Prayer before a Journey

Gracious and merciful God, I have resolved in Thy name to be absent for a while from my dear ones and my home; and therefore I come to Thee and pray: O, bless my going out and my coming in. In Thy name I would begin my journey. Do Thou accompany me on my way, and bring me, safely guarded, back to my home again. Let Thy angel host surround and protect me like Jacob; let Thy angel support me in every danger like Paul; let Thy angels journey with me as with Joseph and Mary and the Child Jesus, that I may remain safe from misfortune, from thieves and murderers, and from harm of every kind. O Thou Keeper of Israel, who dost not slumber nor sleep, be by day and by night a wall of fire around me, as around Elisha, that no misfortune or harm may approach me. Give me early and late, in forest and field, Thy holy angels to guard and conduct me, as Thou didst conduct the children of Israel through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud. Accompany me when I travel; remain with me when I rest; watch for me when I sleep. Yea, Lord, Lord, take care of me wherever I go, and let me enjoy Thy continual protection.

Grant, O God, that every day the words which Thou spakest to Abraham, when He set out on his journey, may resound in my ears: “Walk before me, and be thou perfect;” so that I may ever be mindful of Thy holy presence while I am in a strange land. Preserve me, that I may not during my absence from home lust after evil things. Keep me from intemperance, vanity, impudence, malice, worldliness, sin, and shame. Help me to return home with a clean conscience. Turn my eyes away when they would look upon evil; draw my thoughts aside when evil lusts would arise in my heart; and keep me from staining my body or my soul with sin. Help me to remember that Thou hearest all that I say, and seest all that I do; that wherever I go or stay, Thou goest and stayest also. And let this remembrance preserve me from sinning against Thee and incurring Thy wrath and displeasure.

I commend to Thy care all that I leave behind me. Protect my property from thieves, fire, and flood; and let me find it all safe and well-preserved on my return. Watch over all my dear ones whom I leave behind. O my God, I leave them, but do Thou remain with them. Ward off from them all harm, misfortune, and sickness, and let me find them well on my return. Be their Protector: preserve them, guide them, and guard them. Let me not hear any sorrowful tidings concerning them; but let them live as in Thy sight, and enjoy Thy protection and favor. And at the proper time let me return home safe, and find my dear ones in health.

O Lord Jesus, who in the form of a traveler didst journey with Thy two disciples, be with me upon my journey also, and fill my heart with good thoughts. Give me pious companions, that we may not sin against Thee on the way by shameful and sinful conversation, but may think of Thee, and as in Thy presence speak of Thy goodness, of Thy wonderful works, of Thy faithfulness and truth. O my God, in Thy name I have undertaken my journey; in Thy name let me happily conclude it; and then, together with my dear ones, I will heartily praise and adore Thee all the days of my life. Amen.