Be off, Satan, from this door and these four walls. This is no place for you; there is nothing for you to do here. This is the place for Peter and Paul and the holy Gospel; and this is where I mean to sleep, now that my worship is done, in the name of the Father, and of the Holy Spirit.

One of the earliest recorded Christian prayers

Into thy hands, O Father and Lord, we commend this night,

ourselves,

our families and friends,

all those we love and those who love us,

all folk rightly believing,

and all who need thy pity and protection:

light us with thy holy grace,

and suffer us never to be separated from thee,

O Lord in Trinity, God everlasting.

St Edmund Rich,

Archbishop of Canterrochdale (1170-1240)

Dear Jesus, as a hen covers her chicks with her wings to keep them safe, do you this night protect us under your golden wings.

A prayer from India

O Lord Jesus Christ, our watchman and keeper, take us into thy care, and grant that, our bodies sleeping, our minds may watch in thee and be made merry by some sight of that celestial and heavenly life wherein thou art the King and Prince, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, where the angels and holy souls be most happy citizens. O purify our souls, keep clean our bodies, that in both we may please thee, sleeping and waking, for ever.

Amen.

From Christian Prayers (1566)

Lord, save us while we are awake.

Protect us while we sleep;

that awake we may watch with Christ,

and asleep we may rest in peace.

From the Office of Compline

I will both lie down and sleep in peace;

For you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Psalm 4, verse 8

O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life,

until the shades lengthen and the evening comes,

and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over,

and our work is done.

Then, Lord, in your great mercy grant us safe lodging,

a holy rest and peace at last,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Cardinal Newman

Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch or weep tonight,

and give your angels charge over those who sleep;

Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ, rest your weary ones,

bless your dying ones, soothe your suffering ones,

pity your afflicted ones, shield your joyous ones,

and all for your love’s sake.

Amen

St Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

May the Light of lights come

To my dark heart from thy place;

My the Spirit’s wisdom come

To my heart’s tablet from my Saviour.

Be the peace of the Spirit mine this night,

Be the peace of the Son mine this night,

Be the peace of the Father mine this night,

The peace of all peace be mine this night,

Each morning and evening of my life.

Celtic Prayer

Be present, Spirit of God,

and renew us through the silent hours of this night,

so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances

of this fleeting world,

may rest upon your eternal changelessness;

in the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

our Guardian and our Guide.

Lord, keep us safe this night,

Secure from all our fears;

May angels guard us while we sleep,

Till morning light appears.

John Leland (1754 – 1841)

Lord God,

send peaceful sleep

to refresh our tired bodies.

May your help always renew us

and keep us strong in your service.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend our souls and bodies, beseeching you to keep us this night under your protection and strengthen us for our service on the morrow, for Christ’s sake.

Amen.

Archbishop Laud (1573-1645)