Thou knowest, Lord, the wea-ri-ness and sor-row Of the sad heart that
at Thy gracious word, And lay them at Thy feet, Thou knowest, Lord.
2 Thou knowest all the past; how long and blindly
On the dark mountains the lost wanderer strayed;
How the Good Shepherd followed, and how kindly
He bore it home, upon His shoulders laid;
He healed the bleeding wounds and soothed the pain,
And brought back life, and hope, and strength again.
3 Thou knowest all the present; each temptation,
Each toilsome duty, each foreboding fear;
All to each one assigned, of tribulation,
Or to beloved ones, than self more dear;
All pensive memories, as we journey on,
Longings for vanished smiles and voices gone.
4 Thou knowest all the future; gleams of gladness
By stormy clouds so quickly overcast,
Hours of sweet fellowship and parting sadness,
And the dark river to be crossed at last.
O what could hope and confidence afford
To tread the path, but this: Thou knowest, Lord?
5 Thou knowest, not alone as God all-knowing;
As man, our mortal weakness Thou hast proved;
On earth with purest sympathies o'erflowing,
O Savior, Thou hast wept, and Thou hast loved;
And love and sorrow still to Thee may come,
And find a hiding place, a rest, a home.
6 Therefore we come, Thy gentle call obeying,
And lay our sins and sorrows at Thy feet,
On everlasting strength our weakness staying,
Clothed in Thy robe of righteousness complete:
Then rising and refreshed, we leave Thy throne,
And follow on to know as we are known.
Jane Borthwick, 1859
O Christ, who art the light and day, Thy beams chase night's dark shades a
The ver - y Light of light Thou art, Who dost that blessed light im-part.
2 All- holy Lord, to Thee we bend,
Thy servants through this night defend,
And grant us calm repose in Thee,
A quiet night from perils free.
3 Let not dull sleep the soul oppress,
Nor secret foe the heart possess.
Nor Satan's wiles the flesh allure,
And make us in Thy sight impure.
4 Light slumbers let our eyelids take,
The heart to Thee be still awake;
And Thy right hand protection be
To those who love and trust in Thee.
5 O Lord, our strong defense, be nigh;
Bid all the powers of darkness fly;
Preserve and watch o'er us for good,
Whom Thou hast purchased with Thy blood.
6 Remember us, dear Lord, we pray,
Whilst burdened in the flesh we stay;
Thou only canst the soul defend;
Be with us, Savior, to the end.
Anon., Latin, 8th Century
Darkness o'er the earth is stealing- In my lone-ly chamber kneeling,
I will say my evening prayer, Longing for a clos - er
I hold commun-ion And com-mit me
2 Yes, it is a blessed favor
To commune with Thee, my Savior,
Filled with hope and faith sincere;
Cheer my heart, my burden lighten-
May Thy word my pathway brighten,
To my prayer incline Thine ear!
3 Thee, my God, I fain would follow,
Love and honor, but how shallow
And inconstant is my love!
Spread the veil of mercy over
All my sins, my errors cover
With compassion from above!
4 Let Thine eye be vigil keeping
Over me while I am sleeping.
And my waking moments heed;
May Thy love be unabated,
Be with those who are elated,
And with those who are in need!
5 Help the wanderer, cold and weary,
On the highway dark and dreary-
May he find an open door!
Those who on the stormy ocean
Ply their trade 'mid wild commotion-
Guide them safely to the shore!
6 Hear the sick who are imploring
Thee for aid, their health restoring,
To the dying comfort bring!
Christ, who bore our sin and sorrow,
Grant them that the dawning morrow
Come with healing on its wing.
7 When at last the shadows darken,
Come and to my prayer, O hearken,
Set us all from bondage free;
Then, beyond this vale of sorrow,
There shall dawn a brighter morrow,
When Thy face in heaven we see.
M. B. Landstad, 1855
Savior, breathe an evening blessing, Ere re-pose our spir-its seal;
Sin and want we come con- fess-ing; Thou canst save, and Thou canst heal.
2 Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrow past us fly,
Angel-guards from Thee surround us;
We are safe if Thou art nigh.
3 Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from Thee;
Thou art He who, never weary,
Watchest where Thy people be.
4 Should swift death this night o'ertake us,
And our couch become our tomb,
May the morn in heaven awake us,
Clad in bright and deathless bloom.
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