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Christian Prayers (Betbüchlein)/Book 1 · Christliche Gebet (Betbüchlein)
Chapter 43Haberm.1.43

Abendsegen am Dienstag

A Prayer of Evening Thanksgiving

The petitioner reflects on God's protection throughout the day and asks for safety during the coming night.

Lord, kind God, holy Father! By day I cry out to you with my voice; when I am afraid, I call to you. And in the evening I remember your goodness and faithfulness that you have shown me; and especially I praise you now that, out of pure grace and mercy, without any merit or worthiness of mine, you have so fatherly kept me this past day from countless harm and danger that could have struck me: that Satan has not destroyed me with a wicked, sudden death; that I have not been injured by storm, hail, or lightning; that great storm winds have not harmed me; and that the evil enemy has not ruined me in food and drink with poison and his other thousand cunning schemes; and that I have not broken an arm or a leg either. For this I give you praise and thanks now and always, and I ask you, for the sake of the bitter suffering of Jesus Christ, to forgive me all the wrongs I have done against you today, and to keep me graciously through the night ahead from my adversary, the wretched devil, and from terror and dread by night, so that no monster or delusion may confuse or harm me.1 Protect me, with all that I have, from danger of water and fire, and from every evil of body and soul. Let me fall asleep peacefully, free of all care and worry, so that even in the darkness I may see with the eyes of my heart the light of your divine radiance shining over me. For you are a bright and true light that illuminates all the darkness that has enclosed us. You, Lord God, are with me; you are my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my stronghold in whom I trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my protection. Lord my God, at night I stretch out my hands to you; come to me like a late rain that waters the land.2

A Plea for Nightly Preservation

The prayer concludes with a request for God's continued presence, spiritual wakefulness, and a peaceful morning.

Stay with us, Lord, for the day has drawn to a close, and there is no one who can protect us in this darkness except you alone, our God. Hurry to help me and protect me through this night, so that my spirit does not sleep in sins and no harm comes to my body. Wake me at the right and fitting time, and let me hear joy and gladness; for I delight in your word and your testimonies—they are the comfort of my heart.3 Grant that no sorrowful news may reach my ears, and turn away the anguish of my soul; for you alone can preserve my life and fill me with every kind of blessing in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Read the original Latin

Herr, gütiger Gott, heiliger Vater! Des Tages schreie ich zu dir mit meiner Stimme; wenn mir Angst ist, rufe ich zu dir: und des Abends gedenke ich an deine Güte und Treue, die du mir erzeigt hast; und sonderlich preise ich dich jetzund, dass du mich aus lauter Gnade und Barmherzigkeit, ohne all mein Verdienst und Würdigkeit, heute diesen verschienenen Tag vor unzähligem Schaden und Gefahr, die mich hätten treffen können, so ganz väterlich behütet hast, dass mich der Satan nicht mit einem bösen, schnellen Tod umgebracht hat; dass ich von Ungewitter, Hagel und Blitz nicht bin versehrt worden; dass mich große Sturmwinde nicht beschädiget haben, und dass mich der böse Feind im Essen und Trinken mit Gift und andern seinen tausendkünstigen Listen nicht verderbet hat; dass ich auch keinen Arm oder Bein entzwei gefallen habe. Dafür sage ich dir jetzt und allezeit Lob und Dank, und bitte dich um des bittern Leidens Jesu Christi willen, du wollest mir verzeihen alle Misshandlungen, so ich heute wider dich getan habe, und mich die zukünftige Nacht fürbaß gnädiglich bewahren vor meinem Widersacher, dem leidigen Teufel, vor Schrecken und Entsetzen des Nachts, dass mich kein Ungetüm noch Phantasie betöre noch beschädige. Behüte mich mit allem, was ich habe, vor Wassers- und Feuersnöten, vor allem Übel Leibes und der Seele. Lass mich geruhiglich ohne alle Sorge und Bekümmernis einschlafen, auf dass ich auch in Finsternis das Licht deines göttlichen Glanzes über mich scheinend möge sehen mit den Augen meines Herzens. Denn du bist ein helles und wahrhaftes Licht, welches da erleuchtet alle Dunkelheit, die uns umfangen hat. Du, Herr Gott, bist bei mir, du bist mein Fels, meine Burg, mein Erretter, mein Hort, auf den ich traue, mein Schild und Horn meines Heils und mein Schutz. Herr mein Gott, zu dir breite ich des Nachts meine Hände aus; komm zu mir, wie ein Spätregen, der das Land befeuchtet.

Bleibe bei uns, Herr, denn der Tag hat sich geneiget, und ist niemand, der uns in dieser Finsternis schütze, denn du allein, unser Gott. Eile mir zu helfen und schütze mich in dieser Nacht, dass mein Geist in Sünden nicht schlafe und meinem Leibe kein Übel widerfahre. Wecke mich zu rechter und bequemer Zeit und lass mich hören Freude und Wonne; denn ich habe Lust zu deinem Wort und Zeugnissen, die sind meines Herzens Trost. Gib, dass vor meine Ohren nicht komme eine traurige Botschaft und wende die Angst meiner Seele, denn du allein kannst mein Leben fristen und mich mit allerlei Segen erfüllen in Christo Jesu, unsrem Herrn. Amen.

Scripture echoes

  1. Ps.77.1To the choirmaster, according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
  2. Ps.91.5You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
  3. Eph.1.18;2Cor.4.6;Ps.18.28having the eyes of your heart enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 2Cor.4.6 — For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' is the one who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Ps.18.28 — For you save a humble people, but haughty eyes you bring low.
  4. John.1.5;1John.1.5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 1John.1.5 — And this is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
  5. Ps.88.9You have put my acquaintances far from me; you have made me an abomination to them; I am shut in and cannot go out.
  6. Joel.2.23;Hos.6.3Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for he has given you the early rain for righteousness, and he has sent down for you the rain, the early and the latter rain, in the first. Hos.6.3 — Then let us know, let us press on to know the LORD; his going forth is as sure as the dawn, and he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.

Notes

  1. 1Phantasie rendered as 'delusion' for night-time mental/spectral disturbance; could also be 'phantom' or 'frightening fantasy'.
  2. 2Spätregen ('late rain' / latter rain) is biblical agricultural imagery for timely, renewing blessing.
  3. 3Early modern bequemer Zeit means suitable/fitting rather than modern comfortable; rendered as fitting.

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