It used to be, in the dark midnight hour, 
My little ones, I'd come to lovingly admire you, 
To mark you with the holy cross
And to pray that grace be with you, 
The love of Almighty God, 

To tenderly guard your childlike peace, 
To think how pure your souls were,
And to hope for many long and happy days
For you, my happy and sweet children, 
How happy and joyful I felt!

Now when I come - darkness is everywhere, 
There is no life in the bedroom, the cot is empty. 
The light before the icon has been extinguished, 
I'm sorrowful that my little ones are no longer there!
And my heart shrinks with pain!

Oh children! In the dark midnight hour
Pray for those who used to pray for you, 
For those who used to mark you with the holy cross, 
Pray, that grace be with them, 
The love of Almighty God.