Place your right hand, O God, under my head,
place your light, O Spirit, over me shining,
and let the cross of the good Savior cover me now,
from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet,
from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet.

O Jesu without offence, crucified cruelly,
under ban of the wicked you were scourged,
for many evils done by me in the body,
that I cannot this night enumerate,
that I cannot this night enumerate.

O good King of the blood of truth,
cast me not from your covenant,
exact not from me for my transgressions,
nor omit me in your numbering,
nor omit me in your numbering.

Place the cross of Jesu over me in peace,
let my soul dwell in  the truth, let my heart be free of guile,
let my soul be in peace with you, Brightness of the mountains,
valiant Savior, accompany my soul,
morn and eve, day and night. May it be so.

Source: Unknown, Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 67. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 66

Several lines of this prayer were altered to keep the prayer Christ-centered.

But wait… there’s more!

Prayers from the Ancient Celtic Church is a collection of prayers from the time of Patrick (d. ca. 460-493) to the Synod of Whitby (664), and also from the Celtic Christian tradition that remained after Whitby. A few of the prayers in this book may be familiar from their appearance in other prayer books. Some may be appearing in English for the first time. All prayers (with one exception) are rendered or revised into contemporary English with the hopes that they will be useful in private and corporate worship. Includes prayers from The Antiphonary of Bangor, The Lorrha-Stowe Missal, The Book of Cerne, The Book of Dimma, St. Patrick, St. Columba and many other sources.

Prayers from the Ancient Celtic Church is available in paperback through Amazon.com. It is also available for Amazon Kindle.