When Evening Shadows Gather

1 When evening shadows gather,
And twilight gently fades:
When all is still and silent
In midnight's darker shades;
Then, O my God, be near me,
Do Thou protect my bed;
From evil and from danger
Let Angels guard my head.

2 We know not, when we slumber,
That we shall e'er awake,
To see another day begin,
Another dawning break:
But Thou art ever watching,
Thou wilt our vigils keep,
And, trusting in Thy mercy,
We sink in peaceful sleep.

3 But, ere our eyelids closing,
We humbly seek Thy face,
And pray for Thy forgiveness,
And Thy sustaining grace:
For we are weak and erring,
And need Thy mighty power;
O Jesus, ever guard us
In dark temptation's hour.

4 We pray for those who languish
In sickness and distress,
That Thou wilt soothe their anguish,
And their afflictions bless:
We pray for those in peril
Upon the mighty sea;
We pray for friends and loved ones;--
Do Thou their Guardian be.

5 And now to Thee we render
Our thanks for mercies past,
With grateful hearts imploring
Thy favour to the last.
And at the great awakening
May we be found above,--
With saints and angels praising
Thy providence and love.

Amen.

Source: Voices of Praise: for school and church and home #19