St Patrick’s Breastplate

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 this today to me for­ev­er
By pow­er of faith, Christ’s in­car­na­tion;
His bap­tism in Jor­dan riv­er,
His death on cross for my sal­va­tion;
His burst­ing from the spic­èd tomb,
His riding up the heav­en­ly way,
His com­ing at the day of doom
I bind un­to my­self to­day.

I bind un­to myself the pow­er
Of the great love of cher­ub­im;
The sweet Well done in judg­ment hour,
The serv­ice of the se­ra­phim,
Confessors’ faith, apos­tles’ word,
The pa­tri­archs’ pray­ers, the pro­phets’ scrolls,
All good deeds done un­to the Lord
And pur­ity of virg­in souls.

I bind un­to my­self to­day
The vir­tues of the star lit 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.

I bind un­to my­self to­day
The pow­er of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to heark­en 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.

Against the de­mon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temp­ta­tion force,
The na­tur­al lusts that war with­in,
The hos­tile men that mar my course;
Or few or ma­ny, far or nigh,
In ev­ery place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hos­ti­li­ty
I bind to me these ho­ly pow­ers.

Against all Sa­tan’s spells and wiles,
Against false words of he­re­sy,
Against the know­ledge that de­files,
Against the heart’s id­ol­atry,
Against the wi­zard’s ev­il craft,
Against the death wound and the burn­ing,
The chok­ing wave, the poi­soned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy re­turn­ing.

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.

I bind un­to my­self the name,
The strong name of the Tri­ni­ty,
By in­vo­ca­tion of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By whom all na­ture hath cre­ation,
Eternal Fa­ther, Spir­it, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my sal­va­tion,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.