Keep Watch Dear Lord- Luke Hochstetler
Description
Lyrics-
A Prayer Attributed to Augustine:
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering,
pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion
Keep Watch Dear Lord- Luke Hochstetler
Words by Attributed to Augustine of HippoMusic by Luke Hochstetler
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night,
and give your angels charge over those who sleep.
Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering,
pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen.
Story Behind the Song
The text is a well-known night prayer used at Compline in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and is traditionally attributed to St. Augustine, though the attribution is not certain. Luke Hochstetler’s setting is a modern choral composition of this prayer rather than a congregational hymn with a standard tune name.
Found In
The Book of Common Prayer (1979)