O God of grace, thy mercy send

O God of grace, thy mercy send;
Let thy protecting arm defend;
Save us and keep us to the end:
Have mercy, Lord.

And through the coming hours of night
Fill us, we pray, with holy light;
Keep us all sinless in thy sight:
GRANT THIS, O LORD.

May some bright messenger abide
For ever by thy servants' side,
A faithful guardian and our guide:

From every sin in mercy free;
Let heart and conscience stainless be,
That we may live henceforth for thee:

We would not be by care opprest,
But in thy love and wisdom rest;
Give what thou seest to be the best:

While we of every sin repent,
Let our remaining years be spent
In holiness and sweet content:

And when the end of life is near,
May we, unshamed and void of fear,
Wait for the judgement to appear:
GRANT THIS, O LORD.

J. Brownlie (from Greek)

Solvamur gratia tua,
ferat munimen dextera,
protectionem usque da
et veniam.

Per imminentes tenebras
nos sanctae lucis impleas,
insontes et custodias:
HOC DES, DEUS.

Adsistat semper angelus
nobisque, qui tui sumus,
fideliter sit praevius:

Peccatis simus liberi,
nullius culpae conscii
et posthac tibi dediti:

Ne premat nos anxietas,
es sapiens et nos amas;
fac tu quod optimum scias:

Annorum nobis quod manet,
quos omnis culpae paenitet,
pax sanctitatis occupet:

Adstantes ultimum diem
ne pudeat habere spem,
dum maneamus iudicem:
HOC DES, DEUS.

MM 6–12.10.01

Latinised Hymns

O God of grace, thy mercy send