Compline
A Form of Night Prayer
The office said at the close of day. The day begun in Morning Prayer is here ended in the Lord’s keeping.
THE OPENING
The Minister and People being assembled, all shall kneel, and silence shall be kept for a space.
| Minister. The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. | People. Amen. |
| Minister. Brethren, be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist, stedfast in the faith. | People. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us. |
| Minister. Thanks be to God. |
THE CONFESSION
Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.
Silence may be kept for the examination of conscience.
All. Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men; We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Priest, if present, shall stand and say,
Priest. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
If no Priest be present, the Minister shall say,
Minister. 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. Amen.
All shall stand.
| Minister. O God, make speed to save us. | People. O Lord, make haste to help us. |
| Minister. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; | People. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
| Minister. Praise ye the Lord. | People. The Lord’s Name be praised. |
From Easter Day through the week following, Alleluia may be added.
THE PSALMODY
One or more of the following Psalms shall be said. Psalm 4 is suitable as the ordinary nightly Psalm; Psalms 31, 91, and 134 may be added or used according to need. The Gloria Patri shall follow each Psalm.
Psalm 4 · Cum invocarem
1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer.
2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine honour: and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after leasing?
3 Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is godly: when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart in your chamber, and be still.
5 Offer the sacrifice of righteousness: and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There be many that say: Who will show us any good?
7 Lord, lift thou up: the light of thy countenance upon us.
8 Thou hast put gladness in my heart: since the time that their corn and wine and oil increased.
9 I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest: for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwell in safety.
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.
Psalm 31:1–6 · In te, Domine, speravi
1 In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion; deliver me in thy righteousness.
2 Bow down thine ear to me: make haste to deliver me.
3 And be thou my strong rock, and house of defence: that thou mayest save me.
4 For thou art my strong rock, and my castle: be thou also my guide, and lead me for thy Name’s sake.
5 Draw me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
6 Into thy hands I commend my spirit: for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth.
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.
Psalm 91 · Qui habitat
1 Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold: my God, in him will I trust.
3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter: and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers: his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night: nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness: nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day.
7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold: and see the reward of the ungodly.
9 For thou, Lord, art my hope: thou hast set thine house of defence very high.
10 There shall no evil happen unto thee: neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee in their hands: that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him up, because he hath known my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him: yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour.
16 With long life will I satisfy him: and show him my salvation.
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.
Psalm 134 · Ecce nunc
1 Behold now, praise the Lord: all ye servants of the Lord;
2 Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord: even in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary: and praise the Lord.
4 The Lord that made heaven and earth: give thee blessing out of Sion.
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 LESSON
One of the following sentences shall be read. The first is suitable for ordinary use.
Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy Name; leave us not, O Lord our God. Jeremiah xiv. 9.
Or this.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. St. Matthew xi. 28, 29.
Or this.
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews xiii. 20, 21.
Reader. Here endeth the Lesson.
THE SHORT RESPONSORY
| Minister. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. | People. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. |
| Minister. For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth. | People. I commend my spirit. |
| Minister. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. | People. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. |
| Minister. Keep me as the apple of an eye; | People. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings. |
NUNC DIMITTIS
The following Antiphon shall be said before and after the Canticle.
Preserve us, O Lord, waking, and guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Nunc dimittis · St. Luke ii. 29
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.
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.
Preserve us, O Lord, waking, and guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
THE PRAYERS
All shall kneel.
| Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us. | People. Christ, have mercy upon us. |
| Minister. Lord, have mercy upon us. |
All. Our 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. Amen.
| Minister. Blessed art thou, Lord God of our fathers; | People. To be praised and glorified above all for ever. |
| Minister. Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; | People. Let us praise him and magnify him for ever. |
| Minister. Blessed art thou, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven; | People. To be praised and glorified above all for ever. |
| Minister. The Almighty and most merciful Lord guard us and give us his blessing. | People. Amen. |
| Minister. Wilt thou not turn again and quicken us; | People. That thy people may rejoice in thee? |
| Minister. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us; | People. And grant us thy salvation. |
| Minister. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this night without sin; | People. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. |
| Minister. O Lord, hear our prayer; | People. And let our cry come unto thee. |
Minister. Let us pray.
THE COLLECTS
Visit, we beseech thee, O Lord, this place, and drive from it all the snares of the enemy; let thy holy Angels dwell herein to preserve us in peace; and let thy blessing be upon us evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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. Amen.
Be present, O merciful God, and protect us through the silent hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may repose upon thy eternal changelessness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
One or more of the following may be added.
For Those in Any Affliction.
O merciful God, and heavenly Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; Look with pity, we beseech thee, upon the sorrows of thy servants for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy; nourish their souls with patience; comfort them with a sense of thy goodness; lift up thy countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Absent Ones.
O God, who art present in every place; Mercifully hear our prayers for those whom we love, now absent from us; watch over them, we beseech thee, and protect them in all anxiety, danger, and temptation; and grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may be bound together by thy love in the communion of thy Holy Spirit, and in the fellowship of thy saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Faithful Departed.
O eternal Lord God, who holdest all souls in life; We beseech thee to shed forth upon thy whole Church in paradise and on earth the bright beams of thy light and heavenly comfort; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served thee here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into the fulness of thine unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE CONCLUSION
| Minister. We will lay us down in peace and take our rest; | People. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety. |
| Minister. The Lord be with you. | People. And with thy spirit. |
| Minister. Let us bless the Lord. | People. Thanks be to God. |
The Priest, if present, shall give this blessing:
The Almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless us and preserve us. Amen.
If no Priest be present, the Minister shall say:
The Almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless us and preserve us. Amen.
Silence shall be kept after the Office.