New Testament Canticles

53 A Song of the Blessed

Refrain:

AllRejoice and be glad
for you are the light of the world,
and great is your reward in heaven.

1Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

3Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

4Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst after righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

5Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

6Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they shall see God.

7Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

8Blessed are those who suffer persecution
for righteousness’ sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5.3-10

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllRejoice and be glad
for you are the light of the world,
and great is your reward in heaven.

54a Magnificat (The Song of Mary)

1My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour;
he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.

2From this day all generations will call me blessed;
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his name.

3He has mercy on those who fear him,
from generation to generation.

4He has shown strength with his arm
and has scattered the proud in their conceit,

5Casting down the mighty from their thrones
and lifting up the lowly.

6He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.

7He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
to remember his promise of mercy,

8The promise made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and his children for ever.

Luke 1.46-55

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

54b Magnificat (The Song of Mary)

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord:
unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his name:
make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy name, the Lord, the Mighty One.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might:
powers and dominions lay their glory by;
proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word:
firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore.

Timothy Dudley-Smith
(Tune: 10 10 10 10, e.g.‘Woodlands’)

54c Magnificat (The Song of Mary)

With Mary let my soul rejoice,
and praise God’s holy name –
his saving love from first to last,
from age to age the same!

How strong his arm, how great his power!
the proud he will disown;
the meek and humble he exalts
to share his glorious throne.

The rich our God will send away
and feed the hungry poor;
the arms of love remain outstretched
at mercy’s open door.

So shall God’s promise be fulfilled,
to Israel firmly made:
a child is born, a Son is given
whose crown will never fade.

All glory to the Father, Son
and Spirit now proclaim;
with Mary let the world rejoice
and praise God’s holy name!

David Mowbray
(Tune: CM, e.g.‘St Stephen’)

55a Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)

1Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel,
who has come to his people and set them free.

2He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
born of the house of his servant David.

3Through his holy prophets God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all that hate us,

4To show mercy to our ancestors,
and to remember his holy covenant.

5This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

6Free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

7And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

8To give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of all their sins.

9In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

10To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1.68-79

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

55b Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)

Now bless the God of Israel who comes in love and power,
who raises from the royal house deliv’rance in this hour.
Through holy prophets God has sworn to free us from alarm,
to save us from the heavy hand of all who wish us harm.

Remembering the covenant, God rescues us from fear,
that we might serve in holiness and peace from year to year.
And you, my child, shall go before, to preach, to prophesy,
that all may know the tender love, the grace of God most high.

In tender mercy, God will send the dayspring from on high,
our rising sun, the light of life for those who sit and sigh.
God comes to guide our way to peace, that death shall reign no more.
Sing praises to the Holy One, O worship and adore.

To God the Father, fount of grace, through his beloved Son,
with God their Spirit, bond of love, be glory ever One.

Ruth Duck
Doxology: James Quinn SJ
(Tune: DCM, e.g.‘Kingsfold’)

55c Benedictus (The Song of Zechariah)

Bless the Lord, the God of Israel,
who has come to set us free.
He has raised for us a Saviour
sprung from royal David’s tree.
Through his prophets God had spoken
of the hope the Christ would bring;
of his faithfulness and mercy
let each generation sing.

Long ago God made a promise
he would set his people free,
that in all our life and worship
we might know true liberty,
to be holy, to be righteous
in his sight throughout our days;
now this child will be a herald
making ready all God’s ways.

Let all people know salvation
through forgiveness of their sin,
as our God in his compassion
bids a shining dawn begin.
So may all who dwell in darkness
see the shadows disappear
while he guides our feet in pathways
where his peace is ever near.

To the Father be all glory
with the Spirit and the Son,
as it was, is now and shall be
while eternal ages run.

Anne Harrison
(Tune: 87 87 D, e.g.‘Corvedale’)

56 Nunc Dimittis (The Song of Simeon)

1Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
your word has been fulfilled.

2My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people;

3A light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.

Luke 2.29-32

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

57 A Song of the Justified

Refrain:

AllOur hope is not in vain,
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.

1God reckons as righteous those who believe,
who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead;

2For Christ was handed over to death for our sins,
and raised to life for our justification.

3Since we are justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

4Through Christ we have gained access
to the grace in which we stand,
and rejoice in our hope of the glory of God.

5We even exult in our sufferings,
for suffering produces endurance,

6And endurance brings hope,
and our hope is not in vain,

7Because God’s love has been poured into our hearts,
through the Holy Spirit, given to us.

8God proves his love for us:
while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

9Since we have been justified by his death,
how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath.

10Therefore, we exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
in whom we have now received our reconciliation.

Romans 4.24, 25; 5.1-5, 8, 9, 11

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllOur hope is not in vain,
because God’s love has been poured into our hearts.

58 A Song of God’s Children

Refrain:

AllThe Spirit of the Father,
who raised Christ Jesus from the dead,
gives life to the people of God.

1The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has set us free from the law of sin and death.

2All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God;
for we have received the Spirit that enables us to cry, ‘Abba, Father’.

3The Spirit himself bears witness that we are children of God
and if God’s children, then heirs of God;

4If heirs of God, then fellow-heirs with Christ;
since we suffer with him now, that we may be glorified with him.

5These sufferings that we now endure
are not worth comparing to the glory that shall be revealed.

6For the creation waits with eager longing
for the revealing of the children of God.

Romans 8.2, 14, 15b-19

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllThe Spirit of the Father,
who raised Christ Jesus from the dead,
gives life to the people of God.

59 A Song of Divine Love

Refrain:

AllLove bears all things
and will never come to an end.

1Love is patient and kind,
love is not jealous or boastful,
it is not arrogant or rude.

2Love does not insist on its own way,
it is not angry or resentful.

3It does not rejoice in wrongdoing
but rejoices in the truth.

4Love bears all things and believes all things;
love hopes all things and endures all things.

5Love will never come to an end,
but prophecy will vanish,
tongues cease and knowledge pass away.

6Now we know only in part
and we prophesy only in part,

7But when the perfect comes,
the partial shall pass away.

8When I was a child, I spoke like a child,
I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

9But when I became mature,
I put an end to childish ways.

10For now we see only puzzling reflections in a mirror,
but then we will see face to face.

11Now I know only in part;
then I shall know fully,
even as I have been fully known.

12There are three things that last for ever,
faith, hope and love,
but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13.4-13

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllLove bears all things
and will never come to an end.

60 A Song of God’s Grace

Refrain:

AllThe glorious grace of God
is freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

1Blessed are you,
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
for you have blest us in Christ Jesus
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

2You chose us to be yours in Christ
before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before you.

3In love you destined us for adoption as your children,
through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of your will,

4To the praise of your glorious grace,
which you freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

5In you, we have redemption
through the blood of Christ,
the forgiveness of our sins,

6According to the riches of your grace,
which you have lavished upon us.

7You have made known to us, in all wisdom and insight,
the mystery of your will,

8According to your purpose
which you set forth in Christ,
as a plan for the fullness of time,

9To unite all things in Christ,
things in heaven and things on earth.

Ephesians 1.3-10

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllThe glorious grace of God
is freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

61 The Song of Christ’s Glory

Refrain:

AllAt the name of Jesus
every knee shall bow.

1Christ Jesus was in the form of God,
but he did not cling to equality with God.

2He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant,
and was born in our human likeness.

3Being found in human form he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.

4Therefore God has highly exalted him,
and bestowed on him the name above every name,

5That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth;

6And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2.5-11

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllAt the name of Jesus
every knee shall bow.

62 A Song of Redemption

Refrain:

AllChrist is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.

1The Father has delivered us from the dominion of darkness,
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son;

2In whom we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.

3He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.

4For in him all things were created,
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.

5All things were created through him and for him,
he is before all things and in him all things hold together.

6He is the head of the body, the Church,
he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.

7In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell;
and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things.


Colossians 1.13-18a, 19, 20a

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllChrist is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.

63 A Song of Christ’s Appearing

Refrain:

AllChrist was believed in throughout the world
and taken up in glory.

1Christ Jesus was revealed in the flesh
and vindicated in the spirit.

2He was seen by angels
and proclaimed among the nations.

3Believed in throughout the world,
he was taken up in glory.

4This will be made manifest at the proper time
by the blessed and only Sovereign,

5Who alone has immortality,
and dwells in unapproachable light.

AllTo the King of kings and Lord of lords
be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

1 Timothy 3.16; 6.15, 16

AllChrist was believed in throughout the world
and taken up in glory.

64 A Song of God’s Assembled

Refrain:

AllWe have come before the throne of God
to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

1We have come before God’s holy mountain,
to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.

2We have come before countless angels making festival,
before the assembly of the firstborn citizens of heaven.

3We have come before God, who is judge of all,
before the spirits of the just made perfect.

4We have come before Jesus,
the mediator of the new covenant.

5We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken:
so let us give thanks and offer to God acceptable worship,

6Full of reverence and awe;
for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12.22-24a, 28, 29

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllWe have come before the throne of God
to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

65 A Song of Faith

Refrain:

AllGod raised Christ from the dead,
the Lamb without spot or stain.

1Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ!

2By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

3Into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading,
kept in heaven for you,

4Who are being protected by the power of God through faith,
for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

5You were ransomed from the futile ways of your ancestors
not with perishable things like silver or gold

6But with the precious blood of Christ
like that of a lamb without spot or stain.

7Through him you have confidence in God,
who raised him from the dead and gave him glory,
so that your faith and hope are set on God.

1 Peter 1.3-5, 18, 19, 21

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllGod raised Christ from the dead,
the Lamb without spot or stain.

66 A Song of Christ the Servant

Refrain:

AllChrist committed no sin,
no guile was found on his lips.

1Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example,
that you should follow in his steps.

2He committed no sin, no guile was found on his lips,
when he was reviled, he did not revile in turn.

3When he suffered, he did not threaten,
but he trusted himself to God who judges justly.

4Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

5By his wounds, you have been healed,
for you were straying like sheep,
but have now returned
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 2.21b-25

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllChrist committed no sin,
no guile was found on his lips.

67 A Song of Repentance

Refrain:

AllTell the good news of Jesus the Christ
to all who are searching for redemption.

1This is the message we have heard from Christ
and proclaim to you:
that God is light,
in whom there is no darkness at all.

2If we say that we have fellowship with God
while we walk in darkness,
we lie and do not do what is true.

3But if we walk in the light
as God is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another.

4And the blood of Jesus, the Son of God,
cleanses us from all our sins.

5If we say that we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us.

6If we confess our sins,
the One who is faithful and just will forgive us
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1. 5-9

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllTell the good news of Jesus the Christ
to all who are searching for redemption.

68 A Song of God’s Love

Refrain:

AllGod’s love was revealed among us
so that we might live through Jesus.

1Beloved, let us love one another,
for love is of God;
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

2Whoever does not love does not know God,
for God is love.

3In this the love of God was revealed among us,
that God sent his only Son into the world,
so that we might live through him.

4In this is love,
not that we loved God but that he loved us,
and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins.

5Beloved, since God loved us so much,
we ought also to love one another.

6For if we love one another, God abides in us,
and God’s love will be perfected in us.

1 John 4.7-11, 12b

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.

AllGod’s love was revealed among us
so that we might live through Jesus.

69 A Song of Praise

This Canticle is also known as Glory and Honour

Refrain:

AllYou created all things, O God,
and are worthy of our praise for ever.

1You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power.

2For you have created all things,
and by your will they have their being.

3You are worthy, O Lamb, for you were slain,
and by your blood you ransomed for God
saints from every tribe and language and nation.

4You have made them to be a kingdom and priests
serving our God,
and they will reign with you on earth.

Revelation 4.11; 5.9b, 10

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen.

AllYou created all things, O God,
and are worthy of our praise for ever.

70 A Song of the Redeemed

Refrain:

AllSalvation belongs to our God,
who will guide us to springs of living water.

1Behold, a great multitude
which no one could number,

2From every nation,
from all tribes and peoples and tongues,
standing before the throne and the Lamb.

3They were clothed in white robes
and had palms in their hands,
and they cried with a loud voice, saying,

4‘Salvation belongs to our God
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.’

5These are they
who have come out of the great tribulation,
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the Lamb;

6Therefore they stand before the throne of God,
whom they serve day and night within the temple.

7And the One who sits upon the throne
will shelter them with his presence.

8They shall never again feel hunger or thirst,
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.

9For the Lamb at the heart of the throne
will be their Shepherd,

10He will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Revelation 7.9, 10, 14b-17

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

AllSalvation belongs to our God,
who will guide us to springs of living water.

71 Great and Wonderful

Refrain:

AllAll nations shall come and worship you, O Christ,
and share in the feast of your kingdom.

1Great and wonderful are your deeds,
Lord God the Almighty.

2Just and true are your ways,
O ruler of the nations.

3Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord?
for you alone are holy.

4All nations shall come and worship in your presence:
for your just dealings have been revealed.

Revelation 15.3, 4

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

AllAll nations shall come and worship you, O Christ,
and share in the feast of your kingdom.

72 A Song of the Lamb

Refrain:

AllLet us rejoice and exult
and give glory and homage to our God.

1Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
whose judgements are true and just.

2Praise our God, all you his servants,
all who fear him, both small and great.

3The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns:
let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory.

4For the marriage of the Lamb has come
and his bride has made herself ready.

5Blessed are those who are invited
to the wedding banquet of the Lamb.

Revelation 19.1b, 2a, 5b, 6b, 7, 9b

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

AllLet us rejoice and exult
and give glory and homage to our God.

73 A Song of the Holy City

Refrain:

AllI saw the holy city
coming down out of heaven from God.

1I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away
and the sea was no more.

2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3And I heard a great voice from the throne saying,
‘Behold, the dwelling of God is among mortals.

4‘He will dwell with them and they shall be his peoples,
and God himself will be with them.

5‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and death shall be no more.

6‘Neither shall there be mourning,
nor crying, nor pain any more,
for the former things have passed away.’

7And the One who sat upon the throne said,
‘Behold, I make all things new.’

Revelation 21.1-5a

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

AllI saw the holy city
coming down out of heaven from God.

74 A Song of the Heavenly City

Refrain:

AllBy the river stood the tree of life,
with healing for all the nations.

1I saw no temple in the city,
for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty
and the Lamb.

2And the city has no need of sun or moon
to shine upon it,
for the glory of God is its light,
and its lamp is the Lamb.

3By its light the nations shall walk,
and the rulers of the earth
shall bring their glory into it.

4Its gates shall never be shut by day,
nor shall there be any night;
they shall bring into it
the glory and honour of the nations.

5I saw the river of the water of life,
bright as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

6And either side of the river stood the tree of life,
yielding its fruit each month,
and the leaves of the tree
were for the healing of the nations.

7The throne of God and of the Lamb shall be there,
and his servants shall worship him;
and they shall see his face
and his name shall be on their foreheads.

Revelation 21.22-26; 22.1, 2b, d, 3b, 4

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

75 A Song of the Spirit

Refrain:

AllSurely I am coming soon.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

1‘Behold, I am coming soon’, says the Lord,
‘and bringing my reward with me,
to give to everyone according to their deeds.

2‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end.’

3Blessed are those who do God’s commandments,
that they may have the right to the tree of life,
and may enter into the city through the gates.

4‘I, Jesus, have sent my angel to you,
with this testimony for all the churches.

5‘I am the root and the offspring of David,
I am the bright morning star.’

6‘Come!’ say the Spirit and the Bride;
‘Come!’ let each hearer reply.

7Come forward, you who are thirsty,
let those who desire take the water of life as a gift.

Revelation 22.12-14, 16, 17

AllTo the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

AllSurely I am coming soon.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

76 The Easter Anthems

1Christ our passover has been sacrificed for us:
so let us celebrate the feast,

2not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5.7b, 8

3Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:
death has no more dominion over him.

4In dying he died to sin once for all:
in living he lives to God.

5See yourselves therefore as dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6.9-11

6Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.

7For as by man came death:
by man has come also the resurrection of the dead;

8for as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15.20-22

AllGlory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.