Softly Now the Day is Ending

Above:  St. Mary and Martha of Bethany Episcopal Church, Buford, Georgia

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5809999763099999377/5810005412084850418?banner=pwa&pid=5810005412084850418&oid=114749828757741527421)

Original Danish Words by Thomas Hansen Kingo (1634-1703)

English Translation by Jens Christian Aaberg (1877-1970)

Hymn Source = Hymnal for Church and Home, Third Edition (1938), of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church, denominations with Danish heritage

http://blogatheologica.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/assembled-in-this-thy-house-danish-american-lutherans-1870-1962/

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1.  Softly now the day is ending,

Night o’er hill and vale descending;

I will kneel before Thee, Lord.

Unto Thee my thanks I render

That Thou didst, in mercy tender,

Life and peace to me accord.

2.  May Thy Church Thy peace inherit;

Guide our leaders by Thy Spirit;

Give our country strength and peace.

To the sinner, sad and dreary,

To each Christian, faint and weary,

Give Thou solace and surcease.

3.  Keep me, Jesus, while I slumber,

Free from perils without number;

Shield me, Master, in Thy might,

That, released from sin and sorrow,

I may sing this song tomorrow:

Jesus was my sun this night.