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

12.50pm on Sunday 8 November 2026

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, 9 November 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 47

  
 

  
1
 Clap your hands together, all ye people *
 O sing unto God with the voice of melody.
  
 
  
2
 For the Lord is high, and to be feared *
 he is the great King upon all the earth.
  
 
  
3
 He shall subdue the people under us *
 and the nations under our feet.
  
 
  
4
 He shall choose out an heritage for us *
 even the worship of Jacob, whom he loved.
  
 
  
5
 God is gone up with a merry noise *
 and the Lord with the sound of the trump.
  
 
  
6
 O sing praises, sing praises unto our God *
 O sing praises, sing praises unto our King.
  
 
  
7
 For God is the King of all the earth *
 sing ye praises with understanding.
  
 
  
8
 God reigneth over the heathen *
 God sitteth upon his holy seat.
  
 
  
9
 The princes of the people are joined unto the people of the God of Abraham *
 for God, which is very high exalted, doth defend the earth, as it were with a shield.
  
 

Psalm 48

  
 

  
1
 Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised *
 in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill.
  
 
  
2
 The hill of Sion is a fair place, and the joy of the whole earth *
 upon the north-side lieth the city of the great King; God is well known in her palaces as a sure refuge.
  
 
  
3
 For lo, the kings of the earth *
 are gathered, and gone by together.
  
 
  
4
 They marvelled to see such things *
 they were astonished, and suddenly cast down.
  
 
  
5
 Fear came there upon them, and sorrow *
 as upon a woman in her travail.
  
 
  
6
 Thou shalt break the ships of the sea *
 through the east-wind.
  
 
  
7
 Like as we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God *
 God upholdeth the same for ever.
  
 
  
8
 We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God *
 in the midst of thy temple.
  
 
  
9
 O God, according to thy Name, so is thy praise unto the world’s end *
 thy right hand is full of righteousness.
  
 
  
10
 Let the mount Sion rejoice, and the daughter of Judah be glad *
 because of thy judgements.
  
 
  
11
 Walk about Sion, and go round about her *
 and tell the towers thereof.
  
 
  
12
 Mark well her bulwarks, set up her houses *
 that ye may tell them that come after.
  
 
  
13
 For this God is our God for ever and ever *
 he shall be our guide unto death.
  
 

Psalm 49

  
 

  
1
 O hear ye this, all ye people *
 ponder it with your ears, all ye that dwell in the world;
  
 
  
2
 High and low, rich and poor *
 one with another.
  
 
  
3
 My mouth shall speak of wisdom *
 and my heart shall muse of understanding.
  
 
  
4
 I will incline mine ear to the parable *
 and shew my dark speech upon the harp.
  
 
  
5
 Wherefore should I fear in the days of wickedness *
 and when the wickedness of my heels compasseth me round about?
  
 
  
6
 There be some that put their trust in their goods *
 and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches.
  
 
  
7
 But no man may deliver his brother *
 nor make agreement unto God for him;
  
 
  
8
 For it cost more to redeem their souls *
 so that he must let that alone for ever;
  
 
  
9
 Yea, though he live long *
 and see not the grave.
  
 
  
10
 For he seeth that wise men also die, and perish together *
 as well as the ignorant and foolish, and leave their riches for other.
  
 
  
11
 And yet they think that their houses shall continue for ever *
 and that their dwelling-places shall endure from one generation to another; and call the lands after their own names.
  
 
  
12
 Nevertheless, man will not abide in honour *
 seeing he may be compared unto the beasts that perish; this is the way of them.
  
 
  
13
 This is their foolishness *
 and their posterity praise their saying.
  
 
  
14
 They lie in the hell like sheep, death gnaweth upon them, and the righteous shall have domination over them in the morning *
 their beauty shall consume in the sepulchre out of their dwelling.
  
 
  
15
 But God hath delivered my soul from the place of hell *
 for he shall receive me.
  
 
  
16
 Be not thou afraid, though one be made rich *
 or if the glory of his house be increased ;
  
 
  
17
 For he shall carry nothing away with him when he dieth *
 neither shall his pomp follow him.
  
 
  
18
 For while he lived, he counted himself an happy man *
 and so long as thou doest well unto thyself, men will speak good of thee.
  
 
  
19
 He shall follow the generation of his fathers *
 and shall never see light.
  
 
  
20
 Man being in honour hath no understanding *
 but is compared unto the beasts that perish.
  
 
     
    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: Isaiah 5.8-24

Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!
 In mine ears said the Lord of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.
 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.
 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.
 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:
 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:
 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

       
  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: Matthew 4.23 - 5.12

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

 

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

     
  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, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; 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.