not suddenly pass away in my sins, and be lost. Vouchsafe unto me true knowledge, repentance and sorrow over my passed transgressions. Set them before my sight in this life, that they may not at the last day be set before me, and I be put to shame before angels and men. Grant me sufficient time and opportunity for repentance, so that from all my heart I may know and acknowledge my transgressions, and from Thy saving word obtain forgiveness and comfort for the same. O Merciful Father, forsake me not, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. My heart and my heart’s trust, O Thou Searcher of hearts, is ever known to Thee. Keep me in such trust to the life eternal. May I die, when Thou wilt, only grant me a peaceful and blessed End. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Thou highest good,

I pray Thee, through Thy precious blood,

Grant, that my final end be good. Amen.