Luther's Evening Prayer — from the Small Catechism

I thank Thee, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast graciously kept me this day; and I pray Thee to forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night.

For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the wicked foe may have no power over me.

Amen.

About This Prayer

This is the evening companion to Luther's Morning Prayer, written for the Small Catechism of 1529 so that ordinary families could open and close every day with God. Luther's instruction afterward was characteristically down-to-earth: "then go to sleep at once and in good cheer." The prayer earns that good cheer honestly — it gives thanks for the day, asks plainly for forgiveness where the day went wrong, and hands the night's safekeeping to God, which is why generations have found it easier to fall asleep with these words than without them. (This is the classic public-domain English translation; you may know it with slightly different wording.)

In Plain Words

In your own words, this prayer says: Father, thank You for carrying me through this day. Forgive me for the ways I got it wrong, and watch over me tonight. I put myself — body, soul, everything — in Your hands, and I can sleep because You are the one keeping guard.

A Verse to Hold On To

"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety." — Psalm 4:8 (KJV)