Evening Prayer from
    The Book of Common Prayer
    Friday, 14 November 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 73

  
 

  
1
 Truly God is loving unto Israel *
 even unto such as are of a clean heart.
  
 
  
2
 Nevertheless, my feet were almost gone *
 my treadings had well-nigh slipt.
  
 
  
3
 And why? I was grieved at the wicked *
 I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.
  
 
  
4
 For they are in no peril of death *
 but are lusty and strong.
  
 
  
5
 They come in no misfortune like other folk *
 neither are they plagued like other men.
  
 
  
6
 And this is the cause that they are so holden with pride *
 and overwhelmed with cruelty.
  
 
  
7
 Their eyes swell with fatness *
 and they do even what they lust.
  
 
  
8
 They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy *
 their talking is against the most High.
  
 
  
9
 For they stretch forth their mouth unto the heaven *
 and their tongue goeth through the world.
  
 
  
10
 Therefore fall the people unto them *
 and thereout suck they no small advantage.
  
 
  
11
 Tush, say they, how should God perceive it *
 is there knowledge in the most High?
  
 
  
12
 Lo, these are the ungodly, these prosper in the world, and these have riches in possession *
 and I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, and washed mine hands in innocency.
  
 
  
13
 All the day long have I been punished *
 and chastened every morning.
  
 
  
14
 Yea, and I had almost said even as they *
 but lo, then I should have condemned the generation of thy children.
  
 
  
15
 Then thought I to understand this *
 but it was too hard for me,
  
 
  
16
 Until I went into the sanctuary of God *
 then understood I the end of these men;
  
 
  
17
 Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery places *
 and castest them down, and destroyest them.
  
 
  
18
 O how suddenly do they consume *
 perish, and come to a fearful end!
  
 
  
19
 Yea, even like as a dream when one awaketh *
 so shalt thou make their image to vanish out of the city.
  
 
  
20
 Thus my heart was grieved *
 and it went even through my reins.
  
 
  
21
 So foolish was I, and ignorant *
 even as it were a beast before thee.
  
 
  
22
 Nevertheless, I am alway by thee *
 for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
  
 
  
23
 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel *
 and after that receive me with glory.
  
 
  
24
 Whom have I in heaven but thee *
 and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparison of thee.
  
 
  
25
 My flesh and my heart faileth *
 but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
  
 
  
26
 For lo, they that forsake thee shall perish *
 thou hast destroyed all them that commit fornication against thee.
  
 
  
27
 But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, to put my trust in the Lord God *
 and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
  
 

Psalm 74

  
 

  
1
 O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long *
 why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture?
  
 
  
2
 O think upon thy congregation *
 whom thou hast purchased, and redeemed of old.
  
 
  
3
 Think upon the tribe of thine inheritance *
 and mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
  
 
  
4
 Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every enemy *
 which hath done evil in thy sanctuary.
  
 
  
5
 Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congregations *
 and set up their banners for tokens.
  
 
  
6
 He that hewed timber afore out of the thick trees *
 was known to bring it to an excellent work.
  
 
  
7
 But now they break down all the carved work thereof *
 with axes and hammers.
  
 
  
8
 They have set fire upon thy holy places *
 and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even unto the ground.
  
 
  
9
 Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havock of them altogether *
 thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.
  
 
  
10
 We see not our tokens, there is not one prophet more *
 no, not one is there among us, that understandeth any more.
  
 
  
11
 O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonour *
 how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name, for ever?
  
 
  
12
 Why withdrawest thou thy hand *
 why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume the enemy?
  
 
  
13
 For God is my King of old *
 the help that is done upon earth he doeth it himself.
  
 
  
14
 Thou didst divide the sea through thy power *
 thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
  
 
  
15
 Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in pieces *
 and gavest him to be meat for the people in the wilderness.
  
 
  
16
 Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hard rocks *
 thou driedst up mighty waters.
  
 
  
17
 The day is thine, and the night is thine *
 thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
  
 
  
18
 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth *
 thou hast made summer and winter.
  
 
  
19
 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath rebuked *
 and how the foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.
  
 
  
20
 O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the enemies *
 and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever.
  
 
  
21
 Look upon the covenant *
 for all the earth is full of darkness, and cruel habitations.
  
 
  
22
 O let not the simple go away ashamed *
 but let the poor and needy give praise unto thy Name.
  
 
  
23
 Arise, O God, maintain thine own cause *
 remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.
  
 
  
24
 Forget not the voice of thine enemies *
 the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth ever more and more.
  
 

     
    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: Daniel 7.1-14

 

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.
Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
 The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

       
  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: Revelation 9.1-12

 

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.
 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.
 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.
 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.
 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter.

     
  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, 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.
     
     
  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
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