Praise be to God, who made the night, friend of the home, strong and youthful, all-compassing, all-glorious: with her greatness He hath filled earth and heaven.

2 Over all depths hath she gone up, and mounted the sky's exalted summit. Over me now the loving night is spreading with her auspicious ways, like a friend.

3 Excellent, blissful, meet for thanksgiving, O night, thou hast come: stay here with friendly spirit. Guard us, O God, the food for men that we have gotten, and all prosperity that comes of cattle.

4 With eager haste hath night assumed the vigour of leopard, tiger, or of tawny lion, the horse's neighing and the wild man's bellow: she takes many a form when she appears.

5 Kind through the night be absence of the sunshine; may the frost-bringing night be gentle. Take notice, O God, of the hymn wherewith I praise Thee in all the regions.

6 Even as a king, O splendid God, Thou takest pleasure in our hymn. May we through mornings as they flush have all our good men round us, and become possessors of all wealth.

7 Ramya is the name she hath assumed. The men who fain would spoil my wealth do Thou annoy, O God, that not one robber may appear, none may a second time appear.

8 Like a well-wrought cup, O night, thou art lovely: thou, a young maid, art formed in perfect beauty. Thou lovingly, for me with eyes to see them, hast bound on thee heaven's stars as thine adornments.

9 Whatever robber comes to-day, mischievous mortal enemy, let him be thwarted in the night, let his plans be baffled;

10 his feet, that he may walk no more, his hands, that he may do no harm. The robber who comes hitherward goes crushed and baffled hence, goes hence, goes far away from us, goes hence and bears no spoil away.