Compline

An Order for Compline
or Prayer at the End of the Day

Minister. Turn us, O God our Saviour;
Answer. And let thine anger cease from us.
Minister. The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Answer. Amen.

BE sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith. 1 Peter 5:8–9a

But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us;
Answer. Thanks be to God.

Minister. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
Answer. Who hath made heaven and earth.

¶ Then, all kneeling, the Minister and people shall say,

WE confess to God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, through our own grievous fault. Wherefore we pray God to have mercy upon us.

Minister. May the Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Ghost.
Answer. Amen.

Minister. O God, make speed to save us;
Answer. O Lord, make haste to help us.

¶ Here, all standing, the Minister shall say,

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
Answer. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Minster. Praise ye the Lord;
Answer. The Lord’s Name be praised.

Ecce nunc. Psalm 134
BEHOLD, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord;*
Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord,
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.*
The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

¶ Or Psalm 4, 31, 33, 34, 91, or 136

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.

¶ Here a short LESSON of Scripture shall be read. A hymn may follow.

Minister. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit,
Answer. For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God
of truth.
Minister. Keep me as the apple of an eye;
Answer. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings.
Lord, have mercy upon us,
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed by 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. Lord, hear our prayer;
Answer. And let our cry come unto thee.

VISIT, we beseech thee, O Lord, this habitation: drive
far from it all snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels
dwell herein to preserve us in peace, and let thy blessing be
ever upon us, through 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.

¶ Other prayers may be added.

Anthem. Save us, O Lord, while waking, and defend us
while sleeping: that when we are awake we may
watch with Christ, and when we sleep we may rest
in peace.

Nunc dimittis. St. Luke 2:29–32
LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, *
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen *
thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared *
before the face of all people;
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.

Anthem. Save us, O Lord, while waking, and defend us
while sleeping: that when we are awake we may
watch with Christ, and when we sleep we may rest
in peace.

Minister. We will lay us down in peace and take our rest;
Answer. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in
safety.

Minister. Let us bless the Lord;
Answer. Thanks be to God.

THE Almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Ghost, bless us and keep us. Amen.

Get the PDF version of the Book of Occasional Services here.