Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Contemporary Language

¶ Evening Prayer on Thursday
Thursday, 22 October 2026

Preparation

O God, make speed to save us.
AllO Lord, make haste to help us.

The Blessing of Light (page 110) may replace the Preparation at Evening Prayer on any occasion.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

A prayer of thanksgiving (page 110),

Blessed are you, Lord God, creator of day and night:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As darkness falls you renew your promise
to reveal among us the light of your presence.
By the light of Christ, your living Word,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
that we may walk as children of light
and sing your praise throughout the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
AllBlessed be God for ever.

or a suitable hymn,

or A Song of God’s Chosen One

1There shall come forth a shoot from the stock of Jesse, ♦
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

2And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, ♦
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,

3The spirit of counsel and might, ♦
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

4He shall not judge by what his eyes see, ♦
or decide by what his ears hear,

5But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, ♦
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth.

6The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, ♦
and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.

7The calf, the lion and the fatling together, ♦
with a little child to lead them.

8They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, ♦
for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11.1,2,3b-4a,6,9

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

This opening prayer may be said

That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful,
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As our evening prayer rises before you, O God,
so may your mercy come down upon us
to cleanse our hearts
and set us free to sing your praise
now and for ever.
AllAmen.

The Word of God

Psalmody

The appointed psalmody is said.

Psalm 138

Refrain: Your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever.

1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; ♦
before the gods will I sing praise to you.

2 I will bow down towards your holy temple and praise your name,
because of your love and faithfulness; ♦
for you have glorified your name
and your word above all things.

3 In the day that I called to you, you answered me; ♦
you put new strength in my soul. R

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord, ♦
for they have heard the words of your mouth.

5 They shall sing of the ways of the Lord, ♦
that great is the glory of the Lord.

6 Though the Lord be high, he watches over the lowly; ♦
as for the proud, he regards them from afar. R

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you will preserve me; ♦
you will stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
your right hand will save me.

8 The Lord shall make good his purpose for me; ♦
your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever;
forsake not the work of your hands.

Refrain: Your loving-kindness, O Lord, endures for ever.

Lord our God, supreme over all things,
look upon the humble and lowly
and put new strength into our souls
to complete your purpose for us
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Psalm 140

Refrain: Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked.

1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers ♦
and protect me from the violent,

2 Who devise evil in their hearts ♦
and stir up strife all the day long.

3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; ♦
adder’s poison is under their lips.

4 Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; ♦
protect me from the violent
who seek to make me stumble.

5 The proud have laid a snare for me
and spread out a net of cords; ♦
they have set traps along my path. R

6 I have said to the Lord, ‘You are my God; ♦
listen, O Lord, to the voice of my supplication.

7 ‘O Lord God, the strength of my salvation, ♦
you have covered my head in the day of battle.

8 ‘Do not grant the desires of the wicked, O Lord, ♦
do not prosper their wicked plans. R

9 ‘Let not those who surround me lift up their heads; ♦
let the evil of their own lips fall upon them.

10 ‘Let hot burning coals rain upon them; ♦
let them be cast into the depths, that they rise not again.’

11 No slanderer shall prosper on the earth, ♦
and evil shall hunt down the violent to overthrow them. R

12 I know that the Lord will bring justice for the oppressed ♦
and maintain the cause of the needy.

13 Surely, the righteous will give thanks to your name, ♦
and the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Refrain: Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked.

Glorious Saviour,
rescue us from the subtle evils that are too strong for us,
from poisonous words and the spirit of war;
by your judgement overthrow the forces of violence,
that all the world may join to worship you
in thanksgiving and peace,
now and for ever.

Psalm 141

Refrain: Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord.

1 O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly; ♦
hear my voice when I cry to you.

2 Let my prayer rise before you as incense, ♦
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord, ♦
and guard the door of my lips;

4 Let not my heart incline to any evil thing; ♦
let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers,
nor taste the pleasures of their table. R

5 Let the righteous smite me in friendly rebuke;
but let not the oil of the unrighteous anoint my head; ♦
for my prayer is continually against their wicked deeds.

6 Let their rulers be overthrown in stony places; ♦
then they may know that my words are sweet.

7 As when a plough turns over the earth in furrows, ♦
let their bones be scattered at the mouth of the Pit. R

8 But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God; ♦
in you I take refuge; do not leave me defenceless.

9 Protect me from the snare which they have laid for me ♦
and from the traps of the evildoers.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, ♦
while I pass by in safety.

Refrain: Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord.

Lord God, our protector and guide,
who made us knowing both good and evil,
help us to desire all that is good,
that the offering of our lives may be acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.

Ecclesiasticus 37.7-24

All counsellors praise the counsel they give,
   but some give counsel in their own interest.
Be wary of a counsellor,
   and learn first what is his interest,
   for he will take thought for himself.
He may cast the lot against you
   and tell you, ‘Your way is good’,
   and then stand aside to see what happens to you.
Do not consult one who regards you with suspicion;
   hide your intentions from those who are jealous of you.
Do not consult with a woman about her rival
   or with a coward about war,
with a merchant about business
   or with a buyer about selling,
with a miser about generosity
   or with the merciless about kindness,
with an idler about any work
   or with a seasonal labourer about completing his work,
with a lazy servant about a big task—
   pay no attention to any advice they give.
But associate with a godly person
   whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments,
who is like-minded with yourself,
   and who will grieve with you if you fail.
And heed the counsel of your own heart,
   for no one is more faithful to you than it is.
For our own mind sometimes keeps us better informed
   than seven sentinels sitting high on a watch-tower.
But above all pray to the Most High
   that he may direct your way in truth.

Discussion is the beginning of every work,
   and counsel precedes every undertaking.
The mind is the root of all conduct;
   it sprouts four branches,
good and evil, life and death;
   and it is the tongue that continually rules them.
Some people may be clever enough to teach many,
   and yet be useless to themselves.
A skilful speaker may be hated;
   he will be destitute of all food,
for the Lord has withheld the gift of charm,
   since he is lacking in all wisdom.
If a person is wise to his own advantage,
   the fruits of his good sense will be praiseworthy.
A wise person instructs his own people,
   and the fruits of his good sense will endure.
A wise person will have praise heaped upon him,
   and all who see him will call him happy.

or Ezekiel 43.1-12

Canticle

Great and Wonderful, or another suitable canticle, for example, number 63 (page 621), may be said

Refrain:

AllAll nations shall come and worship you, O Christ,
and share in the feast of your kingdom. Alleluia.

1Great and wonderful are your deeds, ♦
Lord God the Almighty.

2Just and true are your ways, ♦
O ruler of the nations.

3Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord? ♦
for you alone are holy.

4All nations shall come and worship in your presence: ♦
for your just dealings have been revealed.

Revelation 15.3, 4

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb ♦
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

AllAll nations shall come and worship you, O Christ,
and share in the feast of your kingdom. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

John 16.1-15

‘I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them.

‘I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

Fear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
AllFear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned.
AllI have called you by name; you are mine.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllFear not, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.

from Isaiah 43

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said,
or A Song of Christ’s Appearing (page 621) may be said

Refrain:

AllYou have filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

1My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ♦
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.

2From this day all generations will call me blessed; ♦
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.

3He has mercy on those who fear him, ♦
from generation to generation.

4He has shown strength with his arm ♦
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,

5Casting down the mighty from their thrones ♦
and lifting up the lowly.

6He has filled the hungry with good things ♦
and sent the rich away empty.

7He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, ♦
to remember his promise of mercy,

8The promise made to our ancestors, ♦
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Luke 1.46-55

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

Refrain:

AllYou have filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

Prayers

Thanksgiving may be made for the day.

Intercessions are offered
¶ for peace
¶ for individuals and their needs

Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 362–363

¶ Local government, community leaders
¶ All who provide local services
¶ Those who work with young or elderly people
¶ Schools, colleges and universities
¶ Emergency and rescue organizations

One of the forms of prayer found on pages 362–371 may be used.

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer

(or)

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Silence may be kept.

The Collect of the day is said

God, the giver of life,
whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:
by the Spirit's gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ
      and make us eager to do your will,
that we may share with the whole creation
      the joys of eternal life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

AllOur Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

(or)

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

AllOur Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Conclusion

All The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.