Liturgical color: Green
The Feast of Constance & her Companions
Martyrs of Memphis
The leader reads regular text. The people read bold text.
Liturgical color: Green
The Feast of Constance & her Companions
Martyrs of Memphis
The leader reads regular text. The people read bold text.
Gratitude
The office you have just prayed lives, in print, in the Book of Common Prayer, the St. Bernard Breviary, and the New Coverdale Psalter — kept and bound by Anglican Liturgy Press, custodians of these texts for the Anglican Church in North America. A screen holds the hour; a book keeps the years. Should this tradition grow dear to you, consider holding it in the hand, as the faithful have done for millennia before us.
See the Printed BooksThe Officiant begins
The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.
Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
The maker of heaven and earth.
The Officiant continues
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
Silence may be kept. The Officiant and People then say
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your 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 apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.
Almighty God and Father, we confess to you,
to one another, and to the whole company of heaven,
that we have sinned, through our own fault,
in thought, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone.
For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ,
have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins,
and by the power of your Holy Spirit
raise us up to serve you in newness of life,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Officiant alone says
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, desires not the death of sinners, but that they may turn from their wickedness and live. He has empowered and commanded his ministers to pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all who truly repent and genuinely believe his holy Gospel. For this reason, we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that our present deeds may please him, the rest of our lives may be pure and holy, and that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.
May Almighty God grant us forgiveness of all our sins, and the grace and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Alleluia.
One or more of the following, or some other suitable Psalm, is sung or said.
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness; you set me free when I was in trouble; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
O you children of men, how long will you blaspheme my honor, and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek after falsehood?
Know this also, that the Lord has chosen for himself the one that is godly; when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
Offer the sacrifice of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord.
There are many that say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart, more than when others’ grain and wine and oil increased.
I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for you, Lord, only, make me dwell in safety.
בְּקָרְאִ֡י עֲנֵ֤נִי ׀ אֱלֹ֘הֵ֤י צִדְקִ֗י בַּ֭צָּר הִרְחַ֣בְתָּ לִּ֑י חָ֝נֵּ֗נִי וּשְׁמַ֥ע תְּפִלָּתִֽי׃
בְּנֵ֥י אִ֡ישׁ עַד־מֶ֬ה כְבוֹדִ֣י לִ֭כְלִמָּה תֶּאֱהָב֣וּן רִ֑יק תְּבַקְשׁ֖וּ כָזָ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃
וּדְע֗וּ כִּֽי־הִפְלָ֣ה יְ֭הוָה חָסִ֣יד ל֑וֹ יְהוָ֥ה יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע בְּקָרְאִ֥י אֵלָֽיו׃
רִגְז֗וּ וְֽאַל־תֶּ֫חֱטָ֥אוּ אִמְר֣וּ בִ֭לְבַבְכֶם עַֽל־מִשְׁכַּבְכֶ֗ם וְדֹ֣מּוּ סֶֽלָה׃
זִבְח֥וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק וּ֝בִטְח֗וּ אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃
רַבִּ֥ים אֹמְרִים֮ מִֽי־יַרְאֵ֪נ֫וּ ט֥וֹב נְֽסָה־עָ֭לֵינוּ א֨וֹר פָּנֶ֬יךָ יְהוָֽה׃
נָתַ֣תָּה שִׂמְחָ֣ה בְלִבִּ֑י מֵעֵ֬ת דְּגָנָ֖ם וְתִֽירוֹשָׁ֣ם רָֽבּוּ׃
בְּשָׁל֣וֹם יַחְדָּו֮ אֶשְׁכְּבָ֪ה וְאִ֫ישָׁ֥ן כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֣ה לְבָדָ֑ד לָ֝בֶ֗טַח תּוֹשִׁיבֵֽנִי׃
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
In you, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion; deliver me in your righteousness.
Bow down your ear to me, make haste to deliver me,
And be my strong rock and house of defense, that you may save me.
For you are my strong rock and my castle; be also my guide, and lead me for your Name’s sake.
Draw me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me, for you are my strength.
Into your hands I commend my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
בְּךָ֖ יְהוָ֣ה חָ֭סִיתִי אַל־אֵב֣וֹשָׁה לְעוֹלָ֑ם בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ פַלְּטֵֽנִי׃
הַטֵּ֤ה אֵלַ֨י ׀ אָזְנְךָ֮ מְהֵרָ֪ה הַצִּ֫ילֵ֥נִי הֱיֵ֤ה לִ֨י ׀ לְֽצוּר־מָ֭עוֹז לְבֵ֥ית מְצוּד֗וֹת לְהוֹשִׁיעֵֽנִי׃
כִּֽי־סַלְעִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֣י אָ֑תָּה וּלְמַ֥עַן שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ תַּֽנְחֵ֥נִי וּֽתְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃
תּוֹצִיאֵ֗נִי מֵרֶ֣שֶׁת ז֭וּ טָ֣מְנוּ לִ֑י כִּֽי־אַ֝תָּה מָֽעוּזִּֽי׃
בְּיָדְךָ֮ אַפְקִ֪יד ר֫וּחִ֥י פָּדִ֖יתָה אוֹתִ֥י יְהוָ֗ה אֵ֣ל אֱמֶֽת׃
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Whoever dwells under the defense of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say unto the Lord, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, my God in whom I will trust.”
For he shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter and from the deadly pestilence.
He shall defend you under his wings, and you shall be safe under his feathers; his faithfulness and truth shall be your shield and buckler.
You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
Of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.
A thousand shall fall beside you, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
Indeed, with your eyes you shall behold and see the reward of the ungodly.
Because you have said, “The Lord is my refuge,” and have made the Most High your stronghold,
There shall no evil happen to you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you in their hands, that you hurt not your foot against a stone.
You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under your feet.
“Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; I will lift him up, because he has known my Name.
He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; indeed, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him and bring him honor.
With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.”
יֹ֭שֵׁב בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן בְּצֵ֥ל שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יִתְלוֹנָֽן׃
אֹמַ֗ר לַֽ֭יהוָה מַחְסִ֣י וּמְצוּדָתִ֑י אֱ֝לֹהַ֗י אֶבְטַח־בּֽוֹ׃
כִּ֤י ה֣וּא יַ֭צִּֽילְךָ מִפַּ֥ח יָק֗וּשׁ מִדֶּ֥בֶר הַוּֽוֹת׃
בְּאֶבְרָת֨וֹ ׀ יָ֣סֶךְ לָ֭ךְ וְתַֽחַת־כְּנָפָ֣יו תֶּחְסֶ֑ה צִנָּ֖ה וְֽסֹחֵרָ֣ה אֲמִתּֽוֹ׃
לֹא־תִ֭ירָא מִפַּ֣חַד לָ֑יְלָה מֵ֝חֵ֗ץ יָע֥וּף יוֹמָֽם׃
מִ֭דֶּבֶר בָּאֹ֣פֶל יַהֲלֹ֑ךְ מִ֝קֶּ֗טֶב יָשׁ֥וּד צָהֳרָֽיִם׃
יִפֹּ֤ל מִצִּדְּךָ֨ ׀ אֶ֗לֶף וּרְבָבָ֥ה מִימִינֶ֑ךָ אֵ֝לֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א יִגָּֽשׁ׃
רַ֭ק בְּעֵינֶ֣יךָ תַבִּ֑יט וְשִׁלֻּמַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תִּרְאֶֽה׃
כִּֽי־אַתָּ֣ה יְהוָ֣ה מַחְסִ֑י עֶ֝לְי֗וֹן שַׂ֣מְתָּ מְעוֹנֶֽךָ׃
לֹֽא־תְאֻנֶּ֣ה אֵלֶ֣יךָ רָעָ֑ה וְ֝נֶ֗גַע לֹא־יִקְרַ֥ב בְּאָהֳלֶֽךָ׃
כִּ֣י מַ֭לְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּ֑ךְ לִ֝שְׁמָרְךָ֗ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶֽיךָ׃
עַל־כַּפַּ֥יִם יִשָּׂא֑וּנְךָ פֶּן־תִּגֹּ֖ף בָּאֶ֣בֶן רַגְלֶֽךָ׃
עַל־שַׁ֣חַל וָפֶ֣תֶן תִּדְרֹ֑ךְ תִּרְמֹ֖ס כְּפִ֣יר וְתַנִּֽין׃
כִּ֤י בִ֣י חָ֭שַׁק וַאֲפַלְּטֵ֑הוּ אֲ֝שַׂגְּבֵ֗הוּ כִּֽי־יָדַ֥ע שְׁמִֽי׃
יִקְרָאֵ֨נִי ׀ וְֽאֶעֱנֵ֗הוּ עִמּֽוֹ־אָנֹכִ֥י בְצָרָ֑ה אֲ֝חַלְּצֵ֗הוּ וַֽאֲכַבְּדֵֽהוּ׃
אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֭מִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝אַרְאֵ֗הוּ בִּֽישׁוּעָתִֽי׃
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Behold now, praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
You that stand by night in the house of the Lord, even in the courts of the house of our God.
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and sing praises unto the Lord.
The Lord who made heaven and earth give you blessing out of Zion.
שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת הִנֵּ֤ה ׀ בָּרֲכ֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־עַבְדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הָעֹמְדִ֥ים בְּבֵית־יְ֝הוָ֗ה בַּלֵּילֽוֹת׃
שְׂאֽוּ־יְדֵכֶ֥ם קֹ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝בָרֲכוּ אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃
יְבָרֶכְךָ֣ יְ֭הוָה מִצִּיּ֑וֹן עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host were encamped against me, yet my heart would not be afraid, and though war rose up against me, yet would I put my trust in him.
One thing have I desired of the Lord; one thing I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
To behold the fair beauty of the Lord, and to seek him in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle; indeed, in the secret place of his dwelling he shall hide me, and set me high upon a rock of stone.
And now he shall lift up my head above my enemies round about me.
Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness; I will sing and speak praises unto the Lord.
Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I cry unto you; have mercy upon me and hear me.
You speak to my heart and say, “Seek my face.” Your face, O Lord, will I seek.
O hide not your face from me, nor cast your servant away in displeasure.
You have been my helper; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord takes me in.
Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in the right way, because of my enemies.
Deliver me not over to the will of my adversaries, for there are false witnesses who have risen up against me, and those who speak wrong.
I would utterly have fainted, had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
O wait for the Lord; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart. O put your trust in the Lord.
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יְהוָ֤ה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יְהוָ֥ה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃
בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮ לֶאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י צָרַ֣י וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃
אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮ לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃
אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יְהוָה֮ אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יְ֭הוָה כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יְ֝הוָ֗ה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃
כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃
וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיהוָֽה׃
שְׁמַע־יְהוָ֖ה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃
לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יְהוָ֣ה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃
אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ ׀ מִמֶּנִּי֮ אַֽל־תַּט־בְּאַ֗ף עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ אַֽל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי וְאַל־תַּֽ֝עַזְבֵ֗נִי אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃
כִּי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי וַֽיהוָ֣ה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי׃
ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יְהוָ֗ה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃
אַֽל־תִּ֭תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס׃
לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּֽטוּב־יְהוָ֗ה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃
קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְה֫וָ֥ה חֲ֭זַק וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
O clap your hands together, all you peoples; O cry aloud unto God with shouts of joy.
For the Lord Most High is to be feared; he is the great King over all the earth.
He shall subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet.
He shall choose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loved.
God has gone up with a shout of triumph, the Lord with the sound of the trumpet.
O sing praises, sing praises unto our God; O sing praises, sing praises unto our King.
For God is the King of all the earth; think upon his mighty acts and praise him with a song.
God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples are gathered with the people of the God of Abraham; for the mighty upon earth have become the servants of the Lord, and he is very highly exalted.
כָּֽל־הָ֭עַמִּים תִּקְעוּ־כָ֑ף הָרִ֥יעוּ לֵ֝אלֹהִ֗ים בְּק֣וֹל רִנָּֽה׃
כִּֽי־יְהוָ֣ה עֶלְי֣וֹן נוֹרָ֑א מֶ֥לֶךְ גָּ֝דוֹל עַל־כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
יַדְבֵּ֣ר עַמִּ֣ים תַּחְתֵּ֑ינוּ וּ֝לְאֻמִּ֗ים תַּ֣חַת רַגְלֵֽינוּ׃
יִבְחַר־לָ֥נוּ אֶת־נַחֲלָתֵ֑נוּ אֶ֥ת גְּא֨וֹן יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֲשֶׁר־אָהֵ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃
עָלָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים בִּתְרוּעָ֑ה יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה בְּק֣וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃
זַמְּר֣וּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים זַמֵּ֑רוּ זַמְּר֖וּ לְמַלְכֵּ֣נוּ זַמֵּֽרוּ׃
כִּ֤י מֶ֖לֶךְ כָּל־הָאָ֥רֶץ אֱלֹהִ֗ים זַמְּר֥וּ מַשְׂכִּֽיל׃
מָלַ֣ךְ אֱ֭לֹהִים עַל־גּוֹיִ֑ם אֱ֝לֹהִ֗ים יָשַׁ֤ב ׀ עַל־כִּסֵּ֬א קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
נְדִ֘יבֵ֤י עַמִּ֨ים ׀ נֶאֱסָ֗פוּ עַם֮ אֱלֹהֵ֪י אַבְרָ֫הָ֥ם כִּ֣י לֵֽ֭אלֹהִים מָֽגִנֵּי־אֶ֗רֶץ מְאֹ֣ד נַעֲלָֽה׃
Great is the Lord and highly to be praised in the city of our God, even upon his holy hill.
The hill of Zion is beautiful and lofty; it is the joy of the whole earth.
Upon the north side lies the city of the great King; God is well known in her palaces as a sure refuge.
For behold, the kings of the earth have gathered and advanced together.
They marvelled to see such things; they were astonished and fled in terror.
Trembling came upon them, and anguish, as upon a woman in travail.
You caused the east wind to blow and broke apart the ships of Tarshish.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God; God upholds her for ever.
We wait for your loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of your temple.
O God, according to your Name, so is your praise to the world’s end; your right hand is full of righteousness.
Let Mount Zion rejoice, and the cities of Judah be glad, because of your judgments.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her; count the number of her towers.
Mark well her bulwarks, consider her strongholds, that you may tell those who come after.
This God is our God for ever and ever; he shall be our guide, even unto death.
גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יְהוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַר־קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
יְפֵ֥ה נוֹף֮ מְשׂ֪וֹשׂ כָּל־הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ הַר־צִ֭יּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵ֣י צָפ֑וֹן קִ֝רְיַ֗ת מֶ֣לֶךְ רָֽב׃
אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּאַרְמְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ נוֹדַ֥ע לְמִשְׂגָּֽב׃
כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה הַ֭מְּלָכִים נֽוֹעֲד֑וּ עָבְר֥וּ יַחְדָּֽו׃
הֵ֣מָּה רָ֭אוּ כֵּ֣ן תָּמָ֑הוּ נִבְהֲל֥וּ נֶחְפָּֽזוּ׃
רְ֭עָדָה אֲחָזָ֣תַם שָׁ֑ם חִ֝֗יל כַּיּוֹלֵֽדָה׃
בְּר֥וּחַ קָדִ֑ים תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֨עְנוּ ׀ כֵּ֤ן רָאִ֗ינוּ בְּעִיר־יְהוָ֣ה צְ֭בָאוֹת בְּעִ֣יר אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ אֱלֹ֘הִ֤ים יְכוֹנְנֶ֖הָ עַד־עוֹלָ֣ם סֶֽלָה׃
דִּמִּ֣ינוּ אֱלֹהִ֣ים חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ בְּ֝קֶ֗רֶב הֵיכָלֶֽךָ׃
כְּשִׁמְךָ֤ אֱלֹהִ֗ים כֵּ֣ן תְּ֭הִלָּתְךָ עַל־קַצְוֵי־אֶ֑רֶץ צֶ֝֗דֶק מָלְאָ֥ה יְמִינֶֽךָ׃
יִשְׂמַ֤ח ׀ הַר־צִיּ֗וֹן תָּ֭גֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְ֝מַ֗עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶֽיךָ׃
סֹ֣בּוּ צִ֭יּוֹן וְהַקִּיפ֑וּהָ סִ֝פְר֗וּ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ׃
שִׁ֤יתוּ לִבְּכֶ֨ם ׀ לְֽחֵילָ֗ה פַּסְּג֥וּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֥עַן תְּ֝סַפְּר֗וּ לְד֣וֹר אַחֲרֽוֹן׃
כִּ֤י זֶ֨ה ׀ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֵינוּ עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד ה֖וּא יְנַהֲגֵ֣נוּ עַל־מֽוּת׃
Hear this, all you peoples; ponder it with your ears, all who dwell in the world,
High and low, rich and poor, everyone with his neighbor.
My mouth shall speak of wisdom, and my heart shall muse on understanding.
I will incline my ear to a parable, and declare my dark sayings with the harp.
Why should I fear in the days of wickedness, and when the wicked at my heels encompass me round about?
There are some who put their trust in their goods, and boast in the multitude of their riches.
But no one can deliver his brother, nor pay unto God a price for him;
For it is so costly to redeem their souls, that we should never have enough to pay it,
So that they should live for ever, and should not see the grave.
For we see that wise men die, as well as the ignorant and foolish; they perish alike and leave their riches for others.
And yet they think that their houses shall continue for ever, and that their dwelling places shall endure from one generation to another, and they call lands after their own names.
Man is like an ox that has no understanding; he is like the beasts that perish.
This is the way of their foolishness, yet their posterity praise their sayings.
Like sheep they are appointed to die, and death shall be their shepherd; they shall go down straight into the sepulcher.
Their beauty shall consume away in the grave, which shall be their dwelling place for ever.
But God shall save me from the power of death, for he shall deliver my soul.
Be not envious if one is made rich, or if the glory of his house is increased,
For he shall carry nothing away with him when he dies, neither shall his glory follow him.
For while he lived, he counted himself happy, and so long as he did well for himself, people spoke well of him.
He shall follow the generation of his fathers and shall never see the light.
Those who are honored but have no understanding are like the beasts that perish.
שִׁמְעוּ־זֹ֭את כָּל־הָֽעַמִּ֑ים הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּ כָּל־יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חָֽלֶד׃
גַּם־בְּנֵ֣י אָ֭דָם גַּם־בְּנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ יַ֝֗חַד עָשִׁ֥יר וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃
פִּ֭י יְדַבֵּ֣ר חָכְמ֑וֹת וְהָג֖וּת לִבִּ֣י תְבוּנֽוֹת׃
אַטֶּ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֣ל אָזְנִ֑י אֶפְתַּ֥ח בְּ֝כִנּ֗וֹר חִידָתִֽי׃
לָ֣מָּה אִ֭ירָא בִּ֣ימֵי רָ֑ע עֲוֺ֖ן עֲקֵבַ֣י יְסוּבֵּֽנִי׃
הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים עַל־חֵילָ֑ם וּבְרֹ֥ב עָ֝שְׁרָ֗ם יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃
אָ֗ח לֹא־פָדֹ֣ה יִפְדֶּ֣ה אִ֑ישׁ לֹא־יִתֵּ֖ן לֵאלֹהִ֣ים כָּפְרֽוֹ׃
וְ֭יֵקַר פִּדְי֥וֹן נַפְשָׁ֗ם וְחָדַ֥ל לְעוֹלָֽם׃
וִֽיחִי־ע֥וֹד לָנֶ֑צַח לֹ֖א יִרְאֶ֣ה הַשָּֽׁחַת׃
כִּ֤י יִרְאֶ֨ה ׀ חֲכָ֘מִ֤ים יָמ֗וּתוּ יַ֤חַד כְּסִ֣יל וָבַ֣עַר יֹאבֵ֑דוּ וְעָזְב֖וּ לַאֲחֵרִ֣ים חֵילָֽם׃
קִרְבָּ֤ם בָּתֵּ֨ימוֹ ׀ לְֽעוֹלָ֗ם מִ֭שְׁכְּנֹתָם לְדֹ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר קָֽרְא֥וּ בִ֝שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם עֲלֵ֣י אֲדָמֽוֹת׃
וְאָדָ֣ם בִּ֭יקָר בַּל־יָלִ֑ין נִמְשַׁ֖ל כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת נִדְמֽוּ׃
זֶ֣ה דַ֭רְכָּם כֵּ֣סֶל לָ֑מוֹ וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֓ם ׀ בְּפִיהֶ֖ם יִרְצ֣וּ סֶֽלָה׃
כַּצֹּ֤אן ׀ לִֽשְׁא֣וֹל שַׁתּוּ֮ מָ֤וֶת יִ֫רְעֵ֥ם וַיִּרְדּ֘וּ בָ֤ם יְשָׁרִ֨ים ׀ לַבֹּ֗קֶר וְ֭צוּרָם לְבַלּ֥וֹת שְׁא֗וֹל מִזְּבֻ֥ל לֽוֹ׃
אַךְ־אֱלֹהִ֗ים יִפְדֶּ֣ה נַ֭פְשִׁי מִֽיַּד־שְׁא֑וֹל כִּ֖י יִקָּחֵ֣נִי סֶֽלָה׃
אַל־תִּ֭ירָא כִּֽי־יַעֲשִׁ֣ר אִ֑ישׁ כִּֽי־יִ֝רְבֶּה כְּב֣וֹד בֵּיתֽוֹ׃
כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְ֭מוֹתוֹ יִקַּ֣ח הַכֹּ֑ל לֹא־יֵרֵ֖ד אַחֲרָ֣יו כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃
כִּֽי־נַ֭פְשׁוֹ בְּחַיָּ֣יו יְבָרֵ֑ךְ וְ֝יוֹדֻ֗ךָ כִּי־תֵיטִ֥יב לָֽךְ׃
תָּ֭בוֹא עַד־דּ֣וֹר אֲבוֹתָ֑יו עַד־נֵ֝֗צַח לֹ֣א יִרְאוּ־אֽוֹר׃
אָדָ֣ם בִּ֭יקָר וְלֹ֣א יָבִ֑ין נִמְשַׁ֖ל כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת נִדְמֽוּ׃
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; indeed, I shall keep it with my whole heart.
Make me go in the path of your commandments, for therein is my desire.
Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to covetous desires.
O turn away my eyes, lest they behold vanity, and revive me in your ways.
Confirm your word to your servant, and to all those who fear you.
Take away the reproach that I am afraid of, for your judgments are good.
Behold, my delight is in your precepts; O revive me in your righteousness.
Let your loving mercy come to me, O Lord, even your salvation, according to your word.
So shall I answer those who taunt me, for my trust is in your word.
O do not take the word of your truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your judgments.
So shall I always keep your law, even for ever and ever;
And I will walk at liberty, for I seek your commandments.
I will speak of your testimonies also, even before kings, and will not be ashamed;
And my delight shall be in your commandments, which I have loved exceedingly.
My hands also will I lift up to your commandments, and I will meditate on your statutes.
הוֹרֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה דֶּ֥רֶךְ חֻקֶּ֗יךָ וְאֶצְּרֶ֥נָּה עֵֽקֶב׃
הֲ֭בִינֵנִי וְאֶצְּרָ֥ה תֽוֹרָתֶ֗ךָ וְאֶשְׁמְרֶ֥נָּה בְכָל־לֵֽב׃
הַ֭דְרִיכֵנִי בִּנְתִ֣יב מִצְוֺתֶ֑יךָ כִּי־ב֥וֹ חָפָֽצְתִּי׃
הַט־לִ֭בִּי אֶל־עֵדְוֺתֶ֗יךָ וְאַ֣ל אֶל־בָּֽצַע׃
הַעֲבֵ֣ר עֵ֭ינַי מֵרְא֣וֹת שָׁ֑וְא בִּדְרָכֶ֥ךָ חַיֵּֽנִי׃
הָקֵ֣ם לְ֭עַבְדְּךָ אִמְרָתֶ֑ךָ אֲ֝שֶׁ֗ר לְיִרְאָתֶֽךָ׃
הַעֲבֵ֣ר חֶ֭רְפָּתִי אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָגֹ֑רְתִּי כִּ֖י מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ טוֹבִֽים׃
הִ֭נֵּה תָּאַ֣בְתִּי לְפִקֻּדֶ֑יךָ בְּצִדְקָתְךָ֥ חַיֵּֽנִי׃
וִֽיבֹאֻ֣נִי חֲסָדֶ֣ךָ יְהוָ֑ה תְּ֝שֽׁוּעָתְךָ֗ כְּאִמְרָתֶֽךָ׃
וְאֶֽעֱנֶ֣ה חֹרְפִ֣י דָבָ֑ר כִּֽי־בָ֝טַחְתִּי בִּדְבָרֶֽךָ׃
וְֽאַל־תַּצֵּ֬ל מִפִּ֣י דְבַר־אֱמֶ֣ת עַד־מְאֹ֑ד כִּ֖י לְמִשְׁפָּטֶ֣ךָ יִחָֽלְתִּי׃
וְאֶשְׁמְרָ֖ה תוֹרָתְךָ֥ תָמִ֗יד לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃
וְאֶתְהַלְּכָ֥ה בָרְחָבָ֑ה כִּ֖י פִקֻּדֶ֣יךָ דָרָֽשְׁתִּי׃
וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה בְ֭עֵדֹתֶיךָ נֶ֥גֶד מְלָכִ֗ים וְלֹ֣א אֵבֽוֹשׁ׃
וְאֶשְׁתַּֽעֲשַׁ֥ע בְּמִצְוֺתֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהָֽבְתִּי׃
וְאֶשָּֽׂא־כַפַּ֗י אֶֽל־מִ֭צְוֺתֶיךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָהָ֗בְתִּי וְאָשִׂ֥יחָה בְחֻקֶּֽיךָ׃
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgives all your sin and heals all your infirmities,
Who saves your life from the pit and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness,
Who satisfies you with good things, renewing your youth like an eagle’s.
The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all those who are oppressed with wrong.
He showed his ways to Moses, his works to the children of Israel.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, long-suffering and of great goodness.
He will not always chide us, neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy also toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he set our sins from us.
As a father pities his own children, so is the Lord merciful to those who fear him.
For he knows whereof we are made; he remembers that we are but dust.
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ בָּרֲכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְכָל־קְ֝רָבַ֗י אֶת־שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃
בָּרֲכִ֣י נַ֭פְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה וְאַל־תִּ֝שְׁכְּחִ֗י כָּל־גְּמוּלָֽיו׃
הַסֹּלֵ֥חַ לְכָל־עֲוֺנֵ֑כִי הָ֝רֹפֵ֗א לְכָל־תַּחֲלֻאָֽיְכִי׃
הַגּוֹאֵ֣ל מִשַּׁ֣חַת חַיָּ֑יְכִי הַֽ֝מְעַטְּרֵ֗כִי חֶ֣סֶד וְרַחֲמִֽים׃
הַמַּשְׂבִּ֣יַע בַּטּ֣וֹב עֶדְיֵ֑ךְ תִּתְחַדֵּ֖שׁ כַּנֶּ֣שֶׁר נְעוּרָֽיְכִי׃
עֹשֵׂ֣ה צְדָק֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה וּ֝מִשְׁפָּטִ֗ים לְכָל־עֲשׁוּקִֽים׃
יוֹדִ֣יעַ דְּרָכָ֣יו לְמֹשֶׁ֑ה לִבְנֵ֥י יִ֝שְׂרָאֵ֗ל עֲלִילֽוֹתָיו׃
רַח֣וּם וְחַנּ֣וּן יְהוָ֑ה אֶ֖רֶךְ אַפַּ֣יִם וְרַב־חָֽסֶד׃
לֹֽא־לָנֶ֥צַח יָרִ֑יב וְלֹ֖א לְעוֹלָ֣ם יִטּֽוֹר׃
לֹ֣א כַ֭חֲטָאֵינוּ עָ֣שָׂה לָ֑נוּ וְלֹ֥א כַ֝עֲוֺנֹתֵ֗ינוּ גָּמַ֥ל עָלֵֽינוּ׃
כִּ֤י כִגְבֹ֣הַּ שָׁ֭מַיִם עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ גָּבַ֥ר חַ֝סְדּ֗וֹ עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃
כִּרְחֹ֣ק מִ֭זְרָח מִֽמַּֽעֲרָ֑ב הִֽרְחִ֥יק מִ֝מֶּ֗נּוּ אֶת־פְּשָׁעֵֽינוּ׃
כְּרַחֵ֣ם אָ֭ב עַל־בָּנִ֑ים רִחַ֥ם יְ֝הוָ֗ה עַל־יְרֵאָֽיו׃
כִּי־ה֖וּא יָדַ֣ע יִצְרֵ֑נוּ זָ֝כ֗וּר כִּי־עָפָ֥ר אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with endurance the race set before us.
Let us remember their faith; for without faith it is impossible to please God.
On the ninth day of September, the Church remembers Constance and her Companions, Martyrs of Memphis.
constance & her companions
In August of 1878 the worst thing that could happen to an American city happened to Memphis. Yellow fever, a disease no one then understood and no one could cure, swept in off the river and turned the place into a charnel house. Those who could afford to fled by the thousand, and the trains out were mobbed. Within weeks the city was a ghost town of the dying, the poor and the trapped left behind with no doctors, no nurses, and no one to bury the dead. And into that emptying city, against the current of everyone running out, came a small band of Anglican nuns.
They were the Sisters of St. Mary, a young religious community of women who kept a school and an orphanage in Memphis, and their leader was Sister Constance, the superior of the house. When the fever came, Constance and another sister were away in the cool of the North, safe. They came back. They came back on purpose, into a city where nursing the sick was very often a sentence of death, and they turned their convent and the cathedral into a hospital and a refuge for the fever's orphans. Day after day, through the worst weeks, the sisters went from bed to bed and house to house, nursing the sick, feeding the children whose parents had died, sitting with the dying so that no one died alone, and carrying out the dead when there was no one else to do it. Two priests of the cathedral, Charles Parsons and Louis Schuyler, worked beside them, and died beside them.
It could only end one way. The sisters knew, every morning they went out, that the fever would very likely take them too, and one by one it did. Sister Constance fell ill in early September and died on the ninth, worn out with nursing the city that had been left to die. The word on her lips at the end was not a complaint, and not a plea for rescue, but a shout of praise: Alleluia. Sister Thecla died three days after her, Sister Ruth a few days after that, Sister Frances in October, the two priests among them. Six of them gave their lives in those weeks, nursing strangers in a plague they were free to flee.
Memphis never forgot. When the fever had burned itself out and the survivors crept back, they found that the nuns the city had half pitied had been, at the end, almost the only people who stayed. The Sisters of St. Mary carved the names of their dead, and Constance's last word, into the high altar of the cathedral, where they are read to this day: the four sisters, and over them, Alleluia. The church keeps them every September as the Martyrs of Memphis, and they have become, for a later age that has known its own plagues, the very pattern of what the church is for, to run toward the dying when everyone else runs away, and to do it singing. They went down into the worst of it for love, and the last thing one of them had to say about it was Alleluia.
Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
Look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
One of the following, or some other suitable passage of Scripture, is read
A reading from the prophet Jeremiah, beginning with the fourteenth chapter, the ninth verse.
Jeremiah 14:9
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit;
For you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.
Keep me, O Lord, as the apple of your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
cf. Matthew 20:30-31 et al.
Syria, c. 375.Apostolic Constitutions, Book VIII (c. 375–380 AD, Antioch)↻Turn your device to see the Greek original
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
cf. Matthew 20:30-31 et al.
Syria, c. 375.Apostolic Constitutions, Book VIII (c. 375–380 AD, Antioch)↻Turn your device to see the Greek original
Officiant and People
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.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
cf. Matthew 6:9-13
King James Version, 1611The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version, London 1611. Matthew 6:9–13. The doxological ending ("For thine is the kingdom…") follows the Byzantine / Textus Receptus tradition rather than the Alexandrian manuscripts on which modern critical texts rely. Carried verbatim by the BCP Traditional form.↻Turn your device to see the Greek original
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
cf. Matthew 6:9-13
BCP 2019Book of Common Prayer, Anglican Church in North America, 2019. Contemporary-language rendering following the Matthean text.↻Turn your device to see the Greek original
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen.
cf. Matthew 6:9-13
ESV, 2001English Standard Version (Crossway, 2001; text edition 2016). A formal-equivalence translation in the Tyndale–KJV–RSV tradition.↻Turn your device to see the Greek original
O our Father which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be fulfilled upon earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation:
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
cf. Matthew 6:9-13
1535, AntwerpMiles Coverdale's Bible, Antwerp, 1535. The first complete printed English Bible. Coverdale worked primarily from German translations (Luther, Zürich Bible) and the Latin Vulgate, with reference to Tyndale's New Testament.↻Turn your device to see the Greek original
O our Father which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Let thy kingdom come.
Thy will be fulfilled,
as well in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
even as we forgive our trespassers.
And lead us not into temptation:
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom
and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.
cf. Matthew 6:9-13
1534, AntwerpTranslated by William Tyndale, Antwerp, 1534. Published posthumously through the efforts of John Rogers, published as the Matthew's Bible in 1537 after Tyndale's martyrdom in 1536. Source text: Erasmus's Greek New Testament (Basel, 1516–1534), drawn from the Byzantine Greek manuscript tradition.↻Turn your device to see the Greek original
Our Father that art in heavens,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done in earth
as it is in heaven;
give to us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
cf. Matthew 6:9-13
c. 1382–95Wycliffe's Bible, c. 1382–1395. The first complete English translation of the Bible, produced by John Wycliffe and his associates (notably John Purvey for the later revision). Translated entirely from the Latin Vulgate, predating the recovery of Greek manuscripts in Western Europe.↻Turn your device to see the Latin original
Pater noster, qui es in caelis,
sanctificetur nomen tuum.
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Fiat voluntas tua,
sicut in caelo et in terra.
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,
sed libera nos a malo.
Quia tuum est regnum, et potestas,
et gloria in saecula. Amen.
O Lord, hear our prayer;
And let our cry come to you.
Let us pray.
The Officiant then says one or more of the following Collects. Other appropriate Collects may also be used.
Almighty God, you gave your servants Constance and her Companions boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Collect of Constance and her Companions
O Lord God, grant your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow you, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
One of the following prayers may be added
Silence may be kept, and other intercessions and thanksgivings may be offered. The Officiant and People say or sing the Song of Simeon with this Antiphon
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Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the glory of your people Israel.
Luke 2:29-32
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping; that awake we may watch with Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Officiant concludes with the following
The almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us, this night and evermore. Amen.