"Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow"

                   by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

                                  Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        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. The radiant sun hath vanished,

        His golden rays are banished

        By night, the foe of day;

        But Christ, the Sun of gladness,

        Dispelling all my sadness,

        Within my heart holds constant sway.



        3. The rule of day is over

        And shining jewels cover

        The heaven's boundless blue.

        Thus I shall shine in heaven,

        Where crowns of gold are given

        To all who faithful prove and true.



        4. To rest my body hasteth,

        Aside its garments casteth,

        Types of mortality;

        These I put off and ponder

        How Christ will give me yonder

        A robe of glorious majesty.



        5. Lord Jesus, who dost love me,

        Oh, spread Thy wings above me

        And shield me from alarm!

        Though evil would assail me,

        Thy mercy will not fail me:

        I rest in Thy protecting arm.



        6. My loved ones, rest securely,

        For God this night will surely

        From peril guard your heads.

        Sweet slumbers may He send you

        And bid His hosts attend you

        And through the night watch o'er your beds.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #554 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Ps. 139: 11

        Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1648, cento

        Translated by: composite

        Titled: Nun ruhen alle Waelder

        Composer: Heinrich Isaak, c. 1490

        Tune: O Welt, ich muss dich lassen