Now, When the Dusky Shades of Night

Now

when the dus­ky shades of night

re­treat­ing

Before the sun’s red ban­ner

swift­ly flee;

Now

when the ter­rors of the dark are fleet­ing

O Lord

we lift our thank­ful hearts to Thee.

To Thee

whose Word

the fount of light un­seal­ing

When hill and dale in thick­est dark­ness lay

Awoke bright rays across the dim earth steal­ing

And bade the ev­en and morn com­plete the day.

Look from the tow­er of Heav­en

and send to cheer us

Thy light and truth

to guide us on­ward still;

Still let Thy mer­cy

as of old

be near us

And lead us safe­ly to Thy ho­ly hill.

In vain to la­bor

un­less Thou be with him

Man go­eth forth through all the wea­ry day;

In vain his strife

in vain his toil un­ceas­ing

Unless Thy staff bring com­fort on his way.

Thou

who hast made the north and south

watch o’er us;

Thou

in whose name the lone­ly ones re­joice

Still let Thy cloudy pil­lar glide be­fore us

Still let us list­en for Thy warn­ing voice.

So

when the morn of end­less light is wak­ing

And shades of ev­il from its splen­dors flee

Safe may we rise

the earth’s dark breast for­sak­ing

Through all the long bright day to dwell with Thee.