Religion
When evening shades around us close
Translated by John Brownlie (1896) · From Hymns of the Early Church (1896)
When evening shades around us close,
And bound in sleep our limbs repose,
The watchful soul, from slumber free,
Shall breathe its earnest prayer to Thee.
Desire of Nations, Word of God,
Thou Saviour of the World abroad,
Hear Thou our mournful prayer at length,
And raise the fallen by Thy strength.
Be near, Redeemer; by Thy grace
Forgive our erring sinful race,
Bound in the prison-house of sin—
O, open heaven and lead us in.
O Thou who cam'st to set us free,
To Thee, the Son, all praises be;
To Father, Spirit, Three in One,
While the eternal ages run.
Codex Note
Latin: In noctis umbra desides. Brownlie's headnote: by Charles Coffin (1676-1749), not among the poets filed separately here.
Cite this poem
MLA
Anonymous Latin Hymns. “When evening shades around us close.” Translated by John Brownlie. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-latin-hymns/13/.
Chicago
Anonymous Latin Hymns. “When evening shades around us close.” Translated by John Brownlie. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-latin-hymns/13/.
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