Scary Prayer

Perhaps the earliest version of this prayer [not with reference to cash or loot] was written by George Wheler in his 1698 book The Protestant Monastery, which reads:

Upon lying down, and going to sleep.

Here I lay me down to sleep.

To thee, O Lord, I give my Soul to keep,

Wake I ever, Or, Wake I never;

To thee O Lord, I give my Soul to keep for ever.

A later version printed in The New England Primer goes:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my Soul to keep;

If I should die before I 'wake,

I pray the Lord my Soul to take.

Other versions

Grace Bridges, 1932:

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray my lord my soul to keep,

In the morn when I awake

Please teach me the path of life to take.

Now

I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

His Love to guard me through the night,

And wake me in the morning's light amen.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

Please angels watch me through the night,

And keep me safe till morning light.

Now I lay me down to sleep,

I pray the Lord my soul to keep;

Angels watch me through the night,

And wake me with the morning light.

Amen

Now I wake to see the light,

As God has kept me through the night;

And now I lift my voice to pray,

That Thou wilt keep me through the day.

It is sometimes combined with the "Black Paternoster", one version of which goes:

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,

Bless the bed that I lie on.

Four corners to my bed,

Four angels round my head;

One to watch and one to pray

And two to bear my soul away.

I’ve always wondered about “if I should die before I awake.”  What?!  "I might die in my sleep?”  A child might fear his/her soul being taken while asleep.  I'd sleep with my eyes open.

Deacon David Pierce