You are in: Home » Prayer » CofE Daily Offices » Traditional Language (Book of Common Prayer) » Evening Prayer

1.52pm on Monday 31 March 2025

Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Traditional Language

View the service for yesterday | today | tomorrow

Please note: Daily Prayer provided by the official Church of England web site, © The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2002-2004.

    Evening Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Monday, 31 March 2025
  The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
  Introduction
   
  The minister may use a seasonal sentence before using one or more of the penitential sentences.
   
  The minister introduces the service
     
    Dearly beloved [brethren],
    the Scripture moveth us in sundry places to acknowledge
       and confess our manifold sins and wickedness;
     
    [and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before
       the face of almighty God our heavenly Father;
    but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent and
       obedient heart;
    to the end that we may obtain forgiveness of the same
       by his infinite goodness and mercy.
    And although we ought at all times humbly to acknowledge
       our sins before God;
    yet ought we most chiefly so to do,
    when we assemble and meet together
    to render thanks for the great benefits that we have
       received at his hands,
    to set forth his most worthy praise,
    to hear his most holy word,
    and to ask those things which are requisite and necessary,
    as well for the body as the soul.]
     
    Wherefore I pray and beseech you,
    as many as are here present,
    to accompany me with a pure heart, and humble voice,
    unto the throne of the heavenly grace, saying [after me]:
     
    (or)
     
    Beloved, we are come together in the presence of almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and shew forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all men such things as their well-being doth require.
     
    Wherefore let us kneel in silence, and remember God's presence with us now.
   
All
   Almighty and most merciful Father,
    we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.
    We have followed too much the devices and desires
       of our own hearts.
    We have offended against thy holy laws.
    We have left undone those things
       which we ought to have done;
    and we have done those things
         which we ought not to have done;
    and there is no health in us.
    But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
    Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults.
    Restore thou them that are penitent;
    according to thy promises declared unto mankind
       in Christ Jesu our Lord.
    And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
    that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
    to the glory of thy holy name.
  Amen.
   
  A priest says
     
    Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    who desireth not the death of a sinner,
    but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live;
    and hath given power, and commandment, to his ministers
    to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent,
    the absolution and remission of their sins:
    he pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent
       and unfeignedly believe his holy gospel.
    Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance,
       and his Holy Spirit,
    that those things may please him which we do at this present;
    and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy;
    so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
  or other ministers may say
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord,
    to thy faithful people pardon and peace,
    that they may be cleansed from all their sins,
    and serve thee with a quiet mind;
    through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
   
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive them that 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.
  Evening Prayer
     
    The introduction to the service is used on Sundays, and may be used on any occasion. If the Introduction is not used, the service begins with the opening responses.
     
    These responses are used
     
    O Lord, open thou our lips
All
   and our mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
     
    O God, make speed to save us.
All
   O Lord, make haste to help us.
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
    and to the Holy Ghost;
All
   as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Praise ye the Lord.
All
   The Lord's name be praised.
     
  Psalmody  
   

Psalm 147

  
 

  
1
 Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God *
 yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
  
 
  
2
 The Lord doth build up Jerusalem *
 and gather together the out-casts of Israel.
  
 
  
3
 He healeth those that are broken in heart *
 and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
  
 
  
4
 He telleth the number of the stars *
 and calleth them all by their names.
  
 
  
5
 Great is our Lord, and great is his power *
 yea, and his wisdom is infinite.
  
 
  
6
 The Lord setteth up the meek *
 and bringeth the ungodly down to the ground.
  
 
  
7
 O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving *
 sing praises upon the harp unto our God;
  
 
  
8
 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth *
 and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men;
  
 
  
9
 Who giveth fodder unto the cattle *
 and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
  
 
  
10
 He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse *
 neither delighteth he in any man’s legs.
  
 
  
11
 But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear him *
 and put their trust in his mercy.
  
 
  
12
 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem *
 praise thy God, O Sion.
  
 
  
13
 For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates *
 and hath blessed thy children within thee.
  
 
  
14
 He maketh peace in thy borders *
 and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
  
 
  
15
 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth *
 and his word runneth very swiftly.
  
 
  
16
 He giveth snow like wool *
 and scattereth the hoar-frost like ashes.
  
 
  
17
 He casteth forth his ice like morsels *
 who is able to abide his frost?
  
 
  
18
 He sendeth out his word, and melteth them *
 he bloweth with his wind, and the waters flow.
  
 
  
19
 He sheweth his word unto Jacob *
 his statutes and ordinances unto Israel.
  
 
  
20
 He hath not dealt so with any nation *
 neither have the heathen knowledge of his laws.
  
 

Psalm 148

  
 

  
1
 O praise the Lord of heaven *
 praise him in the height.
  
 
  
2
 Praise him, all ye angels of his *
 praise him, all his host.
  
 
  
3
 Praise him, sun and moon *
 praise him, all ye stars and light.
  
 
  
4
 Praise him, all ye heavens *
 and ye waters that are above the heavens.
  
 
  
5
 Let them praise the Name of the Lord *
 for he spake the word, and they were made; he commanded, and they were created.
  
 
  
6
 He hath made them fast for ever and ever *
 he hath given them a law which shall not be broken.
  
 
  
7
 Praise the Lord upon earth *
 ye dragons, and all deeps;
  
 
  
8
 Fire and hail, snow and vapours *
 wind and storm, fulfilling his word;
  
 
  
9
 Mountains and all hills *
 fruitful trees and all cedars;
  
 
  
10
 Beasts and all cattle *
 worms and feathered fowls;
  
 
  
11
 Kings of the earth and all people *
 princes and all judges of the world;
  
 
  
12
 Young men and maidens, old men and children, praise the Name of the Lord *
 for his Name only is excellent, and his praise above heaven and earth.
  
 
  
13
 He shall exalt the horn of his people; all his saints shall praise him *
 even the children of Israel, even the people that serveth him.
  
 

Psalm 149

  
 

  
1
 O sing unto the Lord a new song *
 let the congregation of saints praise him.
  
 
  
2
 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him *
 and let the children of Sion be joyful in their King.
  
 
  
3
 Let them praise his Name in the dance *
 let them sing praises unto him with tabret and harp.
  
 
  
4
 For the Lord hath pleasure in his people *
 and helpeth the meek-hearted.
  
 
  
5
 Let the saints be joyful with glory *
 let them rejoice in their beds.
  
 
  
6
 Let the praises of God be in their mouth *
 and a two-edged sword in their hands;
  
 
  
7
 To be avenged of the heathen *
 and to rebuke the people;
  
 
  
8
 To bind their kings in chains *
 and their nobles with links of iron.
  
 
  
9
 That they may be avenged of them, as it is written *
 Such honour have all his saints.
  
 

Psalm 150

  
 

  
1
 O praise God in his holiness *
 praise him in the firmament of his power.
  
 
  
2
 Praise him in his noble acts *
 praise him according to his excellent greatness.
  
 
  
3
 Praise him in the sound of the trumpet *
 praise him upon the lute and harp.
  
 
  
4
 Praise him in the cymbals and dances *
 praise him upon the strings and pipe.
  
 
  
5
 Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals *
 praise him upon the loud cymbals.
  
 
  
6
 Let every thing that hath breath *
 praise the Lord.
  
 
     
    At the end of each psalm these words are said or sung
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
    Old Testament Reading  
 
   

First Reading: Exodus 2.11-22

And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.
 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.
 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.
 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.
 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.
 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?
 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.
 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.
 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.
 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

       
  Magnificat  
     
    Either the Magnificat (as follows) or Cantate Domino (Psalm 98) is said or sung.
     
1
   My soul doth magnify the Lord :
    and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
     
2
   For he hath regarded :
    the lowliness of his handmaiden.
     
3
   For behold, from henceforth :
    all generations shall call me blessed.
     
4
   For he that is mighty hath magnified me :
    and holy is his Name.
     
5
   And his mercy is on them that fear him :
    throughout all generations.
     
6
   He hath shewed strength with his arm :
    he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
     
7
   He hath put down the mighty from their seat :
    and hath exalted the humble and meek.
     
8
   He hath filled the hungry with good things :
    and the rich he hath sent empty away.
     
9
   He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel :
    as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
   
Luke 1.46-55
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
  New Testament Reading  
 
   

Second Reading: Hebrews 9.1-14

 

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

     
  Nunc dimittis  
     
    Either the Nunc dimittis (as follows) or Deus misereatur (Psalm 67) is said or sung.
     
1
   Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
    according to thy word.
     
2
   For mine eyes have seen :
    thy salvation;
     
3
   Which thou hast prepared :
    before the face of all people;
     
4
   To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
    and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
   
Luke 2.29-32
     
    Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
    and to the Holy Ghost;
    as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
    world without end. Amen.
     
  The Apostles' Creed  
     
All
   I believe in God the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth:
    and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,
    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
    born of the Virgin Mary,
    suffered under Pontius Pilate,
    was crucified, dead, and buried.
    He descended into hell;
    the third day he rose again from the dead;
    he ascended into heaven,
    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty;
    from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Ghost;
    the holy catholic Church;
    the communion of saints;
    the forgiveness of sins;
    the resurrection of the body,
    and the life everlasting.
    Amen.
     
  Prayers  
     
    The Lord be with you.
All
   And with thy spirit.
     
    Let us pray.
     
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
All
   Christ, have mercy upon us.
    Lord, have mercy upon us.
     
All
   Our Father, which art in heaven,
    hallowed be thy name;
    thy kingdom come;
    thy will be done,
    in earth as it is in heaven.
    Give us this day our daily bread.
    And forgive us our trespasses,
    as we forgive them that trespass against us.
    And lead us not into temptation;
    but deliver us from evil. Amen.
     
    O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us.
All
   And grant us thy salvation.
     
    O Lord, save the King.
All
   And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.
     
    Endue thy ministers with righteousness.
All
   And make thy chosen people joyful.
     
    O Lord, save thy people.
All
   And bless thine inheritance.
     
    Give peace in our time, O Lord.
All
   Because there is none other that fighteth for us,
    but only thou, O God.
     
    O God, make clean our hearts within us.
All
   And take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
     
    Three Collects are said.
     
  The Collect of the Day  
     
    Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All
   Amen.
     
     
  The Collect for Peace  
     
    O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels,
         and all just works do proceed;
    give unto thy servants that peace which the world cannot give;
    that both, our hearts may be set to obey thy commandments,
    and also that, by thee,
    we being defended from the fear of our enemies
    may pass our time in rest and quietness;
    through the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
All
   Amen.
     
  The Collect for Aid against all Perils  
     
    Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord;
    and by thy great mercy defend us
         from all perils and dangers of this night;
    for the love of thy only Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
All
   Amen.
     
    The order for the end of the service may include:
     
    hymns or anthems
       a sermon
    further prayers (which may include prayers from here)
     
    This prayer may be used to conclude the service
     
    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    and the love of God,
    and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
    be with us all evermore.
All
   Amen.
     
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
All of the official Common Worship publications are available from Church House Publishing.

Implemented by Simon Kershaw at Crucix.
Implementation copyright © Simon Kershaw, 2002-2020.

After Sunday is a registered charity, number 1128086. Website development by Hiltonian Media.