Evening Prayer (Evensong) in Contemporary Language

¶ Evening Prayer on Wednesday
Wednesday, 14 October 2026

Preparation

O God, make speed to save us.
AllO Lord, make haste to help us.

The Blessing of Light (page 110) may replace the Preparation at Evening Prayer on any occasion.

One or more of the following is said or sung:

A prayer of thanksgiving (page 110),

Blessed are you, Lord God, creator of day and night:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
As darkness falls you renew your promise
to reveal among us the light of your presence.
By the light of Christ, your living Word,
dispel the darkness of our hearts
that we may walk as children of light
and sing your praise throughout the world.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
AllBlessed be God for ever.

or a suitable hymn,

or A Song of God’s Descending

1I love you, O Lord my strength. ♦
The Lord is my crag, my fortress and my deliverer.

2In my distress I called upon the Lord ♦
and cried out to my God for help.

3He heard my voice in his temple ♦
and my cry came to his ears.

4He parted the heavens and came down ♦
and thick darkness was under his feet.

5He rode upon the cherubim and flew; ♦
he came flying on the wings of the wind.

6He made darkness his covering round about him, ♦
dark waters and thick clouds his pavilion.

7From the brightness of his presence, through the clouds ♦
burst hailstones and coals of fire.

8The Lord also thundered out of heaven; ♦
the Most High uttered his voice
with hailstones and coals of fire.

9For you will save a lowly people ♦
and bring down the high looks of the proud.

10You also shall light my candle; ♦
the Lord my God shall make my darkness to be bright.

11As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is tried in the fire; ♦
he is a shield to all who trust in him.

Psalm 18.1, 6, 7 ,10-14, 28, 29, 31

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

This opening prayer may be said

That this evening may be holy, good and peaceful,
let us pray with one heart and mind.

Silence is kept.

As our evening prayer rises before you, O God,
so may your mercy come down upon us
to cleanse our hearts
and set us free to sing your praise
now and for ever.
AllAmen.

The Word of God

Psalmody

The appointed psalmody is said.

Psalm 119.129-152

Refrain: The opening of your word gives light.

129 Your testimonies are wonderful; ♦
therefore my soul keeps them.

130 The opening of your word gives light; ♦
it gives understanding to the simple.

131 I open my mouth and draw in my breath, ♦
as I long for your commandments.

132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, ♦
as is your way with those who love your name. R

133 Order my steps by your word, ♦
and let no wickedness have dominion over me.

134 Redeem me from earthly oppressors ♦
so that I may keep your commandments.

135 Show the light of your countenance upon your servant ♦
and teach me your statutes.

136 My eyes run down with streams of water, ♦
because the wicked do not keep your law.

137 Righteous are you, O Lord, ♦
and true are your judgements.

138 You have ordered your decrees in righteousness ♦
and in great faithfulness.

139 My indignation destroys me, ♦
because my adversaries forget your word.

140 Your word has been tried to the uttermost ♦
and so your servant loves it. R

141 I am small and of no reputation, ♦
yet do I not forget your commandments.

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness ♦
and your law is the truth.

143 Trouble and heaviness have taken hold upon me, ♦
yet my delight is in your commandments.

144 The righteousness of your testimonies is everlasting; ♦
O grant me understanding and I shall live. R

145 I call with my whole heart; ♦
answer me, O Lord, that I may keep your statutes.

146 To you I call, O save me! ♦
And I shall keep your testimonies.

147 Early in the morning I cry to you, ♦
for in your word is my trust.

148 My eyes are open before the night watches, ♦
that I may meditate on your word. R

149 Hear my voice, O Lord, according to your faithful love; ♦
according to your judgement, give me life.

150 They draw near that in malice persecute me, ♦
who are far from your law.

151 You, O Lord, are near at hand, ♦
and all your commandments are true.

152 Long have I known of your testimonies, ♦
that you have founded them for ever.

Refrain: The opening of your word gives light.

Lord, you are just
and your commandments are eternal;
teach us to love you with all our heart
and our neighbour as ourselves,
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Each psalm or group of psalms may end with

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

If there are two Scripture readings, the first may be read here, or both may be read after the canticle.

Ecclesiasticus 24.1-22

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Wisdom praises herself,
   and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.
In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
   and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:
‘I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,
   and covered the earth like a mist.
I dwelt in the highest heavens,
   and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
Alone I compassed the vault of heaven
   and traversed the depths of the abyss.
Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,
   and over every people and nation I have held sway.
Among all these I sought a resting-place;
   in whose territory should I abide?

‘Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,
   and my Creator chose the place for my tent.
He said, “Make your dwelling in Jacob,
   and in Israel receive your inheritance.”
Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,
   and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.
In the holy tent I ministered before him,
   and so I was established in Zion.
Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting-place,
   and in Jerusalem was my domain.
I took root in an honoured people,
   in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.

‘I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon,
   and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.
I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi,
   and like rose-bushes in Jericho;
like a fair olive tree in the field,
   and like a plane tree beside water I grew tall.
Like cassia and camel’s thorn I gave forth perfume,
   and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,
like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,
   and like the odour of incense in the tent.
Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,
   and my branches are glorious and graceful.
Like the vine I bud forth delights,
   and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit.

‘Come to me, you who desire me,
   and eat your fill of my fruits.
For the memory of me is sweeter than honey,
   and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.
Those who eat of me will hunger for more,
   and those who drink of me will thirst for more.
Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,
   and those who work with me will not sin.’

or Ezekiel 33.21-end

Canticle

A Song of the Blessed, or another suitable canticle,
for example, number 69 (page 627), may be said

Refrain:

AllRejoice and be glad
for you are the light of the world,
and great is your reward in heaven. Alleluia.

1Blessed are the poor in spirit, ♦
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2Blessed are those who mourn, ♦
for they shall be comforted.

3Blessed are the meek, ♦
for they shall inherit the earth.

4Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst after righteousness, ♦
for they shall be satisfied.

5Blessed are the merciful, ♦
for they shall obtain mercy.

6Blessed are the pure in heart, ♦
for they shall see God.

7Blessed are the peacemakers, ♦
for they shall be called children of God.

8Blessed are those who suffer persecution
for righteousness’ sake, ♦
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5.3-10

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllRejoice and be glad
for you are the light of the world,
and great is your reward in heaven. Alleluia.

Scripture Reading

One or more readings appointed for the day are read.

The reading(s) may be followed by a time of silence.

John 13.21-30

After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, ‘Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, ‘Lord, who is it?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.’ So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, ‘Do quickly what you are going to do.’ Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, ‘Buy what we need for the festival’; or, that he should give something to the poor. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

A suitable song or chant, or a responsory in this or another form, may follow

Lord, you will guide me with your counsel
and afterwards receive me with glory.
AllLord, you will guide me with your counsel
and afterwards receive me with glory.
For I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
AllAnd afterwards receive me with glory.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
AllLord, you will guide me with your counsel
and afterwards receive me with glory.

from Psalm 73

Gospel Canticle

The Magnificat (The Song of Mary) is normally said,
or the Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) (page 613) may be said

AllRemember your promise of mercy,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

1My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; ♦
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.

2From this day all generations will call me blessed; ♦
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.

3He has mercy on those who fear him, ♦
from generation to generation.

4He has shown strength with his arm ♦
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,

5Casting down the mighty from their thrones ♦
and lifting up the lowly.

6He has filled the hungry with good things ♦
and sent the rich away empty.

7He has come to the aid of his servant Israel, ♦
to remember his promise of mercy,

8The promise made to our ancestors, ♦
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Luke 1.46-55

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllRemember your promise of mercy,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Prayers

Thanksgiving may be made for the day.

Intercessions are offered
¶ for peace
¶ for individuals and their needs

Prayers may include the following concerns from the cycle on pages 362–363

¶ The social services
¶ All who work in the criminal justice system
¶ Victims and perpetrators of crime
¶ The work of aid agencies throughout the world
¶ Those living in poverty or under oppression

One of the forms of prayer found on pages 362–371 may be used.

These responses may be used

Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer

(or)

Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Silence may be kept.

The Collect of the day is said

O God, forasmuch as without you
we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
AllAmen.

The Lord’s Prayer is said

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

AllOur Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.

(or)

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

AllOur Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who 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.

The Conclusion

All The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore.
Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.
AllThanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.