Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow

Representative Text

1 Now rest beneath night's shadow
The woodland, field and meadow:
The world in slumber lies;
But thou, my heart, awake thee,
To prayer and song betake thee,
Let praise to thy Creator rise.

2 Lord Jesus, who dost love me,
O spread Thy wings above me,
And shield me from alarm;
Tho' Satan would devour me,
Let angel-guards sing o'er me:
"This child of God shall meet no harm."

Source: The Christian Hymnary. Bks. 1-4 #986

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 >

Author: Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which con­demned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Now rest beneath night's shadows, Man, beast, wood, town and meadows
Title: Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow
German Title: Nun ruhen alle Wälder
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translator: Catherine Winkworth
Meter: 7.7.6.7.7.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 31 of 31)
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American Lutheran Hymnal #572

Armed Forces Hymnal. Catholic Supplement #d59

Book of Hymns for the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin and Other States #d172

Chorales for Unchanged Voices #d19

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Christian Hymns #206

Evangelical Lutheran Hymn Book with Tunes #d299

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #33

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #301

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnbook (Lutheran Conference of Missouri and Other States) #d229

Forty-Six Chorales #d28

Hymn Book for the use of Evangelical Lutheran Schools and Congregations #d78

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Hymn Book #88

Hymnal for Church, School and Home #d104

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Hymnal for Evangelical Lutheran Missions #158

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Lutheran Hymnal for the Sunday School #38

Lutheran Sunday School Hymnal. 9th ed. #d135

Our Songs of Praise #d97

Songs of Praise #d209

Songs of Praise for Sunday Schools, Church Societies and the Home #d214

Sunday School Hymnal #d277

The Annex #d62

The Children's Hymnal #d187

Text

The Christian Hymnary. Bks. 1-4 #986

The New Alphabetical Hymnal #d265

The Selah Song Book (Das Sela Gesangbuch) #d507

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The Selah Song Book (Das Sela Gesangbuch) (2nd ed) #163a

The Selah Song Book. Word ed. #d251

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Wartburg Hymnal #65

Youth Inspiral #d63

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