Gebet um ein seliges Ende
The Brevity of Life
A meditation on the fleeting nature of human existence and a prayer for the wisdom to live with eternity in view.
O gracious God, you have set a limit to human life that no one can cross.✦ For he has his appointed time; the number of his months is with you; you have counted all our days, which still rush past like a river—no different than if we were flying away.✦✦ All our years are like smoke or a shadow that vanishes in an instant.✦ A human being is like grass that soon withers, and like a flower of the field that fades. So teach me now, O gracious God, to know and take to heart that there must be an end for me, that my life has a limit, and that I must leave this world.✦ See, my days are but a handbreadth to you, and my life is as nothing before you.✦ How utterly nothing are all people, who still live so securely.1 Lord, teach me to remember that I must die, and that here in this pilgrimage I have no lasting home.✦✦ Make known to me how short and fleeting my life is, that I may often and earnestly remember my end, so that in this world I live and die not for myself but for you—so that in faith I may wait bravely and joyfully for the day of my home-going and of the appearing of your dear Son Jesus Christ, and hurry toward that day with a holy way of life and a godly character.✦✦✦2
A Prayer for a Blessed Departure
A specific petition for grace, clarity, and peace at the moment of death, culminating in the surrender of the soul to God.
Grant me your grace, my God, for a blessed departure when my hour draws near, so that I die a blessed death and reach a clear-minded end in true knowledge—so that my mind and senses aren't thrown into confusion, and I don't speak delirious or blasphemous words against you, my Lord, or against my salvation. Protect me from a sudden, evil death and from eternal damnation. Don't let my last hour overtake me suddenly and unawares; instead, let me first prepare myself with true repentance and right faith. And when that hour comes, make me joyful and undaunted before temporal death, which only opens the door for me to eternal life; and then let me, your servant, depart in peace, for my eyes have seen your Savior, whom you have prepared before all peoples—a light to enlighten the Gentiles and for the glory of your people Israel. Grant that my last word may be the word your dear Son spoke on the cross: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. And if I can no longer speak, still hear my last sigh through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Read the original Latin
O gütiger Gott, du hast dem Menschen ein Ziel gesetzt zu leben, welches er nicht kann übergehen. Denn er hat seine bestimmte Zeit, die Zahl seiner Monden stehet bei dir, alle unsere Tage hast du gezählt, welche doch schnell dahin fahren wie ein Strom, nicht anders, als flögen wir dahin. Alle unsere Jahre sind wie ein Rauch oder Schatten, der plötzlich vergehet. Der Mensch ist doch wie Gras, welches bald verdorret, und wie eine Blume auf dem Felde verwelket, so lehre mich nun, o gütiger Gott, erkennen und zu Gemüte führen, dass es ein Ende mit mir haben muss und mein Leben ein Ziel hat, und ich davon muss. Siehe, meine Tage sind wie eine Hand breit bei dir und mein Leben ist wie nichts vor dir. Wie gar nichts sind alle Menschen, die doch so sicher leben. Herr, lehre mich bedenken, dass ich sterben muss und allhier in dieser Pilgerschaft keine bleibende Statt habe. Tue mir kund mein kurzes und vergängliches Wesen, dass ich oft und viel an mein Ende gedenke, auf dass ich in dieser Welt nicht mir selbst, sondern dir lebe und sterbe, damit ich im Glauben wacker und fröhlich erwarte den Tag meiner Heimfahrt, und der Erscheinung deines lieben Sohnes Jesu Christi und zu derselbigen mit heiligem Wandel und gottseligem Wesen eile.
Begnadige mich, mein Gott, mit einem seligen Abschiede, wenn mein Stündlein herzunaht, dass ich selig sterbe, ein vernünftiges Ende nehme in wahrer Erkenntnis, dass mein Verstand und Sinne nicht verrücket werden und ich nicht aberwitzige Rede oder Lästerworte wider dich, meinen Herrn, oder wider meine Seligkeit führe. Behüte mich vor einem bösen schnellen Tod und vor der ewigen Verdammnis. Lass mich nicht plötzlich und unversehens mit meinem letzten Stündlein überfallen werden, sondern dass ich mich zuvor mit wahrer Buße und rechtem Glauben bereite. Und wenn dasselbe kommt, so mache mich freudig und unverzagt zu dem zeitlichen Tode, der mir nur die Tür auftut zum ewigen Leben, und lass mich, deinen Diener, alsdann im Frieden fahren, denn meine Augen haben deinen Heiland gesehen, welchen du bereitet hast vor allen Völkern, ein Licht, zu erleuchten die Heiden und zum Preis deines Volkes Israel. Gib, dass mein letztes Wort sei, welches dein lieber Sohn am Kreuz gesprochen hat: Vater, in deine Hände befehl ich meinen Geist. Und wenn ich nimmer reden kann, so erhöre doch mein letztes Seufzen durch Jesum Christum. Amen.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Job.14.5 — Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You, and You have set his limits that he cannot pass,
- ↩Job.14.5 — Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You, and You have set his limits that he cannot pass,
- ↩Ps.90.5-Ps.90.10 — You sweep them away in sleep; by morning they are like grass that sprouts anew. Ps.90.6 — In the morning it flourishes and fades; by evening it withers and dries up. Ps.90.7 — For we are consumed by your anger, and by your wrath we are dismayed. Ps.90.8 — You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. Ps.90.9 — For all our days have passed away in your wrath; we finish our years like a sigh. Ps.90.10 — The days of our years in them are seventy years, or if in strength, eighty years; and their pride is toil and trouble, for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
- ↩Ps.102.3 — Do not hide your face from me; in the day I am distressed, incline your ear to me; in the day I call, answer me quickly.
- ↩Ps.103.15-Ps.103.16;Isa.40.6-Isa.40.8;1Pet.1.24 — As for mortals, their days are like grass; like a flower of the field, so they blossom. Ps.103.16 — For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. Isa.40.6 — A voice says, "Cry out!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its faithfulness is like the flower of the field. Isa.40.7 — The grass withers, the flower fades, for the breath of the LORD blows upon it; truly, the grass is the people. Isa.40.8 — The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. 1Pet.1.24 — For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
- ↩Ps.39.5 — Make known to me, LORD, my end, and the measure of my days—what it is—that I may know how fleeting I am.
- ↩Heb.13.14 — For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the one that is coming.
- ↩Ps.39.4 — My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue.
- ↩Ps.39.4 — My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue.
- ↩Rom.14.7-Rom.14.8 — For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. Rom.14.8 — For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we belong to the Lord.
- ↩Titus.2.13;2Tim.4.8;1John.2.28 — while we wait for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 2Tim.4.8 — From now on, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. 1John.2.28 — And now, little children, abide in him, so that if he is revealed, we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.
Notes
Christian Prayers (Betbüchlein) companion
A prayer for every moment, already on your phone
Chosen Portion puts a curated historic prayer in front of you each day — so the words are there before the moment arrives.
Chosen Portion is the digital descendant of the carried prayer book: the short daily prayers this collection preserves, delivered one a day to your pocket.
- One short, memorable prayer delivered daily — build your repertoire a card at a time
- Prayers matched to real situations: fear, gratitude, decisions, grief, sleep
- Save favourites into your personal pocket collection you can open anywhere