This song’s text is attributed to St Patrick and translated by Cecil Frances Alexander.
It is set to the Irish tune ST PATRICK. oddly the first verse stops half way through.
The text in CWB II is:
- I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three. - I bind myself to God forever
to Jesus in his incarnation
baptised for me in the Jordan river,
and crucified for my salvation;
he burst the prison of his tomb,
ascended to the heavenly throne,
returning at the day of doom
by faith I make his life my own. - I bind myself to God today
to his great power to hold and lead,
his eye to watch me on my way,
his ear to listen to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to be my guard. - I bind myself to God today,
the strong and holy Trinity,
to know the name and make it known,
the Three in One, the One in Three,
from whom all nature has creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
praise God my strength and my salvation;
praise in the Spirit through Christ the Lord!
This variation seems more widespread and includes the “Breastplate”. I prefer the language even with the archaisms eg “bursting from the spiced tomb”.
1. I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.
2. I bind this day to me forever
by power of faith, Christ’s incarnation
his baptism in the Jordan river,
his death on Cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spiced tomb,
his riding up the heavenly way,
his coming at the day of doom
I bind unto myself today.
3. I bind unto myself today
the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun’s life giving ray,
the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
the whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea
around the old eternal rocks.
4. I bind unto myself today
the power of God to hold and lead,
God’s eye to watch, God’s might to stay,
God’s ear to hearken to my need,
the wisdom of my God to teach,
God’s hand to guide, God’s shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
the heavenly host to be my guard.
5. Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
6. I bind unto myself the name,
the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, the One in Three,
of whom all nature hath creation,
eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
salvation is of Christ the Lord!