Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/ytnbfkw9
You are just, O Lord, and your judgment is right;
treat your servant in accord with your merciful love. Psalm 119
Almighty God,
you have poured upon us
the new light of your incarnate Word:
Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts,
may shine forth in our lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Music: https://tinyurl.com/ycn4djk5
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!
HYMN: Charles Coffin; trans. John Chandler
Tune: Winchester New https://tinyurl.com/2apzsa6f
1 On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
announces that the Lord is nigh.
Awake and harken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of kings!
2 Then cleansed be every life from sin:
make straight the way for God within,
and let us all our hearts prepare
for Christ to come and enter there.
3 We hail you as our Savior, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward.
Without your grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.
4 Stretch forth your hand, our health restore,
and make us rise to fall no more.
O let your face upon us shine
and fill the world with love divine.
5 All praise to you, eternal Son,
whose advent has our freedom won,
whom with the Father we adore,
and Holy Spirit, evermore.
PSALMS
Psalm 56 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y89cbz8u)
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, for man goeth about to devour me *
he is daily fighting, and troubling me.
2 Mine enemies are daily in hand to swallow me up *
for they be many that fight against me, O thou most Highest.
3 Nevertheless, though I am sometime afraid *
yet put I my trust in thee.
4 I will praise God, because of his word *
I have put my trust in God, and will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 They daily mistake my words *
all that they imagine is to do me evil.
6 They hold all together, and keep themselves close *
and mark my steps, when they lay wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape for their wickedness *
thou, O God, in thy displeasure shalt cast them down.
8 Thou tellest my flittings ; put my tears into thy bottle *
are not these things noted in thy book?
9 Whensoever I call upon thee,
then shall mine enemies be put to flight *
this I know; for God is on my side.
10 In God’s word will I rejoice *
in the Lord’s word will I comfort me.
11 Yea, in God have I put my trust *
I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 Unto thee, O God, will I pay my vows *
unto thee will I give thanks.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death,
and my feet from falling *
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
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 57 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yb9ln9xn)
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me,
for my soul trusteth in thee *
and under the shadow of thy wings shall be my refuge,
until this tyranny be over-past.
2 I will call unto the most high God *
even unto the God that shall perform the cause which I have in hand.
3 He shall send from heaven *
and save me from the reproof of him that would eat me up.
4 God shall send forth his mercy and truth *
my soul is among lions.
5 And I lie even among the children of men, that are set on fire *
whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
6 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens *
and thy glory above all the earth.
7 They have laid a net for my feet, and pressed down my soul *
they have digged a pit before me,
and are fallen into the midst of it themselves.
8 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed *
I will sing, and give praise.
9 Awake up, my glory; awake, lute and harp *
I myself will awake right early.
10 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the people *
and I will sing unto thee among the nations.
11 For the greatness of thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens *
and thy truth unto the clouds.
12 Set up thyself, O God, above the heavens *
and thy glory above all the earth.
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 58 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y79vycco)
1 Are your minds set upon righteousness, O ye congregation *
and do ye judge the thing that is right, O ye sons of men?
2 Yea, ye imagine mischief in your heart upon the earth *
and your hands deal with wickedness.
3 The ungodly are froward, even from their mother’s womb *
as soon as they are born, they go astray, and speak lies.
4 They are as venomous as the poison of a serpent *
even like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ears;
5 Which refuseth to hear the voice of the charmer *
charm he never so wisely.
6 Break their teeth, O God, in their mouths;
smite the jaw-bones of the lions, O Lord *
let them fall away like water that runneth apace;
and when they shoot their arrows let them be rooted out.
7 Let them consume away like a snail,
and be like the untimely fruit of a woman *
and let them not see the sun.
8 Or ever your pots be made hot with thorns *
so let indignation vex him, even as a thing that is raw.
9 The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance *
he shall wash his footsteps in the blood of the ungodly.
10 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous *
doubtless there is a God that judgeth the earth.
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 56 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm%2056.mp3)
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
for my enemies are hounding me; *
all day long they assault and oppress me.
2 They hound me all the day long; *
truly there are many who fight against me, O Most High.
3 Whenever I am afraid, *
I will put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust and will not be afraid, *
for what can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they damage my cause; *
their only thought is to do me evil.
6 They band together; they lie in wait; *
they spy upon my footsteps;
because they seek my life.
7 Shall they escape despite their wickedness? *
O God, in your anger, cast down the peoples.
8 You have noted my lamentation;
put my tears into your bottle; *
are they not recorded in your book?
9 Whenever I call upon you, my enemies will be put to flight; *
this I know, for God is on my side.
10 In God the LORD, whose word I praise,
in God I trust and will not be afraid, *
for what can mortals do to me?
11 I am bound by the vow I made to you, O God; *
I will present to you thank-offerings;
12 For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet
from stumbling, *
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
Psalm 57 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-57-MH.mp3)
2 Have mercy on me, God, have mercy
for in you my soul has taken refuge.
In the shadow of your wings I take refuge
till the storms of destruction pass by.
3 I call to you God the Most High,
to you who have always been my help.
4 May you send from heaven and save me
and shame those who assail me.
O God, send your truth and your love.
5 My soul lies down among lions,
who would devour the sons of men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows, their tongue a sharpened sword.
6 O God, arise above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth!
7 They laid a snare for my steps; my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my path
but fell in it themselves.
8 My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.
I will sing, I will sing your praise.
9 Awake, my soul; awake, lyre and harp,
I will awake the dawn.
10 I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,
among the nations I will praise you
11 for your love reaches to the heavens
and your truth to the skies.
12 O God, arise above the heavens;
may your glory shine on earth.
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.
Psalm 58 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-58-KH.mp3)
Refrain:
Do you decree what is right, O you gods?
Do you judge uprightly, sons of men?
No! In your hearts you work evil,
and your hands weigh out violence on the earth.
1 The wicked go astray from the womb;
they err from their birth, speaking lies
They have venom like a poisonous serpent,
like an adder that is deaf to all charmers [Refrain]
2 O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
O LORD, remove the fangs of these lions
Let them vanish like water that runs off;
when they aim let their arrows have no tips [Refrain]
3 Like a snail that dissolves into slime;
like a still birth that never sees the sun
Before our pots can feel the heat of thorns,
both the burning and the green are swept away [Refrain]
4 The righteous shall rejoice to see the vengeance,
In the blood of the wicked bathe his feet
Men will say, “There is reward for the just,
There is a God who judges on the earth
PRAYER
O God,
when our path is hard and dangerous,
give us the grace of quiet confidence.
Remind us that we belong to you in baptism,
for you have claimed us in Jesus Christ,
the way, the truth, and the life. Amen. BCW
THE WORD OF GOD
Acknowledge the Lord in goodness,
and praise the Lord of ages!
Then your dwelling will be rebuilt
for you with joy.
He will bring joy to
all the captives among you,
and he will love for all eternity
all those who have been subjugated.
A bright light will shine forth
into the farthest corners of the earth.
Many nations will come to you
from afar,
and inhabitants from all the ends
of the earth will come
to your holy name.
They will bear gifts in their hands
for the king of heaven.
Generation after generation
will give joyful worship to you
and honor your name forever and always.
HYMN: Martin Behm; trans. Catherine Winkworth
Tune: Valet will ich dir geben https://tinyurl.com/msw65p8c
1 O Jesus, King of glory!
Both David’s God and Son,
Thy realm endures forever,
In heav’n is fixed Thy throne:
Help that in earth’s dominions,
Throughout, from pole to pole,
Thy realm may spread salvation
To each benighted soul.
2 The Eastern sages, bringing
Their tribute-gifts to Thee,
Bear witness to Thy kingdom
And humbly bow the knee.
The Eastern star proclaims Thee,
As doth the inspired Word;
Hence joyously we hail Thee:
Our blest Redeemer, Lord!
3 Thou art a mighty Monarch,
As by the Word we’re told,
Yet carest Thou but little
For earthly goods or gold;
On no proud steed Thou ridest,
Thou wear’st no jeweled crown,
Nor dwell’st in lordly castle,
But bearest scoff and frown.
4 Ah, look on me with pity,
Though I am weak and poor;
Admit me to Thy kingdom,
To dwell there, blest and sure.
Vouchsafe to keep and guide me
Secure from all my foes,
From sin, and death and Satan;
Free me from all my woes.
5 And bid Thy Word within me
Shine as the fairest star;
Keep sin and all false doctrine
From all Thy people far;
Help us confess Thee truly,
And with Thy Christendom
Here own Thee King and Savior
And in the world to come.
Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and his powerful strength. Put on God’s armor so that you can make a stand against the tricks of the devil. We aren’t fighting against human enemies but against rulers, authorities, forces of cosmic darkness, and spiritual powers of evil in the heavens. Therefore, pick up the full armor of God so that you can stand your ground on the evil day and after you have done everything possible to still stand. So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.
Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in there and praying for all believers. As for me, pray that when I open my mouth, I’ll get a message that confidently makes this secret plan of the gospel known. I’m an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. Pray so that the Lord will give me the confidence to say what I have to say.
Tychicus, my loved brother and faithful servant of the Lord, can inform you about my situation and what I’m doing. I’ve sent him for this reason—so that you will know about us. He can reassure you.
May there be peace with the brothers and sisters as well as love with the faith that comes from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ forever.
HYMN: Isaac Watts
Tune: Mendon https://tinyurl.com/2vcb459r
1 Stand up, my soul; shake off your fears,
and gird the gospel armor on;
march to the gates of endless joy,
where your great Captain Savior’s gone.
2 Hell and your sins resist your course;
but hell and sin are vanquished foes:
your Jesus nailed them to the cross,
and sang the triumph when he rose.
3 Then let my soul march boldly on,
press forward to the heav’nly gate;
there peace and joy eternal reign,
and glitt’ring robes for conqu’rors wait.
4 There shall I wear a starry crown,
and triumph in almighty grace;
while all the armies of the skies
join in my glorious Leader’s praise.
This is John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” John confessed (he didn’t deny but confessed), “I’m not the Christ.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” John said, “I’m not.” “Are you the prophet?” John answered, “No.” They asked, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
John replied,
“I am a voice crying out in the wilderness,
Make the Lord’s path straight,
just as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Those sent by the Pharisees asked, “Why do you baptize if you aren’t the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” John answered, “I baptize with water. Someone greater stands among you, whom you don’t recognize. He comes after me, but I’m not worthy to untie his sandal straps.” This encounter took place across the Jordan in Bethany where John was baptizing.
CANTICLE Colossians 1:12-20
(Chant by John Michael Talbot https://tinyurl.com/ya95yzto)
Ant. He is the first born of all creation,
in every way the primacy is his.
Let us give thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints in light.
He rescued us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created,
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him; all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church!
He who is the beginning, the first-born of the dead,
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens,
making peace through the blood of his cross.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
THE PRAYERS AAPB
Eternal God,
who declared in Christ Jesus
the completion of all your purposes of love;
We give thanks
for the triumphs of the gospel that herald your salvation
for the signs of renewal that declare the coming of your kingdom
for the revelation of the work of your grace in human lives . . .
for the unceasing praise of the company of heaven
for the promise to those who mourn that all tears will be wiped away
for the pledge of death destroyed and victory won . . .
for our foretaste of eternal life through baptism and the holy communion
for our hope in the Spirit
for the communion of saints
for all who rest in Christ . . .
We pray for the sick
those in pain . . .
the handicapped, the aged . . .
those who are tempted and despairing . . .
those who minister to them and care for them . . .
those who mourn . . .
May we live by faith, walk in hope, and be renewed in love,
until the whole world reflects your glory,
and you are all in all.
Even so, come Lord Jesus. Amen.
(Karin Simmons: https://tinyurl.com/y7vwp7dd)
Our 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;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
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.
Eternal God,
you sent John the Baptist
to prepare the way for the coming of your Son.
Grant us the wisdom to see your purpose
and openness to hear your will,
that we too may prepare the way for Christ
who is coming in power and glory
to establish his kingdom of peace and justice;
through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever. Amen. BCW
Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14
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BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
AAPB An Australian Prayer Book, © 1978 Anglican Church of Australia
The main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalm 56 is from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) and is sung by Ryland Angel. Psalm 57 is from The Grail Psalter and is from the Manual Hopper YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/manualhopper/featured. Psalm 58 is in the version sung by Karl Kohlhase http://www.k4communications.com/karl/index.html.
Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.
Compilation © 2025 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.
Oremus 