Prayer for Protection

As you are the Shepherd over the flock
tend us to the shelter and the fold,
bless us beneath your own glorious mantle,
be our Shield of protection, and guard us forever.

Be a hard triumphant sword
to shield us securely from wicked hell,
from the fiends and from the cold, sharp daggers,
and from the lurid smoke of the abyss.

My soul is in the trust of the High King,
the Good Shepherd is in charge of my soul.

Source: Kenneth the Carpenter, written down by Dr. Donald Munro Morrison, (1889)  Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I,  p. 37. English translation modified.

Graphic is from Carmina Gadelica, Hymns and Incantations…, Vol. I, p. 36

“from the fiends and from the cold, sharp daggers,” in Carmina’s translation is “From the fiends and from the steive snell gullies.” In Scots Gaelic “fheadaine frinne fuara.” Google translate gives “cold” for “fuara.”  Other Scots English dictionaries gave “piercing” for “snell,” and  “knife” for “gullie.” 

“The Good Shepherd is in charge of my soul,” this line was altered to keep the prayer Christ-centered.