Night Prayer (Compline) in Contemporary Language

The Word of God

Psalmody

Psalm 139

Refrain: Search me out, O God, and know my heart.

1O Lord, you have searched me out and known me; ♦
you know my sitting down and my rising up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.

2You mark out my journeys and my resting place ♦
and are acquainted with all my ways.

3For there is not a word on my tongue, ♦
but you, O Lord, know it altogether.

4You encompass me behind and before ♦
and lay your hand upon me.

5Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, ♦
so high that I cannot attain it. R

6Where can I go then from your spirit? ♦
Or where can I flee from your presence?

7If I climb up to heaven, you are there; ♦
if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

8If I take the wings of the morning ♦
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

9Even there your hand shall lead me, ♦
your right hand hold me fast.

10If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will cover me ♦
and the light around me turn to night,’

11Even darkness is no darkness with you;
the night is as clear as the day; ♦
darkness and light to you are both alike. R

12For you yourself created my inmost parts; ♦
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

13I thank you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; ♦
marvellous are your works, my soul knows well.

14My frame was not hidden from you, ♦
when I was made in secret
and woven in the depths of the earth.

15Your eyes beheld my form, as yet unfinished; ♦
already in your book were all my members written,

16As day by day they were fashioned ♦
when as yet there was none of them.

17How deep are your counsels to me, O God! ♦
How great is the sum of them!

18If I count them, they are more in number than the sand, ♦
and at the end, I am still in your presence. R

Refrain: Search me out, O God, and know my heart.

Creator God,
may every breath we take be for your glory,
may every footstep show you as our way,
that, trusting in your presence in this world,
we may, beyond this life, still be with you
where you are alive and reign
for ever and ever.

Scripture Reading

I will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that, when they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.
Zechariah 12.10

Gospel Canticle

The Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) is said or sung.

AllChrist himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

1Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.

2My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

3A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

Luke 2.29-32

AllChrist himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.