Compline is a wonderful prayer to be used just before bed at the end of the day. It can be said alone or with your family.
The leader begins
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. AMEN.
The leader then says (1 John 1:9)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
The leader says
Let us humbly confess our sins to Almighty God.
This general Confession is said by all those gathered along with the leader
Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the evil inclinations and desires of our own hearts. We have broken Your holy laws. We have left undone what we ought to have done, and we have done what we ought not to have done, and there is no wholeness in us. Lord, have mercy on us broken sinners. Spare those, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who truly repent, as You have promised through Jesus Christ our Lord. And grant, merciful Father, for His sake, that we may live a godly, righteous and abundant life, to the praise of Your holy name. AMEN.
A period of silence is kept. During this time participants rest quietly in God’s presence. Rather than engaging in words or active reflection, the mind is allowed to become still as thoughts come and go without judgment, returning gently to a simple awareness of God. Then the pastor or leader says
Merciful God, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace; that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
The leader says
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth. Glory 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. One or more of the following Psalms are said or sung. At the end of each Psalm is said Glory 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 4:1-8 1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah. 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah. 5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. 6 Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 31:1-5 1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. Psalm 91:1-16 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling– even the LORD, who is my refuge– 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 134:1-3 1 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
Glory 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. Into Your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of truth. A song to the Lord may be sung here. Keep me as the apple of Your eye Hide me under the shadow of Your wing. Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that while we are awake we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep may rest in peace. The Song of Simeon is said or sung (Luke 2:29-32) 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Glory 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. Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that while we are awake we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep we may rest in peace. The Apostles’ Creed is said by all I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. * On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Prayers follow. The leader first says The Lord be with you. And also with you. All kneel, and the leader continues Let us pray. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. 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. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. AMEN. Lord, have mercy upon us; And grant us Your salvation. Lord, keep us this night without sin. Lord have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. Lord, hear our prayer; And let our cry to come to You. Continue your rhythm through prayer and reflection in Sacred Rhythms
After completing the Prayer and Reflection portion, return here and finish your rhythm with worship, gratitude, and peaceful rest in God’s presence. The following Collect is said Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in Your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for love of Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN. We will lie down and take our rest For it is in You, Lord, only, that we dwell in safety. Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us praise Him and magnify Him for ever. The Doxology may be sung here Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. AMEN. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. AMEN.
who made heaven and earth. Glory 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. One or more of the following Psalms are said or sung. At the end of each Psalm is said Glory 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 4:1-8 1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. 2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods? Selah. 3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call to him. 4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Selah. 5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD. 6 Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD. 7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. 8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 31:1-5 1 In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. 3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4 Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. 5 Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. Psalm 91:1-16 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you make the Most High your dwelling– even the LORD, who is my refuge– 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 134:1-3 1 Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
Glory 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. Into Your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed us, Lord, God of truth. A song to the Lord may be sung here. Keep me as the apple of Your eye Hide me under the shadow of Your wing. Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that while we are awake we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep may rest in peace. The Song of Simeon is said or sung (Luke 2:29-32) 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the sight of all people, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Glory 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. Save us, O Lord, while waking, and guard us while sleeping, that while we are awake we may watch with Christ, and when we sleep we may rest in peace. The Apostles’ Creed is said by all I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. * On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Prayers follow. The leader first says The Lord be with you. And also with you. All kneel, and the leader continues Let us pray. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. 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. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. AMEN. Lord, have mercy upon us; And grant us Your salvation. Lord, keep us this night without sin. Lord have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. Lord, hear our prayer; And let our cry to come to You. Continue your rhythm through prayer and reflection in Sacred Rhythms
Continue Your Rhythm in Sacred Rhythms
Compline is more than a reading. It is an invitation to notice God’s presence and respond to His voice.
Take what you have received during today’s Office into Sacred Rhythms.
You may wish to record:
- A prayer request
- An insight from Scripture
- Something for which you are grateful
- A question you are carrying
- A next step of faithfulness
There is no right or wrong response.
Simply record what you are noticing and how you sense God inviting you to respond.
Continue in Sacred RhythmsAfter completing the Prayer and Reflection portion, return here and finish your rhythm with worship, gratitude, and peaceful rest in God’s presence. The following Collect is said Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in Your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for love of Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN. We will lie down and take our rest For it is in You, Lord, only, that we dwell in safety. Let us bless the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Let us praise Him and magnify Him for ever. The Doxology may be sung here Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. AMEN. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. AMEN.