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Chapter 46Haberm.1.46

Morgensegen am Donnerstag

Morning Praise and Thanksgiving

The prayer begins by acknowledging God's protection through the night and offering praise for His faithfulness.

Lord Jesus Christ, you who are the eternal, true Light that drives away the darkness of night and the shadow of death: I will praise your name; I will sing to you and give thanks that you have so graciously guarded me through this night and brought me out of darkness into the light.✦✦✦ You have kept me safe from the terror of the night, from the devil's horrors and specters, from the deadly pestilence that creeps in the dark, and from all kinds of plagues and illnesses that might have come upon me.✦ You have also surrounded and guarded my soul with your shield, just as a shepherd watches over his flock.✦ Beyond that, everything I have has been kept unharmed through your great mercy. For such gracious protection and all your kindnesses, let praise and glory be given to you. I will speak of your power and praise your goodness in the morning, for you are my highest confidence, my strong fortress, my mighty help, my faithful God in whom I trust; you gladden my heart and make my face shine with joy.✦✦✦

A Petition for Daily Illumination and Protection

The petitioner asks for the light of Christ to shine within and for protection against all evil throughout the coming day.

I ask you, through your holy birth and incarnation, that on this day you would let your mercy rise over me and break forth like the beautiful dawn, and come to me like the early rain.✦✦ Enlighten my blind nature and darkened heart with your radiance, so that in my heart the true Morning Star may rise, and the true Light that enlightens people for eternal life.✦✦1 Guard me also today from every evil.✦

Supplication for Strength and Righteous Living

The prayer concludes with a plea for God's presence in times of trouble, guidance in daily work, and strength to keep His commandments.

Be gracious to me, Lord, for I wait for you; my soul waits for you from one morning watch to the next.✦ Be my strength in the morning, and my salvation when trouble comes.✦2 Shield me in body and soul, so that no harm meets me and no plague comes near me.✦3 Drive all evil spirits far from me; stand by me against the wicked; come to my side against evildoers, and protect me so that the hand of my adversaries doesn't touch me. O Lord our God, prosper the work of our hands among us—yes, prosper the work of our hands—and strengthen our arms; teach our fingers to keep your commandments, so that we don't sin against you today.✦ Grant us this for the sake of your mercy, which endures forever and ever.4 Amen.

Read the original Latin

Herr Jesu Christe, der du bist das ewige, wahre Licht, welches da vertreibet die Finsternis des Nachts und Schatten des Todes, deinen Namen will ich rühmen, dir will ich lobsingen und danken, dass du mich in dieser Nacht so gnädiglich behütet und aus der Finsternis an das Licht gebracht hast. Mich hast du bewahrt vor dem Grauen des Nachts, vor des Teufels Schrecken und Gespenstern, vor der schädlichen Pestilenz, die im Finstern schleichet, vor mancherlei Seuchen und Krankheiten, die mir hätten können widerfahren. Auch hast du meine Seele mit deinem Schild umringt und bewacht, wie ein Hirte seine Herde bewacht. Dazu alles, was ich habe, ist durch deine große Barmherzigkeit unversehrt behütet worden. Für solchen gnädigen Schutz und alle deine Wohltaten sei dir Lob und Preis gesagt; von deiner Macht will ich reden und des Morgens deine Güte rühmen; denn du bist meine höchste Zuversicht, meine feste Burg, meine starke Hilfe, mein treuer Gott, auf den ich traue, du erfreuest mein Herz und machst mir fröhlich das Angesicht. Ich bitte dich durch deine heilige Geburt und Menschwerdung, du wollest an diesem Tage deine Barmherzigkeit über mich lassen aufgehen und hervorbrechen wie die schöne Morgenröte und zu mir kommen wie der Frühregen. Erleuchte meine blinde Natur und verdunkelt Herz mit deinem Glanz, auf dass in meinem Herzen aufgehe der rechte Morgenstern und das wahrhaftige Licht, welches erleuchtet die Menschen zum ewigen Leben. Behüte mich auch heute vor allem Übel.

Sei mir gnädig, Herr, denn auf dich harre ich, meine Seele wartet auf dich von einer Morgenwache bis zur andern. Sei du mein Arm früh, dazu mein Heil zur Zeit der Trübsal. Beschirme mich an Leib und Seele, dass mir kein Übels begegne und keine Plage zu mir nahe. Treibe fern von mir alle bösen Geister, stehe du bei mir wider die Boshaftigen, tritt zu mir wider die Übeltäter und schütze mich, dass die Hand der Widerwärtigen mich nicht berühre. O Herr, unser Gott, fördere das Werk unserer Hände bei uns, ja das Werk unserer Hände wollest du fördern und unsere Arme stärken, auch unsere Finger lehren halten deine Gebote, dass wir heute nicht wider dich sündigen. Solches verleihe uns um deiner Barmherzigkeit willen, welche für und für währet in Ewigkeit. Amen.

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩John.1.9 — The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
  2. ↩Luke.1.79;Ps.23.4 — to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Ps.23.4 — Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me.
  3. ↩1Pet.2.9;Col.1.13 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Col.1.13 — He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves.
  4. ↩Ps.91.5-Ps.91.6 — You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, Ps.91.6 — Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that ravages at midday.
  5. ↩Ps.5.12 — For you bless the righteous one, LORD; you surround them with favor as with a shield.
  6. ↩Ps.59.16 — They wander about for food; if they are not satisfied, they linger and grumble.
  7. ↩Ps.18.2 — And he said, I love you, O LORD, my strength.
  8. ↩Ps.4.6-Ps.4.7 — Offer sacrifices of righteousness, and trust in the LORD. Ps.4.7 — Many are saying, "Who will show us good?" Lift upon us the light of your face, O LORD.
  9. ↩Isa.58.8;2Sam.23.4 — Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring up quickly; your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 2Sam.23.4 — he is like morning light when the sun rises, a cloudless morning, when fresh grass springs from the earth through brightness after rain.
  10. ↩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.
  11. ↩Rev.22.16;2Pet.1.19 — I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star. 2Pet.1.19 — And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
  12. ↩John.1.9 — The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
  13. ↩Matt.6.13;Ps.121.7 — And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Ps.121.7 — The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your soul.
  14. ↩Ps.130.5-Ps.130.6;Ps.86.3 — I wait for the LORD; my soul waits, and for his word I hope. Ps.130.6 — My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, watchmen for the morning. Ps.86.3 — Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you I cry all the day.
  15. ↩Isa.33.2 — Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for you. Be their arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble.
  16. ↩Ps.91.10 — No evil shall befall you, and no plague shall come near your tent.
  17. ↩Ps.90.17 — And let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands; yes, the work of our hands, establish it.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩blinde Natur rendered as 'blind nature' (fallen human nature), not physical blindness; verdunkelt Herz as 'darkened heart'.
  2. 2 ↩German 'Arm' here is biblical strength/power (the Lord's arm), not a bodily limb; 'früh' marks the early/morning hour.
  3. 3 ↩'kein Übels' is an older genitive construction for 'no evil/harm'; rendered as 'no harm'.
  4. 4 ↩'für und für' is a traditional German liturgical idiom meaning continually/forever; paired with 'in Ewigkeit' as enduring forever and ever.

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