Great Compline

The Opening

Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

People: Amen.

Reader: O come, let us worship and fall down before God our King...

The Psalms of Night

(Psalms 4, 6, 12, 24, 30, and 90 are read.)

Reader: (Psalm 4) Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer. O men, how long shall my honor suffer shame? How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies? Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him.
(Psalm 90) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord: My helper and my refuge, my God, in Him will I hope. For He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunters and from the troubling word. He shall overshadow you with His shoulders, and under His wings shall you trust. You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow that flies by day.

God is with us

(The powerful hymn from Isaiah 8 is sung:)

People: God is with us! Understand, all you nations, and submit yourselves: For God is with us!
Give ear, even unto the ends of the earth: For God is with us!
Mighty ones, submit yourselves: For God is with us!
For even if you should again grow strong, again you shall be defeated: For God is with us!
And whatever counsel you shall take, the Lord shall bring it to naught: For God is with us!
And the word which you shall speak shall not abide in you: For God is with us!
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: For God is with us!
On us who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, a light has shone: For God is with us!
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: For God is with us!
And His name shall be called Messenger of Great Counsel: For God is with us!
Wonderful Counselor: For God is with us!
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace: For God is with us!
God is with us! Understand, all you nations, and submit yourselves: For God is with us!

The Prayer of Repentance

(The Prayer of Manasseh, King of Judah, is read:)

Reader: O Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed; who hast made heaven and earth with all their order; who hast shackled the sea by the word of Your command; who hast shut up the abyss and sealed it by Your terrible and glorious name... I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I know my transgressions.

Reader: I am not worthy to lift up my eyes and behold the height of heaven because of the multitude of my iniquities. For I am bent down by many an iron chain, so that I cannot lift up my head, and there is no release for me; because I have provoked Your wrath and have done evil in Your sight... But now I bend the knee of my heart, beseeching Your goodness. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I know my iniquities. But I entreat You, asking: Forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with my iniquities... for You are the God of those who repent, and in me You will show all Your goodness.

Before Sleep

(The Priest says the Prayer for the Night:)

Priest: And grant us, O Master, as we depart for sleep, rest of body and soul; and preserve us from the gloomy sleep of sin, and from every dark and nocturnal passion. Halt the impulses of the passions, and quench the fiery darts of the evil one, which are cast insidiously against us. Subdue the rebellions of our flesh, and calm our every earthly and material thought. And grant us, O God, a watchful mind, a chaste heart, a sober spirit, and a sleep free from every fantasy of Satan. Raise us up again at the time of prayer, strengthened in Your commandments, and holding steadfastly within us the memory of Your judgments. Grant that we may sing Your glory through the night, praising and blessing and glorifying Your most honorable and majestic name, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Reader: Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.