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Japanese To end the day, thank God, ask forgiveness and hand over tomorrow: “Thank you, Lord, for this day and everything in it. Forgive what I did wrong, bless the people I love, and keep us all safe tonight. I give you what I could not finish. Amen.”
Short evening prayers from the old prayer books
These can be said in a few seconds, before sleep or at the end of work.
Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord; and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1928), Evening Prayer, “A Collect for Aid against Perils,” p. 31
Save us, O Lord, watching, guard us sleeping: that we may watch with Christ, and may rest in peace.
A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1888), Evening Prayers (Compline), antiphon to the Canticle of Simeon, p. 74
Bless, O Lord, the repose I am about to take, that, my bodily strength being renewed, I may be the better enabled to serve Thee. Amen.
A Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Catholic Laity (1888), Evening Prayers, p. 83
Two lines from the Psalms serve the same purpose: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8), and “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth” (Psalm 31:5). Catholic night prayer uses the second as a response: “Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”
Looking back over the day
The 1888 Catholic Manual of Prayers sets out its night prayers in this order: thank God for the day, ask for light to see where you went wrong, say you are sorry, pray for others, and commit your sleep to God. Before the look back, it gives this prayer: “enlighten my mind, that I may know the sins which I have this day committed in thought, word, or deed, and give me the grace of true contrition” (p. 82). These five short prayers follow the same order.
Thanks. Lord, thank you for today: for [the good thing that happened], for food and work, and for the people I saw. Nothing good in it came from anywhere but you. Amen.
Looking back. God, show me today as you saw it. Where was I kind, and where was I proud, lazy or sharp with someone? Bring to mind what I need to see, and nothing more. Amen.
Sorry. Father, I am sorry for [what I did or failed to do]. Forgive me, and help me put it right tomorrow if I can. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9). Amen.
For others. Lord, keep everyone I love safe tonight, especially [name]. Be with the sick, the lonely and those working through the night, and with anyone who has no one to pray for them. Amen.
For the night. God, I leave tomorrow’s worries with you. Give me sleep, and wake me ready to serve you. Amen.
Prayers for particular evenings
After a hard day
Lord, today was hard, and I am worn out. I did what I could, and some of it went badly. Let the day end here. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Amen.
When you are still angry with someone
God, I am going to bed angry with [name]. Your word says, “let not the sun go down upon your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26). I cannot fix it tonight, but I give you the anger. Soften my heart, and show me what to say tomorrow. Amen.
When tomorrow worries you
Father, tomorrow I have [the appointment, the exam, the conversation], and my mind keeps rehearsing it. You told us to cast “all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7). I hand it over for the night. Amen.
When you are alone at night
Lord, the house is quiet, and I feel the loneliness most at this hour. “The darkness and the light are both alike to thee” (Psalm 139:12). Stay with me in the dark, and let me sleep knowing I am not alone. Amen.
When you cannot sleep
God, it is late and I am still awake. If sleep will not come, let me spend the time with you, as the psalmist did: “I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches” (Psalm 63:6). Quiet my body and my thoughts. Amen.
Against bad dreams
Old night prayers ask for sleep free of fear and bad dreams. The Catholic hymn for Compline, the last service of the day, asks it plainly. This verse is John Henry Newman’s translation, as printed in the 1888 Manual of Prayers (p. 73):
Let dreams depart and phantoms fly,
The offspring of the night;
Keep us, like shrines, beneath Thine eye,
Pure in our foes’ despite.
The Orthodox evening service of Grand Compline has a prayer, attributed in Hapgood’s service book to a monk named Antiochus, that asks God for “sleep gentle and free from every vision of the Devil.” It opens:
And grant unto us, O Master, as we lay us down to sleep, repose both of body and of soul, and preserve us from the gloomy slumber of sin, and from every dark and nocturnal sensuality.
Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic (Greco-Russian) Church (1906), The Office of Grand Compline, pp. 161–162
There are more prayers against nightmares for those who are troubled by them.
Traditional evening prayers
“O Lord, support us all the day long”
The 1928 Book of Common Prayer prints this among its family prayers for the night.
O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1928), Family Prayer, “At Night,” pp. 594–595
The Song of Simeon
When the old man Simeon held the infant Jesus in the temple, he prayed, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:29–30). Catholic Compline sings it as the Canticle of Simeon, and Anglican Evening Prayer gives it as one of its canticles under its Latin name, Nunc dimittis (Book of Common Prayer, 1928, p. 28).
“O gladsome radiance”
Orthodox Christians sing this hymn at Vespers. Hapgood’s service book attributes it to Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
O gladsome radiance of the holy glory of the Father immortal, heavenly, holy, blessed, Jesus Christ! In that we now are come unto the setting of the sun, and behold the light of even, we hymn thee, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God. For meet is it that at all times thou shouldest be magnified by voices propitious, O Son of God, who bestowest life. For which cause all the world doth glorify thee.
Hapgood, Service Book of the Holy Orthodox-Catholic Apostolic (Greco-Russian) Church (1906), The All-Night Vigil Service, p. 8
Evening prayer in the Bible
The psalmist prayed at set times: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). Daniel kept the same habit even when it was forbidden, kneeling “three times a day” with his windows open toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6:10). Psalm 141 compares evening prayer to the temple offering at the end of the day: “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2).
On the road to Emmaus, two disciples who had not yet recognized Jesus asked him to stay: “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent” (Luke 24:29). Short Catholic bedtime prayers and Bible verses about sleeping in peace give more words for the last minutes of the day.
Prayer for a Grateful Heart
At the end of a long day, it’s easy to focus on what went wrong or what tired us out. This prayer helps us shift our focus to the many blessings, big and small, that God provided throughout the day.
Heavenly Father, as this day closes, I come before You not to ask for anything, but simply to say thank you. My heart is full of gratitude for the simple gift of another day of life. Thank you for the air I breathed, the food that nourished me, and the roof over my head tonight. I am grateful for the moments of joy, the sound of laughter, and the small, unexpected kindnesses that brightened my path.
Even for the challenges, Lord, I thank you. For in them, you are teaching me patience, resilience, and a deeper reliance on You. Forgive me for the times today I took these gifts for granted or complained when I should have been thankful. Help me to see Your hand in every detail of my life. Let my last thoughts tonight be of Your goodness and my first thoughts in the morning be of Your grace. Fill my heart with a lasting gratitude that overflows into all I do, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Cultivating a thankful spirit can dramatically change our outlook, bringing peace and contentment. The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer for Forgiveness and a Clean Slate
We are all human and make mistakes. This prayer is about honestly admitting our faults to God, accepting His cleansing forgiveness, and asking for a fresh start for tomorrow, free from the weight of guilt and shame.
Lord God, I come to you at the end of this day with a heavy heart, aware of the ways I have fallen short. I confess the impatient words I spoke, the selfish thoughts I entertained, and the opportunities to show love that I missed. I am sorry for the times I relied on my own strength instead of Yours and for any action that did not bring honor to Your name.
I feel the weight of these failures, but I also know that Your mercy is greater than my sin. Please wash me clean, Lord. Forgive me and remove this burden of guilt from my shoulders. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Thank you for the promise of a new beginning, for the grace that covers all my flaws. Help me to rest in the knowledge that I am fully forgiven and loved by You, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Accepting God’s forgiveness allows us to sleep in peace and wake up with a renewed purpose. As it says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Prayer for Releasing Worries and Trusting God
Anxiety about tomorrow can easily steal the peace of tonight. This prayer is an act of surrendering our fears, plans, and uncertainties into God’s capable hands, choosing to trust His goodness instead of our own stressing.
Father God, as I lay my head down to rest, my mind is spinning with worries about tomorrow. I am anxious about my finances, my family, my health, and the tasks that await me. These fears feel so big in the quiet of the night, and I confess that I am trying to carry them all by myself. I feel overwhelmed and tired from the weight of it all.
Tonight, I choose to release them. I consciously hand over every worry, every fear, and every unknown future to You. You hold the world in Your hands, and You hold my life as well. I trust that you will provide what I need, guide my steps, and give me the strength to face whatever comes. Replace my anxiety with Your perfect peace that goes beyond all understanding. Help my heart to be still and know that You are God, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
By entrusting our future to God, we invite His peace to guard our hearts and minds. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Prayer for Rest and Renewal
Physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion can leave us feeling completely drained. This prayer is a plea for deep, restorative rest that goes beyond just sleep, asking God to renew our strength and spirit while we are vulnerable.
Lord, I am so tired. Not just my body, but my mind and my spirit feel weary from the pressures of this day. The world has demanded so much, and I feel worn out and depleted. I come to You now, the source of all true rest, asking for Your renewal as I sleep tonight.
Please quiet my racing mind and calm my restless soul. Protect me from discouraging dreams and disturbing thoughts. While I sleep, I ask that You would restore what has been lost. Replenish my energy, refresh my spirit, and refill my heart with Your hope. Let me sink into a deep and peaceful rest, trusting that You are watching over me. May I wake in the morning feeling not just rested, but truly renewed and ready to serve You once more, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
God invites us to come to Him when we are worn out, promising a rest we can’t find anywhere else. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Prayer for God’s Protection Over Loved Ones
As we settle in for the night, our thoughts often turn to the people we care about most. This prayer entrusts our family and friends into God’s loving and powerful care, asking for His divine protection over them through the night.
Heavenly Father, as I prepare for sleep, I lift up to you the people I love most. I place my family, my friends, and all those dear to my heart into Your hands. You love them even more than I do, and I ask for Your divine protection to surround them tonight. Guard their homes, their bodies, and their minds as they rest.
Send your angels to watch over them, keeping them safe from any spiritual or physical harm. For those who are hurting, bring comfort. For those who are anxious, bring peace. For those who feel lost, draw them close to You. Let them feel the warmth of Your love and the security of Your presence. May we all rest safely in the knowledge that we are held and protected by a mighty and loving God, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It brings great peace to remember that God is our ultimate protector, a safe place for us and our families. Psalm 91:1-2 assures us, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’”
Prayer for a Peaceful Mind and Heart
The worries and events of the day can leave our minds racing and our hearts troubled. This prayer is a plea for the supernatural peace of God to settle over us, calming the inner storm and allowing for true rest.
Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace, my mind is anything but peaceful right now. It is cluttered with the day’s conversations, replaying my mistakes, and stressing about tomorrow’s to-do list. My heart feels unsettled and restless. I long for the calm and quiet that only You can provide.
I invite Your presence into this space. Please silence the noise in my head and soothe the turmoil in my heart. Smooth out the tangled thoughts and grant me a serenity that the world cannot give. Let Your peace, which transcends all understanding, stand guard over my mind and heart tonight. Help me to focus on Your goodness and Your love for me, allowing those truths to be the last things I think about before I fall asleep, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
God’s peace is a gift that can calm us even in the most stressful times. As promised in John 14:27, Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Prayer for Surrendering a Specific Burden
Sometimes, one specific problem weighs on us more than anything else. This prayer is for intentionally naming that heavy burden and consciously handing it over to God, trusting that He is strong enough to carry it for us.
Father, I come to You tonight with one particular burden that feels too heavy for me to carry alone. You know exactly what it is. This situation with [mention the problem generally, like a difficult relationship, a financial struggle, a health concern] is consuming my thoughts and stealing my peace. I confess I have been trying to fix it in my own strength, and I have failed.
Right now, I am choosing to surrender it completely to You. I lay this entire problem at the foot of Your cross. I release my need to control it, my desire to understand it, and my fear of the outcome. I trust you, Lord. I trust Your wisdom, Your timing, and Your power to work in this situation in ways I cannot imagine. Please take this weight from me so that I can rest, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Casting our specific anxieties on God is an act of humble trust, freeing us from the strain of carrying them. The Bible encourages this in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Prayer for Feeling God’s Presence
At the end of the day, feelings of loneliness or distance from God can creep in. This prayer is a heartfelt request to simply feel the nearness of God, to be reassured that we are not alone in the dark.
Oh Lord, in the quiet of this evening, I confess that I sometimes feel alone. The business of the day has faded, and in the silence, I can feel a distance between us. I long to feel Your presence near me. I don’t want to just know in my head that You are here; I want to feel it in my heart.
Please draw close to me, Father. Let me sense the comfort of Your Holy Spirit. Remind my soul that I am Your beloved child and that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Still my heart so I can hear Your gentle whisper. Wrap Your loving arms around me and let me rest securely in the knowledge that I am not alone, for the Creator of the universe is with me. Fill this room and my heart with your unmistakable peace, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
God promises that He is always with His children, and when we seek Him, He reveals Himself to us. As Deuteronomy 31:6 says, “Be strong and courageous… for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Prayer for Strength in Weakness
Ending the day feeling weak, defeated, or incapable is a common human experience. This prayer acknowledges our own limitations and asks God to let His divine strength be made perfect in our moments of human weakness.
Lord, I feel so weak tonight. The challenges of the day have shown me just how limited I am. I feel drained of strength, emotionally fragile, and spiritually tired. I have nothing left in my own reserves. In this moment of total weakness, I turn to You, the source of all power and might.
I know that Your power is made perfect in my weakness. So I offer you my exhaustion, my feelings of failure, and my frailties. I ask that You would pour your divine strength into my weary soul. Where I am weak, be my strength. Where I am tempted to give up, be my perseverance. Let me rest tonight knowing that even when I am at my weakest, Your strength is more than enough to carry me through, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
It is in our weakest moments that God’s strength can shine the brightest in our lives. This truth is beautifully captured in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Prayer for a Forgiving Spirit Towards Others
Sometimes we go to bed with a heart heavy with anger or resentment toward someone who has hurt us. This prayer is a difficult but necessary step to release that bitterness to God and ask for His help to forgive as we have been forgiven.
Father in Heaven, as I end this day, I confess that my heart is heavy with unforgiveness. I am holding onto anger and resentment towards [mention the situation or person in your heart]. This bitterness feels like a poison in my soul, and I know it does not please You. Intellectually, I know I should forgive, but my heart is struggling to let it go.
Lord, I cannot do this on my own. I need You to do a work in my heart. Please soften it and help me to release this person from the debt I feel they owe me. Help me to see them through Your eyes of mercy. Heal the wound they caused and cleanse me of this anger. Fill the empty space with Your peace and love. Help me forgive as You have so generously forgiven me, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Choosing to forgive is one of the most freeing things we can do, aligning our hearts with God’s. Ephesians 4:32 commands us to “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Prayer for Remembering God’s Faithfulness
When we are discouraged by our present circumstances, it helps to look back and remember God’s past faithfulness. This prayer helps us recall God’s track record of goodness in our lives, building our faith for the future.
God of all generations, tonight I feel discouraged. The worries of the present are clouding my vision and making me forget Your goodness. So right now, Lord, I want to pause and intentionally remember. I call to mind all the times in the past you have been faithful to me.
I remember the prayers you answered, the doors you opened, and the storms you brought me through. I remember Your provision when I had nothing, Your comfort when I grieved, and Your guidance when I was lost. You have never once failed me. You were faithful then, and You are faithful now. Let these memories of Your faithfulness build my trust and give me courage for whatever lies ahead. Thank you for your unwavering love, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Looking back at God’s faithfulness gives us the strength to face the future with confidence and hope. Lamentations 3:22-23 is a powerful reminder: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Prayer for Wisdom for Tomorrow
The end of the day is a perfect time to ask for God’s guidance for the day to come. This prayer seeks divine wisdom for the decisions, conversations, and challenges that we know are on the horizon.
Lord of all wisdom, as this day ends, I look ahead to tomorrow and I know I will need You. I will face decisions I don’t know how to make, conversations that will require grace, and problems that are bigger than me. I confess that on my own, I lack the wisdom I need to navigate it all in a way that honors You.
So tonight, I ask for a fresh supply of your divine wisdom. Guide my thoughts, my words, and my actions tomorrow. Help me to see situations from Your perspective. Give me discernment to know right from wrong, and courage to choose the right path even when it’s hard. Let me not lean on my own limited understanding, but in all my ways, let me acknowledge you, trusting that you will make my paths straight, In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
God promises to give wisdom generously to all who ask for it in faith. James 1:5 offers this wonderful assurance: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
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