--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ere thou sleepest, gently lay Every…" description: "\"Ere thou sleepest, gently lay Every troubled thought away; Put off worry and distress As thou puttest off thy dress; Drop thy burden and thy care In th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/henry-van-dyke-2453_arms_ere-thou-sleepest-gently-lay-every-troub_3114575.jpg" --- # Ere thou sleepest, gently lay Every troubled thought away… ![“Ere thou sleepest, gently lay Every troubled thought away; Put off worry and distress As thou puttest off thy dress; Drop thy burden and thy care In the quiet arms of prayer. Lord thou knowest how I live, All I'VE DONE AMISS FORGIVE; ALL OF GOOD I'VE TRIED TO DO STRENGTHEN, bless and carry…” quote by Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/henry-van-dyke-2453_arms_ere-thou-sleepest-gently-lay-every-troub_3114575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/henry-van-dyke-2453_arms_ere-thou-sleepest-gently-lay-every-troub_3114575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d9/henry-van-dyke-2453_arms_ere-thou-sleepest-gently-lay-every-troub_3114575.jpg) > “Ere thou sleepest, gently lay Every troubled thought away; Put off worry and distress As thou puttest off thy dress; Drop thy burden and thy care In the quiet arms of prayer. Lord thou knowest how I live, All I'VE DONE AMISS FORGIVE; ALL OF GOOD I'VE TRIED TO DO STRENGTHEN, bless and carry through; All I love in safety keep While in Thee I fall asleep.” [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages releasing worries through prayer, finding peace. **In simple terms:** Prayer eases burdens and offers comfort. Key Takeaway Turn to prayer for calm in distress. Themes faith comfort inner peace Mood serene hopeful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - daily meditation - stress management Key Concepts spirituality relief Questions to Reflect On - How does prayer change emotional state? - Can similar calm be found without faith? A Different Perspective May not resonate with non‑religious readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Bless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bless/) [Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burden/) [Care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/care/) [Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Dresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dresses/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Forgiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiveness/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Gently Lay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gently-lay-1592136/) [Lays](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lays/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Quiet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quiet/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Safety Thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety-thee-5448574/) [Sleepest Gently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleepest-gently-5448573/) [Thee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thee/) [Thou Knowest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-knowest-277627/) [Thou Sleepest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-sleepest-4335816/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) ## Related quotes > [Justice, voiceless, unseen, seeth thee when thou sleepest and when thou goest forth and when thou liest down. Continually doth she attend thee, now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/justice-voiceless-unseen-seeth-thee-when-thou-sleepest-and-when-thou/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Awake! thou that sleepest, arise from the dead! The Lord still lives today. His power has never abated. His Word has never changed. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-semple-mcpherson/awake-thou-that-sleepest-arise-from-the-dead-the-lord-still-lives/) [Aimee Semple McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-semple-mcpherson/) > [When the leaves fall, the whole earth is a cemetery pleasant to walk in. . . . 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To account nothing of one’s self, and to think always kindly and highly of others, this is great and perfect wisdom. Even shouldest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/1-to-account-nothing-of-one-s-self-and-to-think-always-kindly-and/) [Thomas à Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Thou knowest all; I seek in vain What lands to till or sow with seed - The land is black with briar and weed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/thou-knowest-all-i-seek-in-vain-what-lands-to-till-or-sow-with-seed/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Study what thou art Whereof thou art a part What thou knowest of this art This is really what thou art. All that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-drummond/study-what-thou-art-whereof-thou-art-a-part-what-thou-knowest-of-this/) [William Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-drummond/) > [“Who am I? They often tell me I would step from my cell's confinement calmly, cheerfully, firmly, like a squire from his country-house. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-am-i-they-often-tell-me-i-would-step-from-my-cell-s-confinement/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Life, if thou knowest how to use it, is long enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/life-if-thou-knowest-how-to-use-it-is-long-enough/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“Thou knowest not what bitches women are," Danny said wisely. "I do know," said Pilon. "Thou knowest not." "I do know." "Liar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/thou-knowest-not-what-bitches-women-are-danny-said-wisely-i-do-know/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“Thou knowest that these things which I say are true, and that I was never delighted in my own praise, for the secret of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boethius-d-524/thou-knowest-that-these-things-which-i-say-are-true-and-that-i-was/) [Boethius D. 524](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boethius-d-524/) > [“Prayer of an Anonymous Abbess: Lord, thou knowest better than myself that I am growing older and will soon be old. Keep me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/prayer-of-an-anonymous-abbess-lord-thou-knowest-better-than-myself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Henry Van Dyke > [I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack;The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/i-know-that-europe-s-wonderful-yet-something-seems-to-lack-the-past/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [The Bible does not profess to make men omniscient, but simply to tell them enough to make them happy and good, if they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/the-bible-does-not-profess-to-make-men-omniscient-but-simply-to-tell/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [So in the heart, When, fading slowly down the past, Fond memories depart, And each that leaves it seems the last; Long after all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/so-in-the-heart-when-fading-slowly-down-the-past-fond-memories-depart/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [It is with rivers as it is with people: the greatest are not always the most agreeable nor the best to live with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-with-rivers-as-it-is-with-people-the-greatest-are-not-always/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [A little while the rose, And after that the thorn; An hour of dewy morn, And then the glamour goes. Ah, love in beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/a-little-while-the-rose-and-after-that-the-thorn-an-hour-of-dewy-morn/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [A peace that depends on fear is nothing but a suppressed war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/a-peace-that-depends-on-fear-is-nothing-but-a-suppressed-war/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Love is not about getting - but giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/love-is-not-about-getting-but-giving/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Favorite People, Favorite Places, Favorite Memories of the past ... These are the joys of a lifetime Those are the things that last](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/favorite-people-favorite-places-favorite-memories-of-the-past-these/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Religion? Yes, I know it well; I've heard its prayers and creeds, And seen men put them all to shame with poor, half-hearted deeds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/religion-yes-i-know-it-well-i-ve-heard-its-prayers-and-creeds-and/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [It is better to desire the things we have than to have the things we desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/it-is-better-to-desire-the-things-we-have-than-to-have-the-things-we/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Jazz: Music invented for the torture of imbeciles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/jazz-music-invented-for-the-torture-of-imbeciles/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Lord, when my spirit shall return to thee, At the foot of a friendly tree let my body be buried, That this dust may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/lord-when-my-spirit-shall-return-to-thee-at-the-foot-of-a-friendly/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/gratitude-is-the-inward-feeling-of-kindness-received-thankfulness-is/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [In warlike pomp, with banners flowing, The regiments of autumn stood: I saw their gold and scarlet glowing From every hillside, every wood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/in-warlike-pomp-with-banners-flowing-the-regiments-of-autumn-stood-i/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) > [There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/there-is-a-better-thing-than-the-observance-of-christmas-day-and-that/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) [Explore all 165 Henry Van Dyke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Ere thou sleepest, gently lay Every troubled thought away; Put off worry and distress As thou puttest off thy dress; Drop thy burden and thy care In the quiet arms of prayer. 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