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4.01am on Monday 6 July 2026

Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Traditional Language

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    Evening Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Tuesday, 7 July 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 37

  
 

  
1
 Fret not thyself because of the ungodly *
 neither be thou envious against the evil doers.
  
 
  
2
 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass *
 and be withered even as the green herb.
  
 
  
3
 Put thou thy trust in the Lord, and be doing good *
 dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
  
 
  
4
 Delight thou in the Lord *
 and he shall give thee thy heart’s desire.
  
 
  
5
 Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust in him *
 and he shall bring it to pass.
  
 
  
6
 He shall make thy righteousness as clear as the light *
 and thy just dealing as the noon-day.
  
 
  
7
 Hold thee still in the Lord, and abide patiently upon him *
 but grieve not thyself at him, whose way doth prosper, against the man that doeth after evil counsels.
  
 
  
8
 Leave off from wrath, and let go displeasure *
 fret not thyself, else shalt thou be moved to do evil.
  
 
  
9
 Wicked doers shall be rooted out *
 and they that patiently abide the Lord, those shall inherit the land.
  
 
  
10
 Yet a little while, and the ungodly shall be clean gone *
 thou shalt look after his place, and he shall be away.
  
 
  
11
 But the meek-spirited shall possess the earth *
 and shall be refreshed in the multitude of peace.
  
 
  
12
 The ungodly seeketh counsel against the just *
 and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
  
 
  
13
 The Lord shall laugh him to scorn *
 for he hath seen that his day is coming.
  
 
  
14
 The ungodly have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow *
 to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as are of a right conversation.
  
 
  
15
 Their sword shall go through their own heart *
 and their bow shall be broken.
  
 
  
16
 A small thing that the righteous hath *
 is better than great riches of the ungodly.
  
 
  
17
 For the arms of the ungodly shall be broken *
 and the Lord upholdeth the righteous.
  
 
  
18
 The Lord knoweth the days of the godly *
 and their inheritance shall endure for ever.
  
 
  
19
 They shall not be confounded in the perilous time *
 and in the days of dearth they shall have enough.
  
 
  
20
 As for the ungodly, they shall perish; and the enemies of the Lord shall consume as the fat of lambs *
 yea, even as the smoke, shall they consume away.
  
 
  
21
 The ungodly borroweth, and payeth not again *
 but the righteous is merciful, and liberal.
  
 
  
22
 Such as are blessed of God shall possess the land *
 and they that are cursed of him shall be rooted out.
  
 
  
23
 The Lord ordereth a good man’s going *
 and maketh his way acceptable to himself.
  
 
  
24
 Though he fall, he shall not be cast away *
 for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
  
 
  
25
 I have been young, and now am old *
 and yet saw I never the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging their bread.
  
 
  
26
 The righteous is ever merciful, and lendeth *
 and his seed is blessed.
  
 
  
27
 Flee from evil, and do the thing that is good *
 and dwell for evermore.
  
 
  
28
 For the Lord loveth the thing that is right *
 he forsaketh not his that be godly, but they are preserved for ever.
  
 
  
29
 The unrighteous shall be punished *
 as for the seed of the ungodly, it shall be rooted out.
  
 
  
30
 The righteous shall inherit the land *
 and dwell therein for ever.
  
 
  
31
 The mouth of the righteous is exercised in wisdom *
 and his tongue will be talking of judgement.
  
 
  
32
 The law of his God is in his heart *
 and his goings shall not slide.
  
 
  
33
 The ungodly seeth the righteous *
 and seeketh occasion to slay him.
  
 
  
34
 The Lord will not leave him in his hand *
 nor condemn him when he is judged.
  
 
  
35
 Hope thou in the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall promote thee, that thou shalt possess the land *
 when the ungodly shall perish, thou shalt see it.
  
 
  
36
 I myself have seen the ungodly in great power *
 and flourishing like a green bay tree.
  
 
  
37
 I went by, and lo, he was gone *
 I sought him, but his place could no where be found.
  
 
  
38
 Keep innocency, and take heed unto the thing that is right *
 for that shall bring a man peace at the last.
  
 
  
39
 As for the transgressors, they shall perish together *
 and the end of the ungodly is, they shall be rooted out at the last.
  
 
  
40
 But the salvation of the righteous cometh of the Lord *
 who is also their strength in the time of trouble.
  
 
  
41
 And the Lord shall stand by them, and save them *
 he shall deliver them from the ungodly, and shall save them, because they put their trust in him.
  
 
     
    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: Nehemiah 13.1-14

 

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.
 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

       
  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: 2 Corinthians 1.15 - 2.4

And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
 And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
 When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

 

But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?
 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.
 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto 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  
     
    Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; 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.
     
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