Now the Day Is Over
Now the day is over
Now the Day Is Over is a hymn text by Sabine Baring-Gould (1865) in 6.5.6.5 meter. Found in ch95 671, elw 570, h82 11, lbw 280. Sung to MERRIAL.
The hymn embodies Lutheran confidence in God's providential care and protection, reflecting the peace that comes from faith in Christ's redemption. It expresses the doctrine of divine providence while acknowledging human vulnerability, encouraging rest in God's sovereign goodness rather than human anxiety.
History & Background
Written by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865 as a children's evening hymn, it was first published in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1868). The hymn quickly became one of the most beloved evening hymns in English-speaking Christianity.
Hymnal Appearances
- Chalice Hymnal — 671
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 570
- The Hymnal 1982 — 11
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 280
- Lutheran Worship — 491
- New Century Hymnal — 343
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 654
- United Methodist Hymnal — 686
Bulletin Note
Written by Sabine Baring-Gould in 1865, this evening hymn became a staple of Lutheran devotion. Its gentle meter and protective imagery shaped generations of night prayers, anchoring weary souls in God's providential care rather than human strength.
Preaching Connection
This hymn develops the Gospel promise of divine providence by transforming human vulnerability into an occasion for faith, inviting listeners to hear in their own fatigue a call to abandon self-reliance and embrace the cross-won security of God's merciful watch.
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From evening's natural rest to divine protection through the night—God's care encompasses all creatures and conditions, culminating in angelic vigilance over the vulnerable.
Overview
An evening hymn written by Sabine Baring-Gould for the children of his Yorkshire parish, with his own tune. In short, simple lines it watches night fall over creation (st. 1-2), asks Jesus for rest (st. 3), and then prays outward — for children, for sailors at sea (st. 4), for sufferers awake in pain and for those who plan evil (st. 5) — before asking for angels to guard the bed (st. 6), rising 'pure and fresh and sinless' (st. 7), and closing with the Gloria Patri (st. 8). Its intercessions widen a child's bedtime prayer to the whole world.
Central theme: A child's evening prayer committing self and world — the weary, the endangered, the suffering and the wicked — to Jesus' care
Structure
Eight 6.5.6.5 quatrains. Nightfall (1-2) — rest (3) — intercessions (4-5) — angels (6) — morning (7) — doxology (8).
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel: rest, protection, forgiveness ('sinless in Thy holy eyes,' 7). Law: 'those who plan some evil' restrained (5).
Confessional Connections
Luther's Evening Prayer: 'Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me' (st. 6). Intercession for all people (1 Tim 2:1-2). Prayer that evil be restrained — God's restraint of sin in the world (the civil use of the Law; FC VI.1). Rising 'sinless' — daily forgiveness and the new man arising (SC Baptism IV).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Evening; Vespers; Compline; children's services; bedtime.
Historical Notes
Baring-Gould (1834-1924) wrote it for the children of Horbury Bridge, where he also wrote 'Onward, Christian Soldiers' (TLH 658).
About the Tune
TLH: EUDOXIA (Sabine Baring-Gould, 1865). Row 1098 lists MERRIAL (Joseph Barnby).
Scripture References
Prov 3:24 Ps 4:8 Ps 104:19-23 Matt 11:28 Ps 107:23-30 Ps 6:6 2 Cor 1:3-4 1 Tim 2:1-2 Ps 34:7 Ps 91:11 Lam 3:22-23 Isa 1:18 Ps 139:11-12
Stanza by Stanza
Now the day is over and night is coming; evening shadows creep across the sky.
Ps 104:19-23: God appointed the sun to know its setting. Evening as a daily rehearsal of mortality and trust.
- Scripture
- Ps 104:19-23, Gen 1:5
- Imagery & language
- Shadows; nightfall.
- Law / Gospel
- Creation — evening.
- Connection to previous
- Nightfall.
Now the darkness gathers, stars begin to peep out, and birds, beasts and flowers will soon be asleep.
All creation rests under God's care (Ps 104:20-23; Matt 6:26-28). The child joins creation in sleep.
- Scripture
- Ps 104:20-23, Matt 6:26-28, Ps 147:4
- Imagery & language
- Stars; sleeping creatures.
- Law / Gospel
- Creation — rest.
- Connection to previous
- Creation sleeps.
Jesus, give the weary calm and sweet rest; let my eyelids close with your tenderest blessing.
Prov 3:24 (TLH's text): 'when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.' 'Come to me, all who are weary' (Matt 11:28).
- Scripture
- Prov 3:24, Matt 11:28, Ps 4:8, Ps 127:2
- Imagery & language
- Repose; eyelids.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ's rest.
- Connection to previous
- Rest.
Grant little children bright visions of you; guard the sailors tossed on the deep blue sea.
Intercession widens: children (Mark 10:14) and those in danger at sea (Ps 107:23-30) — a staple of the Litany ('all who travel by land or by water').
- Scripture
- Mark 10:14, Ps 107:23-30, 1 Tim 2:1
- Imagery & language
- Children; sailors.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — intercession.
- Connection to previous
- Children and sailors.
Comfort everyone who is suffering and lying awake in pain; restrain from their sin those who are planning some evil.
The sleepless sick (Ps 6:6; 2 Cor 1:3-4). Praying for evildoers — that God restrain them (2 Thess 3:2-3) — a prayer for both the victims and the wicked themselves, who are kept from sin.
- Scripture
- Ps 6:6, 2 Cor 1:3-4, 2 Thess 3:2-3, Ps 140:1-4
- Imagery & language
- Sufferers; evil planned.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — evil restrained; Gospel — comfort.
- Connection to previous
- Sufferers and evildoers.
Through the long night watches may your angels spread their white wings over me and watch around my bed.
Ps 34:7; 91:11: 'he will command his angels concerning you.' Luther's Evening Prayer: 'Let Your holy angel be with me.'
- Scripture
- Ps 34:7, Ps 91:11, Heb 1:14
- Imagery & language
- Angels' white wings.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — angelic protection.
- Connection to previous
- Angels.
When morning comes, may I get up pure, fresh and without sin in your holy eyes.
'His mercies… are new every morning' (Lam 3:22-23). 'Sinless in Thy holy eyes' — forgiven, clothed in Christ's righteousness (Isa 1:18; 2 Cor 5:21); the daily rising of the new man (SC Baptism IV).
- Scripture
- Lam 3:22-23, Isa 1:18, 2 Cor 5:21, Rom 6:4
- Imagery & language
- Morning; purity.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — new every morning.
- Connection to previous
- Morning.
Glory to the Father, glory to the Son, and to you, blessed Spirit, while all ages run.
The Gloria Patri in miniature, as the Psalms and canticles end at Vespers.
- Scripture
- 2 Cor 13:14, Rom 16:27
- Imagery & language
- Doxology.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — praise.
- Connection to previous
- Doxology.
Themes
God's protection and rest Evening prayer and trust Peace in God's care Surrender to divine providence