An Evening Hymn (Thomas Ken)

All Praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the Blessings of the Light;
Keep me, O keep me, King of Kings,
Beneath Thy own Almighty Wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done;
That with the World, myself and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The Grave as little as my Bed;
To die, that this vile Body may
Rise glorious at the Awful Day.

O! May my Soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep my Eyelids close;
Sleep that may me more vigorous make,
To serve my God when I awake.

When in the night I sleepless lie,
My Soul with Heavenly Thoughts supply;
Let no ill Dreams disturb my Rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

O when shall I in endless Day,
For ever chase dark sleep away;
And Hymns with the Supernal Choir,
Incessant sing, and never tire?

O may my Guardian, while I sleep,
Close to my Bed his Vigils keep;
His Love and angelical instil;
Stop all the avenues of ill.

May he Celestial joy rehearse,
And thought to thought with me converse,
Or in my stead, all the night long,
Sing to my God a grateful Son.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise him all creatures here below,
Praise him above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Thomas Ken (1637-1711) was an Anglican bishop of Bath and Wells, and a father of modern English hymnody.

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