Nunc Dimittis
The Canticle of Simeon
The Canticle of Simeon, who held the Christ Child and was ready to depart in peace, sung each night at Compline.
Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine,
secundum verbum tuum in pace.
Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum,
quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum:
lumen ad revelationem gentium,
et gloriam plebis tuae Israel.
Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord,
according to thy word in peace;
because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:
a light to the revelation of the Gentiles,
and the glory of thy people Israel.
Translation source: fisheaters.com/prayers.html
About this prayer
The Nunc Dimittis is the canticle of the aged Simeon, a just and devout man to whom it had been revealed that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord (Saint Luke 2:29-32). When Mary and Joseph brought the Child Jesus into the Temple to present Him, Simeon took Him into his arms, and blessing God he sang that he might now depart in peace, for his eyes had seen the salvation prepared before the face of all peoples.
In a few words the old man names the Child a light to the Gentiles and the glory of Israel, the dawn of the redemption of the whole world. The Church sings the Nunc Dimittis each night at Compline, the last hour of the Office, that the Christian may close the day, and one day his life, in the same peace as Simeon, having held his Saviour. It is sung also at the blessing of candles on the feast of the Presentation, which the faithful call Candlemas.