24. Savior, breathe an evening blessing
8.7.8.7
Vesper Hymn (Bortniansky):
Dmitri S. Bortniansky, 1818
James Edmeston, 1820;
St. 3, Edward H. Bickersteth, 1876
Savior, breathe an evening blessing, Ere repose our spirits seal; Sin and want we come confessing; Thou canst save, and thou canst heal. Though the night be dark and dreary, Darkness cannot hide from thee; Thou art he who, never weary, Watchest where thy people be. | Though destruction walk around us, Though the arrows past us fly, Angel-guards from thee surround us; We are safe, if thou art nigh. Be thou nigh, should death o'ertake us; Jesus, then our refuge be, And in Paradise awake us, There to rest in peace with thee. | Father, to thy holy keeping Humbly we ourselves resign; Savior, who hast slept our sleeping, Make our slumbers pure as thine; Blessed Spirit, brooding o'er us, Chase the darkness of our night, Till the perfect day before us Breaks in everlasting light. | |