Your donation helps keep the Cathedral open to God, open to all

No, I'd prefer to donate another time

Menu

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
    Thursday, 16 May 2024
  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 82

  
 

  
1
 God standeth in the congregation of princes *
 he is a Judge among gods.
  
 
  
2
 How long will ye give wrong judgement *
 and accept the persons of the ungodly?
  
 
  
3
 Defend the poor and fatherless *
 see that such as are in need and necessity have right.
  
 
  
4
 Deliver the out-cast and poor *
 save them from the hand of the ungodly.
  
 
  
5
 They will not be learned nor understand, but walk on still in darkness *
 all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
  
 
  
6
 I have said, Ye are gods *
 and ye are all the children of the most Highest.
  
 
  
7
 But ye shall die like men *
 and fall like one of the princes.
  
 
  
8
 Arise, O God, and judge thou the earth *
 for thou shalt take all heathen to thine inheritance.
  
 

Psalm 83

  
 

  
1
 Hold not thy tongue, O God, keep not still silence *
 refrain not thyself, O God.
  
 
  
2
 For lo, thine enemies make a murmuring *
 and they that hate thee have lift up their head.
  
 
  
3
 They have imagined craftily against thy people *
 and taken counsel against thy secret ones.
  
 
  
4
 They have said, Come, and let us root them out, that they be no more a people *
 and that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
  
 
  
5
 For they have cast their heads together with one consent *
 and are confederate against thee;
  
 
  
6
 The tabernacles of the Edomites, and the Ismaelites *
 the Moabites, and Hagarens;
  
 
  
7
 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek *
 the Philistines, with them that dwell at Tyre.
  
 
  
8
 Assur also is joined with them *
 and have holpen the children of Lot.
  
 
  
9
 But do thou to them as unto the Madianites *
 unto Sisera, and unto Jabin at the brook of Kison;
  
 
  
10
 Who perished at Endor *
 and became as the dung of the earth.
  
 
  
11
 Make them and their princes like Oreb and Zeb *
 yea, make all their princes like as Zeba and Salmana;
  
 
  
12
 Who say, Let us take to ourselves *
 the houses of God in possession.
  
 
  
13
 O my God, make them like unto a wheel *
 and as the stubble before the wind;
  
 
  
14
 Like as the fire that burneth up the wood *
 and as the flame that consumeth the mountains.
  
 
  
15
 Persecute them even so with thy tempest *
 and make them afraid with thy storm.
  
 
  
16
 Make their faces ashamed, O Lord *
 that they may seek thy Name.
  
 
  
17
 Let them be confounded and vexed ever more and more *
 let them be put to shame, and perish.
  
 
  
18
 And they shall know that thou, whose Name is Jehovah *
 art only the most Highest over all the earth.
  
 

Psalm 84

  
 

  
1
 O how amiable are thy dwellings *
 thou Lord of hosts!
  
 
  
2
 My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord *
 my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
  
 
  
3
 Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young *
 even thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
  
 
  
4
 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house *
 they will be alway praising thee.
  
 
  
5
 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee *
 in whose heart are thy ways.
  
 
  
6
 Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well *
 and the pools are filled with water.
  
 
  
7
 They will go from strength to strength *
 and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion.
  
 
  
8
 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer *
 hearken, O God of Jacob.
  
 
  
9
 Behold, O God our defender *
 and look upon the face of thine Anointed.
  
 
  
10
 For one day in thy courts *
 is better than a thousand.
  
 
  
11
 I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God *
 than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
  
 
  
12
 For the Lord God is a light and defence *
 the Lord will give grace and worship, and no good thing shall he withhold from them that live a godly life.
  
 
  
13
 O Lord God of hosts *
 blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee.
  
 

Psalm 85

  
 

  
1
 Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land *
 thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
  
 
  
2
 Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy people *
 and covered all their sins.
  
 
  
3
 Thou hast taken away all thy displeasure *
 and turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.
  
 
  
4
 Turn us then, O God our Saviour *
 and let thine anger cease from us.
  
 
  
5
 Wilt thou be displeased at us for ever *
 and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?
  
 
  
6
 Wilt thou not turn again, and quicken us *
 that thy people may rejoice in thee?
  
 
  
7
 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord *
 and grant us thy salvation.
  
 
  
8
 I will hearken what the Lord God will say concerning me *
 for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, that they turn not again.
  
 
  
9
 For his salvation is nigh them that fear him *
 that glory may dwell in our land.
  
 
  
10
 Mercy and truth are met together *
 righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
  
 
  
11
 Truth shall flourish out of the earth *
 and righteousness hath looked down from heaven.
  
 
  
12
 Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kindness *
 and our land shall give her increase.
  
 
  
13
 Righteousness shall go before him *
 and he shall direct his going in the way.
  
 
     
    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: Deuteronomy 32.15-47

But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
 And when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.
 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
 I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.
 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
 I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord hath not done all this.
 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.
 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!
 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?
 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.
 For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:
 Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps.
 Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures?
 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.
 For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.
 And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,
 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? let them rise up and help you, and be your protection.
 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.
 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.
 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.
 Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.
 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea the son of Nun.
 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel:
 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

       
  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: 1 John 4.1-6

 

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

     
  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 King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.
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.