Morning Prayer (Matins) in Traditional Language

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Please note: Daily Prayer provided by the official Church of England web site, © The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2002-2004.

				Morning Prayer from
				*The Book of Common Prayer*
				Wednesday, 10 December 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.
		¶		Morning 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.

				Venite, exultemus Domino

		1		O come, let us sing unto the Lord :
				let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.

		2		Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving :
				and shew ourselves glad in him with psalms.

		3		For the Lord is a great God :
				and a great King above all gods.

		4		In his hand are all the corners of the earth :
				and the strength of the hills is his also.

		5		The sea is his, and he made it :
				and his hands prepared the dry land.

		6		O come, let us worship, and fall down :
				and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

		7		For he is the Lord our God :
				and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

		[8		Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts :
				as in the provocation,
				and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness;

		9		When your fathers tempted me :
				proved me, and saw my works.

		10		Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said :
				It is a people that do err in their hearts,
				for they have not known my ways.

		11		Unto whom I sware in my wrath :
				that they should not enter into my rest.]
				Psalm 95

				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.

				Psalmody
				Psalm 50

		1		The Lord, even the most mighty God, hath spoken * and called the world, from the rising up of the sun, unto the going down thereof.

		2		Out of Sion hath God appeared * in perfect beauty.

		3		Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence * there shall go before him a consuming fire, and a mighty tempest shall be stirred up round about him.

		4		He shall call the heaven from above * and the earth, that he may judge his people.

		5		Gather my saints together unto me * those that have made a covenant with me with sacrifice.

		6		And the heaven shall declare his righteousness * for God is Judge himself.

		7		Hear, O my people, and I will speak * I myself will testify against thee, O Israel; for I am God, even thy God.

		8		I will not reprove thee because of thy sacrifices, or for thy burnt-offerings * because they were not alway before me.

		9		I will take no bullock out of thine house * nor he-goat out of thy folds.

		10		For all the beasts of the forest are mine * and so are the cattle upon a thousand hills.

		11		I know all the fowls upon the mountains * and the wild beasts of the field are in my sight.

		12		If I be hungry, I will not tell thee * for the whole world is mine, and all that is therein.

		13		Thinkest thou that I will eat bulls’ flesh * and drink the blood of goats?

		14		Offer unto God thanksgiving * and pay thy vows unto the most Highest.

		15		And call upon me in the time of trouble * so will I hear thee, and thou shalt praise me.

		16		But unto the ungodly said God * Why dost thou preach my laws, and takest my covenant in thy mouth;

		17		Whereas thou hatest to be reformed * and hast cast my words behind thee?

		18		When thou sawest a thief, thou consentedst unto him * and hast been partaker with the adulterers.

		19		Thou hast let thy mouth speak wickedness * and with thy tongue thou hast set forth deceit.

		20		Thou satest, and spakest against thy brother * yea, and hast slandered thine own mother’s son.

		21		These things hast thou done, and I held my tongue, and thou thoughtest wickedly, that I am even such a one as thyself * but I will reprove thee, and set before thee the things that thou hast done.

		22		O consider this, ye that forget God * lest I pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you.

		23		Whoso offereth me thanks and praise, he honoureth me * and to him that ordereth his conversation right will I shew the salvation of God.
				Psalm 51

		1		Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.

		2		Wash me throughly from my wickedness * and cleanse me from my sin.

		3		For I acknowledge my faults * and my sin is ever before me.

		4		Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

		5		Behold, I was shapen in wickedness * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.

		6		But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

		7		Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

		8		Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

		9		Turn thy face from my sins * and put out all my misdeeds.

		10		Make me a clean heart, O God * and renew a right spirit within me.

		11		Cast me not away from thy presence * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.

		12		O give me the comfort of thy help again * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

		13		Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

		14		Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.

		15		Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord * and my mouth shall shew thy praise.

		16		For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.

		17		The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.

		18		O be favourable and gracious unto Sion * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

		19		Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.
				Psalm 52

		1		Why boastest thou thyself, thou tyrant * that thou canst do mischief;

		2		Whereas the goodness of God * endureth yet daily?

		3		Thy tongue imagineth wickedness * and with lies thou cuttest like a sharp razor.

		4		Thou hast loved unrighteousness more than goodness * and to talk of lies more than righteousness.

		5		Thou hast loved to speak all words that may do hurt * O thou false tongue.

		6		Therefore shall God destroy thee for ever * he shall take thee, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling, and root thee out of the land of the living.

		7		The righteous also shall see this, and fear * and shall laugh him to scorn;

		8		Lo, this is the man that took not God for his strength * but trusted unto the multitude of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.

		9		As for me, I am like a green olive-tree in the house of God * my trust is in the tender mercy of God for ever and ever.

		10		I will always give thanks unto thee for that thou hast done * and I will hope in thy Name, for thy saints like it well.


				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 31 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together. For thus hath the Lord spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it. Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin. Then shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited. And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the Lord, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

				Te Deum Laudamus

				Either the Te Deum Laudamus (as follows) or Benedicite, omnia opera is said or sung.

				We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
				All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
				To thee all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein.
				To thee cherubin and seraphin continually do cry,
				Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
				Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
				The glorious company of the apostles praise thee.
				The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
				The noble army of martyrs praise thee.
				The holy Church throughout all the world doth acknowledge thee:
				the Father of an infinite majesty;
				thine honourable, true and only Son;
				also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.

				Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
				Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
				When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,
				thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.
				When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
				thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
				Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
				We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.
				We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,
				whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
				Make them to be numbered with thy saints in glory everlasting.

				O Lord, save thy people and bless thine heritage.
				Govern them and lift them up for ever.
				Day by day we magnify thee;
				and we worship thy name, ever world without end.
				Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.
				O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.
				O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us, as our trust is in thee.
				O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

				New Testament Reading
				Second Reading: Matthew 15.1-20 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

				Benedictus

				Either The Benedictus (as follows) or Jubilate Deo (Psalm 100) is said or sung.

		1		Blessed be the Lord God of Israel :
				for he hath visited, and redeemed his people;

		2		And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us :
				in the house of his servant David;

		3		As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets :
				which have been since the world began;

		4		That we should be saved from our enemies :
				and from the hands of all that hate us;

		5		To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers :
				and to remember his holy covenant;

		6		To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham :
				that he would give us,

		7		That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies :
				might serve him without fear,

		8		In holiness and righteousness before him :
				all the days of our life.

		9		And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest :
				for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

		10		To give knowledge of salvation unto his people :
				for the remission of their sins;

		11		Through the tender mercy of our God :
				whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;

		12		To give light to them that sit in darkness,
				and in the shadow of death :
				and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
				Luke 1.68-79

				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

				Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever.
		All		Amen.


				The Collect for Peace

				O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord,
				in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life,
				whose service is perfect freedom;
				defend us thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies;
				that we, surely trusting in thy defence,
				may not fear the power of any adversaries;
				through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord.
		All		Amen.

				The Collect for Grace

				O Lord, our heavenly Father,
				almighty and everlasting God,
				who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day;
				defend us in the same with thy mighty power;
				and grant that this day we fall into no sin,
				neither run into any kind of danger,
				but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance,
				to do always that is righteous in thy sight;
				through Jesus Christ our Lord.
		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.

Daily Prayer

Morning Prayer (Matins) in Traditional Language

Psalm 50

Psalm 51

Psalm 52

First Reading: Isaiah 31

Second Reading: Matthew 15.1-20