Now God Be with Us

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Now God be with us, for the night is closing

Author: Petrus Herbert; Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Published in 191 hymnals

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Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ
	Five Lenten and Holy Week Hymn Settings

Choral
	A Lenten Meditation - (Ah, Holy Jesus)

Instrumental
	An American Tribute - A Suite of Patriot…

Representative Text

1 Now, God, be with us, for the night is closing;
the light and darkness are of your disposing,
and 'neath your shadow here to rest we yield us,
for you will shield us.

2 Let evil thoughts and spirits flee before us;
till morning's dawning, watch, Protector, o'er us;
in soul and body from all harm defend us;
your angels send us.

3 Let holy thoughts be our when sleep o'ertakes us;
our earliest thoughts be yours when morning wakes us,
serving you only, and in all our doing
your praise pursuing.

4 We have no refuge; none on earth to aid us
save you, Creator, who your own have made us;
but your dear presence will not leave them lonely
who seek you only.

5 Your holy name be praised, your kingdom given,
your will be done on earth as 'tis in heaven;
keep us in life, forgive our sins, and from ill
deliver us now and ever.

Source: Common Praise (1998) #23

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Author: Petrus Herbert

Herbert, Petrus, seems to have been a native of or resident at Fulnek in Moravia. He was ordained priest of the Brethren's Unity in 1562, became a member of the Select Council in 1567, and was latterly Consenior of the Unity. By the Unity he was entrusted with many important missions. He was sent as a deputy to confer with Calvin: and again in 1562 to arrange with Duke Christoph of Württemberg for the education at Tübingen of young men from the Bohemian Brethren. He was also one of the deputies sent to Vienna to present the revised form of the Brethren's Confession of Faith to the Emperor Maximilian II. in 1564, and in 1566 to present their new German Hymn Book. He died at Eibenschütz in 1571 (Koch, ii. 414, Allgemeine Deutsche Biographi… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Now God be with us, for the night is closing
Title:	Now God Be with Us
German Title:	Die Nacht ist kommen
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Author:	Petrus Herbert
Source:	B. Brethren
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain