Enter in silence. The sign of the holy cross may be made in remembrance of Holy Baptism.
The Lutheran Daily Office
Traditional Lutheran prayers from the Common Service and other public domain sources to sanctify each hour of the day
Matins & Vespers
Complete Offices
Daily Practice
Select a Time of Day
Evening offices
Guided Offices
Sign of the Holy Cross
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Versicle
O Lord, open Thou my lips.
R: And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
Versicle
Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
R: Make haste to help me, O Lord.
Response
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.
Response
Hallelujah.
One or more appointed evening psalms are said or chanted. Each psalm may conclude with the Gloria Patri.
The appointed lesson is read. The daily lectionary readings are inserted here when available.
Versicle
But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R: Thanks be to Thee, O Lord.
Magnificat
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
Nunc Dimittis
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;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.
Response
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
The Lord's Prayer
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.
Versicle
The Lord be with you.
R: And with thy spirit.
Collect for Peace
O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey Thy commandments, and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Versicle
Bless we the Lord.
R: Thanks be to God.
Blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
This shorter evening order may be used in the household or when Vespers or Compline is not prayed.
Sign of the Holy Cross
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Versicle
O Lord, open Thou my lips.
R: And my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
Versicle
Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
R: Make haste to help me, O Lord.
Response
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.
Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
The appointed evening psalm and daily readings are inserted here when available.
Response
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
The Lord's Prayer
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.
Luther's Evening Prayer
I thank Thee, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast graciously kept me this day; and I pray Thee that Thou wouldst forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.
Collect for Peace
O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: Give unto Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be set to obey Thy commandments, and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Versicle
Bless we the Lord.
R: Thanks be to God.
Blessing
The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless and preserve us. Amen.
The household gathers quietly; lights are dimmed to mark the end of day.
Confiteor
I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven and to you, my brethren, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray God Almighty to have mercy upon me, forgive me all my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.
Declaration of Grace
The almighty and merciful Lord grant unto thee pardon, remission, and forgiveness of all thy sins.
Psalm 4 (KJV)
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 91 (KJV)
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Psalm 134 (KJV)
Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which 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.
Nunc Dimittis
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;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.
Versicle
Keep us, O Lord, as the apple of the eye.
R: Hide us under the shadow of Thy wings.
Versicle
O Lord, hear my prayer.
R: And let my cry come unto Thee.
The Lord's Prayer
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. Amen.
Collect for Protection
Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this habitation, and 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 Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, bless us and keep us. Amen.
Today
Saturday of Trinity 5
Trinity 5
Psalms
Psalm 104
Psalm 118
Psalm 111
Daily Practice
The Daily Office sanctifies each day with prayer at set hours, uniting us with the Church's rhythm of worship.
Sources and Use
These offices follow public-domain Lutheran sources, especially the Common Service and Common Service Book, with Scripture readings from public-domain text. They are offered for household and daily prayer alongside the Church's public Divine Service.