Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Traditional Language

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		Evening Prayer from
		*The Book of Common Prayer*
		Saturday, 6 June 2026
		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 32

1		Blessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven * and whose sin is covered.

2		Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin * and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3		For while I held my tongue * my bones consumed away through my daily complaining.

4		For thy hand is heavy upon me day and night * and my moisture is like the drought in summer.

5		I will acknowledge my sin unto thee * and mine unrighteousness have I not hid.

6		I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord * and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin.

7		For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found * but in the great water-floods they shall not come nigh him.

8		Thou art a place to hide me in, thou shalt preserve me from trouble * thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

9		I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go * and I will guide thee with mine eye.

10		Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding * whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, lest they fall upon thee.

11		Great plagues remain for the ungodly * but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side.

12		Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord * and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart.
		Psalm 33

1		Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous * for it becometh well the just to be thankful.

2		Praise the Lord with harp * sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings.

3		Sing unto the Lord a new song * sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage.

4		For the word of the Lord is true * and all his works are faithful.

5		He loveth righteousness and judgement * the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

6		By the word of the Lord were the heavens made * and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.

7		He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap * and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house.

8		Let all the earth fear the Lord * stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world.

9		For he spake, and it was done * he commanded, and it stood fast.

10		The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought * and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect, and casteth out the counsels of princes.

11		The counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever * and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.

12		Blessed are the people, whose God is the Lord Jehovah * and blessed are the folk, that he hath chosen to him to be his inheritance.

13		The Lord looked down from heaven, and beheld all the children of men * from the habitation of his dwelling he considereth all them that dwell on the earth.

14		He fashioneth all the hearts of them * and understandeth all their works.

15		There is no king that can be saved by the multitude of an host * neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength.

16		A horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man * neither shall he deliver any man by his great strength.

17		Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him * and upon them that put their trust in his mercy;

18		To deliver their soul from death * and to feed them in the time of dearth.

19		Our soul hath patiently tarried for the Lord * for he is our help, and our shield.

20		For our heart shall rejoice in him * because we have hoped in his holy Name.

21		Let thy merciful kindness, O Lord, be upon us * like as we do put our trust in thee.
		Psalm 34

1		I will alway give thanks unto the Lord * his praise shall ever be in my mouth.

2		My soul shall make her boast in the Lord * the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

3		O praise the Lord with me * and let us magnify his Name together.

4		I sought the Lord, and he heard me * yea, he delivered me out of all my fear.

5		They had an eye unto him, and were lightened * and their faces were not ashamed.

6		Lo, the poor crieth, and the Lord heareth him * yea, and saveth him out of all his troubles.

7		The angel of the Lord tarrieth round about them that fear him * and delivereth them.

8		O taste, and see, how gracious the Lord is * blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

9		O fear the Lord, ye that are his saints * for they that fear him lack nothing.

10		The lions do lack, and suffer hunger * but they who seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good.

11		Come, ye children, and hearken unto me * I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

12		What man is he that lusteth to live * and would fain see good days?

13		Keep thy tongue from evil * and thy lips, that they speak no guile.

14		Eschew evil, and do good * seek peace, and ensue it.

15		The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous * and his ears are open unto their prayers.

16		The countenance of the Lord is against them that do evil * to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.

17		The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them * and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

18		The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart * and will save such as be of an humble spirit.

19		Great are the troubles of the righteous * but the Lord delivereth him out of all.

20		He keepeth all his bones * so that not one of them is broken.

21		But misfortune shall slay the ungodly * and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

22		The Lord delivereth the souls of his servants * and all they that put their trust in him shall not be destitute.


		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: 2 Chronicles 32.1-22 After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him. So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water? Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem? Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The Lord our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it? Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand? Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand? Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? And his servants spake yet more against the Lord God, and against his servant Hezekiah. He wrote also letters to rail on the Lord God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand. Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city. And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side.

	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: Romans 6.15-end What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

	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

		O God, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; 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.

Daily Prayer

Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Traditional Language

Psalm 32

Psalm 33

Psalm 34

First Reading: 2 Chronicles 32.1-22

Second Reading: Romans 6.15-end