Canticles for the day

Canticles Every Day

Ode 9, Part 1 The Magnificat Luke 1, 46-55

MY soul doth magnify the Lord:

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,

Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid: for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed,

Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me, and holy is his name.

And his mercy is from generation unto generation to those that fear him.

He hath showed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.

He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he hath sent away empty.

He hath received Israel, his servant, being mindful of his mercy,

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

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.

Ant. All generations shall call me blessed, for God hath regarded his lowly handmaid.

Ode 9, Part 2 Canticle of Zachary Luke 1 :68-79

BLESSED be the Lord God of Israel, because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people: And hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant:

As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who have been since the world began.

Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us:

To perform mercy to our fathers, and to remember his holy testament,

The oath, which he swore to Abraham our father, that he would grant to us,

That being delivered from the hand of our enemies, we may serve him without fear.

In holiness and justice before him, all our days.

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways:

To give knowledge of salvation to his people, unto the remission of their sins:

Through the bowels of the mercy of our God, in which the Orient from on high hath visited us:

To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: to direct our feet into the way of peace.

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.

Canticle of Simeon Luke 2.29-32.34

+ NOW Thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord according to thy word in peace:

Because my eyes have seen thy salvation.

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

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.

Ant. Save us, O Lord, while we are awake, and guard us when we sleep: that we may watch with Christ, and rest in peace.

Ant. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against.

A Prayer to live the instructions in the Psalms correctly, especially in relation to Holy Communion.

Lord Jesus Christ Who took upon You the curses of the peoples as related in the psalms to bring us back to Your true Law written in our hearts by You and preached by the prophets, especially St. John the Baptist, Lord Jesus Christ Who commands us to obey Your Law and nothing other, have mercy upon us who turn to You. Grant us to always be aware of the pitfalls related in the psalms to always avoid these ditches. All Holy Divine Person Lord Jesus Christ Immortal Son Word Wisdom Power of God Our Father in the Unity and Power and Bond of Love of the Holy Spirit our Paraclete. Grant us to worthily receive this Communion which You alone give to us. You Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit created the world ex nihilo at the beginning of the first six days and finished the making thereof on the rest of the first six days and on the morn of the last of those formed Adam from the moist earth and breathed into him and he became a living soul and cast him into a deep sleep and made Eve from his side; the first man and woman with none other before them of any sort and none other with them at the beginning of any sort, from whom are descended all men here on earth wherein all salvation is worked out from the first Adam to the last saint, saved by You and no other, for no other could. You Who alone proceeded from the Father's bosom and throne and came into the world 70 generations later, conceived by the Holy Spirit and the blessed virgin Mary and truly born of her on earth and saved us by Your most Holy Cross and Resurrection and Ascension in the flesh and the gift of Your Holy Spirit, by this most Holy Eucharist of Yourself Whom we receive in faith, these gifts of bread and wine and water by Your command and power alone, truly transubstantiated into Your Divine Person, You, Your most Holy Body Flesh Blood Water Soul Spirit Energy One Divine Essence Substance Nature uncreated alone having aseity threefold light of one undivided glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, Christ Jesus Our Only Lord and Saviour, Whom we receive in faith with all thanksgiving, thereby indwelling us Lord God Our Father and the Son Jesus Christ Our Only Lord and Saviour and the Holy Spirit our Paraclete with all Your gifts and mercies, shielding us, delivering us in our spirits souls and bodies in everything in all ways at all times unceasingly and now and always and unto the endless ages of ages to come.

Glory to God.

Sunday

First Kathisma

David’s. Without Superscription among the Hebrews, 1.

Blessed is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the pestilent. But his will is rather in the law of the Lord, and in His law will he meditate day and night. And he shall be like the tree which is planted by the streams of the waters, which shall bring forth its fruit in its season; and its leaf shall not fall, and all things whatsoever he may do shall prosper. Not so are the ungodly, not so; but rather they are like the chaff which the wind doth hurl away from the face of the earth. For this reason shall the ungodly not stand up in judgement, nor sinners in the council of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

A Psalm of David, 2.

Why have the heathen raged, and the peoples meditated empty things? The kings of the earth were aroused, and the rulers were assembled together, against the Lord, and against His Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder, and let us cast away their yoke from us. He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn, and the Lord shall deride them. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and in His anger shall He trouble them. But as for Me, I was established as king by Him, upon Sion His holy mountain, proclaiming the commandment of the Lord. The Lord said unto Me: Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt herd them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt shatter them like a potter's vessels. And now, O ye kings, understand; be instructed, all ye that judge the earth. Serve ye the Lord with fear, and rejoice in Him with trembling. Lay hold of instruction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the righteous way. When quickly His wrath be kindled, blessed are all that have put their trust in Him.

A Psalm of David. When He Fled from the Face of Abessalom His Son, in the Wilderness, 3.

O Lord, why are they multiplied that afflict me? Many rise up against me. Many say unto my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God. But Thou, O Lord, art my helper, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy mountain. I laid me down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord will help me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God, for Thou hast smitten all who without cause are mine enemies; the teeth of sinners hast Thou broken. Salvation is of the Lord, and Thy blessing is upon Thy people.

Glory.

For the End: An Ode of David among the Psalms, 4.

When I called upon Thee, O God of my righteousness, Thou didst hearken unto me; in mine affliction Thou hast enlarged me. Have compassion on me and hear my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye be slow of heart? Why do ye love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Know also that the Lord hath made wondrous His holy one; the Lord will hearken unto me when I cry unto Him. Be angry, and sin not; feel compunction upon your beds for what ye say in your hearts. Sacrifice a sacrifice of righteousness, and hope in the Lord. Many say: Who will show unto us good things? The light of Thy countenance, O Lord, hath been signed upon us; Thou hast given gladness to my heart. From the fruit of their wheat, wine, and oil are they multiplied. In peace in the same place I shall lay me down and sleep. For Thou, O Lord, alone hast made me to dwell in hope.

For the End: A Psalm of David for Her That Obtained the Inheritance, 5.

Unto my words, give ear, O Lord; hear my cry. Attend unto the voice of my supplication, O my King and my God; for unto Thee will I pray, O Lord. In the morning Thou shalt hear my voice. In the morning shall I stand before Thee, and Thou shalt look upon me; for not a God that willest iniquity art Thou. He that worketh evil shall not dwell near Thee, nor shall transgressors abide before Thine eyes. Thou hast hated all them that work iniquity; Thou shalt destroy all them that speak a lie. A man that is bloody and deceitful shall the Lord abhor. But as for me, in the multitude of Thy mercy shall I go into Thy house; I shall worship toward Thy holy temple in fear of Thee. O Lord, guide me in the way of Thy righteousness; because of mine enemies, make straight my way before Thee. For in their mouth there is no truth; their heart is vain. Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues have they spoken deceitfully; judge them, O God. Let them fall down on account of their own devisings; according to the multitude of their ungodliness, cast them out, for they have embittered Thee, O Lord. And let all them be glad that hope in Thee; they shall ever rejoice, and Thou shalt dwell among them. And all shall glory in Thee that love Thy name, for Thou shalt bless the righteous. O Lord, as with a shield of Thy good pleasure hast Thou crowned us.

For the End: A Psalm of David among the Hymns for the Eighth, 6.

O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, nor chasten me in Thy wrath. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak. Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled, and my soul is troubled greatly; but Thou, O Lord, how long? Turn to me again, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me for Thy mercy's sake. For in death there is none that is mindful of Thee, and in hades who will confess Thee? I toiled in my groaning; every night I will wash my bed, with tears will I water my couch. Through wrath is mine eye become troubled, I have grown old among all mine enemies. Depart from me all ye that work vanity, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication, the Lord hath received my prayer. Let all mine enemies be greatly put to shame and be troubled, let them be turned back, and speedily be greatly put to shame.

Glory.

A Psalm of David. Which He Sang unto the Lord Concerning the Words of Chusi, the Son of Jemeni, 7.

O Lord my God, in Thee have I put my hope; save me from them that persecute me, and do Thou deliver me. Lest at any time like a lion he seize my soul, when there is none to redeem me, nor to save. O Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there be injustice in my hands, If I have paid back evil to them that rendered evil unto me, then let me fall back empty from mine enemies. Then let the enemy pursue my soul, and take it, and let him tread down my life into the earth, and my glory let him bring down into the dust. Arise, O Lord, in Thine anger, exalt Thyself to the furthest boundaries of Thine enemies. And arouse Thyself, O Lord my God, in the commandment which Thou hast enjoined, and a congregation of peoples shall surround Thee. And for their sakes return Thou on high. The Lord shall judge the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine innocence within me. Let the wickedness of sinners be ended, and do Thou guide the righteous man, O God, that searchest out the hearts and reins. Righteous is my help from God, Who saveth them who are upright of heart. God is a judge that is righteous, strong and forbearing, and inflicteth not wrath every day. Unless ye be converted, His glittering sword shall He furbish; He hath bent His bow, and hath made it ready. And on it He hath made ready the instruments of death, His arrows for them that rage hotly hath He perfected. Behold, he was in travail with unrighteousness, he hath conceived toil and brought forth iniquity. He opened a pit and dug it, and he shall fall into the hole which he hath made. His toil shall return upon his own head, and upon his own pate shall his unrighteousness come down. I will give praise unto the Lord according to His righteousness, and I will chant unto the name of the Lord Most High.

For the End: A Psalm of David Concerning the Winepresses, 8.

O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth! For Thy magnificence is lifted high above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast Thou perfected praise, because of Thine enemies, to destroy the enemy and avenger. For I will behold the heavens, the works of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast founded. What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? Or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels; with glory and honour hast Thou crowned him, and Thou hast set him over the works of Thy hands. All things hast Thou subjected under his feet, sheep, and all oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, the things that pass through the paths of the sea. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is Thy name in all the earth!

Glory.

Second Kathisma

For the End: A Psalm of David Concerning the Hidden Things of the Son, 9.

I will confess Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart, I will tell of all Thy wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee, I will chant unto Thy name, O Most High. When mine enemy be turned back, they shall grow weak and shall perish before Thy face, For Thou hast maintained my judgement and my cause; Thou hast sat upon a throne, O Thou that judgest righteousness. Thou hast rebuked the heathen, and the ungodly man hath perished; his name Thou hast blotted out for ever, and unto ages of ages. The swords of the enemy have utterly failed, and his cities Thou hast destroyed. The remembrance of him hath perished with a resounding noise, but the Lord for ever abideth. In judgement hath He prepared His throne, and He himself will judge the world in righteousness; He will judge the peoples in uprightness. And the Lord is become a refuge for the poor man, a helper in times of well-being and in afflictions. And let them that know Thy name hope in Thee, for Thou hast not forsaken them that seek Thee, O Lord. Chant unto the Lord Who dwelleth in Sion, proclaim ye His ways among the nations. For He that maketh enquiry for blood hath remembered them, He hath not forgotten the cry of the paupers. Have mercy on me, O Lord; see my humiliation which I have suffered from mine enemies, O Thou that dost raise me up from the gates of death, That I may declare all Thy praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion. We will rejoice in Thy salvation. The heathen are ensnared in the destruction which they have wrought; in this snare which they hid hath their foot been caught. The Lord is known by the judgements which He executeth; in the works of his own hands hath the sinner been caught. Let sinners be turned away unto hades, yea, all the nations that are forgetful of God. For the poor man shall not be forgotten to the end; the patience of the paupers shall not perish for ever. Arise, O Lord, let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before Thee. O Lord, set a lawgiver over them; let the heathen know that they are but men. Why, O Lord, hast Thou gone to stand afar off? Why dost Thou overlook us in times of well-being and in afflictions? When the ungodly man is arrogant, the poor man burneth within; they are caught in the counsels which they devise. For the sinner praiseth himself in the lusts of his soul, and the unrighteous man likewise blesseth himself therein. The sinner hath provoked the Lord; according to the magnitude of his wrath, he careth not; God is not before him. Profane are his ways in every season, Thy judgements are removed from his sight, over all his enemies shall he gain dominion. For he said in his heart: I shall not be shaken; from generation to generation shall I be without harm. With cursing is his mouth filled, and with bitterness and deceit; under his tongue are toil and travail. He sitteth in ambush with the rich in secret places, that he may slay the innocent; his eyes are set upon the poor man. He lieth in wait in a secret place like a lion in his den; he lieth in wait to seize upon the poor man, to seize upon the poor man when he draweth him in. In his snare will he humble himself, he will bow down and fall while gaining dominion over the poor. For he said in his heart: God hath forgotten; He hath turned away His face, that He might not see unto the end. Arise, O Lord my God, let Thy hand be lifted high; forget not Thy paupers to the end. Why hath the ungodly one provoked God? For he hath said in his heart: He will not make enquiry. Thou seest, for Thou understandest travail and anger, that Thou mightest deliver him into Thy hands. To Thee hath the beggar been abandoned; for the orphan art Thou a helper. Break Thou the arm of the sinner and of the evil man; his sin shall be sought out and be found no more. The Lord shall be king for ever, and unto the ages of ages. Ye heathen shall perish out of His land. The desire of the poor hast Thou heard, O Lord; to the preparation of their heart hath Thine ear been attentive. To judge for the orphan and the humble, that man may no more presume to be haughty upon the earth.

For the End: A Psalm of David, 10.

In the Lord have I hoped; how will ye say to my soul: Flee unto the mountains like a sparrow? For behold, the sinners have bent their bow, they have prepared arrows for the quiver, to shoot down in a moonless night the upright of heart. For what Thou hast formed they have destroyed; and the righteous man, what hath he done? The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord, in heaven is His throne; His eyes are set upon the poor man, His eyelids examine the sons of men. The Lord examineth the righteous man and the ungodly; but he that loveth unrighteousness hateth his own soul. He will rain down snares upon sinners; fire and brimstone and wind of tempest shall be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous and hath loved righteousness; upon uprightness hath His countenance looked.

Glory.

For the End: A Psalm of David for the Eighth, 11.

Save me, O Lord, for a righteous man there is no more; for truths have diminished from the sons of men. Vain things hath each man spoken to his neighbour; deceitful lips are in his heart, and in his heart hath he spoken evils. Let the Lord destroy all deceitful lips and the tongue that speaketh boastful words, which have said: Our tongue will we magnify, our lips are our own. Who is lord over us? Because of the distress of the beggars and the groaning of the poor, now will I arise, saith the Lord; I will establish them in salvation, I will be manifest therein. The words of the Lord are pure words, silver that is fired, tried in the earth, brought to sevenfold purity. Thou, O Lord, shalt keep us and shalt preserve us from this generation, and for evermore. The ungodly walk round about; to the measure of Thy loftiness hast Thou esteemed the sons of men.

For the End: A Psalm of David, 12.

How long, O Lord, wilt Thou utterly forget me? How long wilt Thou turn Thy face away from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul with grievings in my heart by day and by night? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Look upon me, hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten mine eyes, lest at any time I sleep unto death. Lest at any time mine enemy say: I have prevailed against him. They that afflict me will rejoice if I am shaken; but as for me, I have hoped in Thy mercy. My heart will rejoice in Thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, Who is my benefactor, and I will chant unto the name of the Lord Most High.

For the End: A Psalm of David, 13.

The fool hath said in his heart: There is no God. They are become corrupt and loathsome in their ways; there is none that doeth good, no not one. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there be any that understand or seek after God. They are all gone astray, they are altogether useless, there is none that doeth good, no not one. Shall not all they that work iniquity come to understanding? They that eat up my people as they eat bread have not called upon the Lord. There have they feared with fear where there is no fear; for the Lord is in the generation of the righteous. The counsel of the poor man have ye shamed, but the Lord is his hope. Who shall give out of Sion the salvation of Israel? When the Lord hath turned back the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice and Israel shall be glad.

Glory.

A Psalm of David, 14.

O Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? and who shall dwell in Thy holy mountain? He that walketh blameless and worketh righteousness, speaking truth in his heart, Who hath not spoken deceitfully with his tongue, neither hath done evil to his neighbour, nor taken up a reproach against those near him. In his sight he that worketh evil is set at nought, be he glorifieth them that fear the Lord. He giveth oath to his neighbour, and forsweareth not. He hath not lent his money on usury, and hath not received bribes against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be shaken.

A Pillar of Inscription of David, 15.

Keep me, O Lord, for in Thee have I hoped. I said unto the Lord: Thou art my Lord; for of my goods, no need hast Thou. In the saints that are in His earth hath the Lord been wondrous; He hath wrought all His desires in them. Their infirmities increased; thereupon they hastened. (Diapsalm) I will not assemble their assemblies of blood, nor will I make remembrance of their name through my lips. The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup. Thou art He that restorest mine inheritance unto me. Portions have fallen to me that are among the best, for mine inheritance is most excellent to me. I will bless the Lord Who hath given me understanding; moreover, even till night have my reins instructed me. I beheld the Lord ever before me, for He is at my right hand, that I might not be shaken. Therefore did my heart rejoice and my tongue was glad; moreover, my flesh shall dwell in hope. For Thou wilt not abandon my soul in hades, nor wilt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, Thou wilt fill me with gladness with Thy countenance; delights are in Thy right hand for ever.

A Prayer of David, 16.

Hearken, O Lord, unto my righteousness, attend unto my supplication. Give ear unto my prayer, which cometh not from deceitful lips. From before Thy face let my judgement come forth, let mine eyes behold uprightness. Thou hast proved my heart, Thou hast visited it in the night, Thou hast tried me by fire, and unrighteousness was not found in me. That my mouth might not speak of the works of men, for the sake of the words of Thy lips have I kept the ways that are hard. Set my footsteps in Thy paths, that my steps may not be shaken. I have cried for Thou hast hearkened unto me, O God. Incline Thine ear unto me, and hearken unto my words. Let Thy mercies be made wonderful, O Thou that savest them that hope in Thee. From them that have resisted Thy right hand, keep me, O Lord, as the apple of Thine eye. In the shelter of Thy wings wilt Thou shelter me, from the face of the ungodly which have oppressed me. Mine enemies have surrounded my soul, they have enclosed themselves with their own fat, their mouth hath spoken pride. They that cast me out have now encircled me, they have set their eyes to look askance on the earth. They have taken me as might a lion ready for his prey, and as might a lion's whelp that dwelleth in hiding. Arise, O Lord, overtake them and trip their heels; deliver my soul from ungodly men, Thy sword from the enemies of Thy hand. O Lord, from Thy few do Thou separate them from the earth in their life; yea, with Thy hidden treasures hath their belly been filled. They have satisfied themselves with swine and have left the remnants to their babes. But as for me, in righteousness shall I appear before Thy face; I shall be filled when Thy glory is made manifest to me.

Glory.

Third Kathisma

For the End, for the Child of the Lord, David: What Things He Spake unto the Lord, Even the Words of this Ode, in the Day Wherein the Lord Delivered Him out of the Hands of All His Enemies, and out of the Hand of Saul; And He Said: 17.

I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my foundation, and my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is my helper, and I will hope in Him, my defender, and the horn of my salvation, and my helper. With praise will I call upon the name of the Lord, and from mine enemies shall I be saved. The pangs of death surrounded me, and the torrents of iniquity sorely troubled me. The pangs of hades encircled me, round about the snares of death have overtaken me. And in mine affliction I called upon the Lord, and unto my God I cried; He heard my voice out of His holy temple, and my cry before Him shall enter into His ears. And the earth shook and was made to tremble, and the foundations of the mountains were troubled and were shaken, because God was angry with them. There went up smoke in His wrath, and fire from His countenance set all aflame; coals were kindled therefrom. And He bowed the heavens and came down, and thick darkness was under His feet. And He mounted upon cherubim and flew, He flew upon the wings of the winds. And He made darkness His hiding place, His tabernacle round about Him, dark water in the clouds of the air. From the far-shining radiance that was before Him there passed by clouds, hail, and coals of fire. And the Lord thundered out of heaven, and the Most High gave forth His voice. And He sent forth His arrows, and scattered them; and lightnings He multiplied, and troubled them sorely. And the well-springs of the waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were revealed at Thy rebuke, O Lord, at the on-breathing of the spirit of Thy wrath. He sent from on high, and He took me; He received me out of many waters. He will deliver me from mine enemies which are mighty and from them that hate me, for they are stronger than I. They overtook me in the day of mine affliction, and the Lord became my firm support. And He led me forth into a spacious place; He will deliver me, because He desired me. And the Lord will recompense me according to my righteousness, and according to the purity of my hands will He recompense me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and I have not acted impiously toward my God. For all his judgements are before me, and His statutes departed not from me. And I shall be blameless with Him, and I shall keep myself from mine iniquity. And the Lord will reward me according to my righteousness, and according to the purity of my hands before His eyes. With the holy man wilt Thou be holy, and with the innocent man wilt Thou be innocent. And with the elect man wilt Thou be elect, and with the perverse wilt Thou be perverse. For Thou wilt save a humble people, and Thou wilt humble the eyes of the arrogant. For Thou wilt light my lamp, O Lord my God, Thou wilt enlighten my darkness. For by Thee shall I be delivered from a host of robbers, and by my God shall I leap over a wall. As for my God, blameless is His way; the words of the Lord are tried in the fire; defender is He of all that hope in Him. For who is god, save the Lord? And who is god, save our God? It is God, Who girded me with power, and hath made my path blameless, Who maketh my feet like the feet of a hart, and setteth me upon high places, Who teacheth my hands for war; and Thou madest mine arms a bow of brass. And Thou gavest me the shield of salvation, and Thy right hand hath upheld me. And Thine instruction hath corrected me even unto the end; yea, Thine instruction, the same will teach me. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, and the tracks of my feet are not weakened. I shall pursue mine enemies and I shall overtake them, and I shall not turn back until they fail. I shall greatly afflict them, and they shall not be able to stand; they shall fall under my feet. For Thou hast girded me with power for war, in subjection under me hast Thou bound the feet of all them that rose up against me. And Thou hast made mine enemies turn their back before me, and them that hate me hast Thou utterly destroyed. They cried, and there was no saviour -- even to the Lord, and He hearkened not to them. And I will grind them fine as dust before the face of the wind; I will trample them down as mud in the streets. Deliver me from the gainsaying of the people; Thou wilt set me at the head of nations. A people which I knew not hath served me; no sooner than their ear had heard, they obeyed me. Sons that are strangers have lied unto me; sons that are strangers have grown old, and they have limped away from their paths. The Lord liveth, and blessed is my God, and let the God of my salvation be exalted. O God Who givest avengement unto me and hast subdued peoples under me, O my Deliverer from enemies which are prone to anger, from them that arise up against me wilt Thou lift me high; from the unrighteous man deliver me. For this cause will I confess Thee among the nations, O Lord, and unto Thy name will I chant. It is He that magnifieth the salvation of His king and worketh mercy for His anointed, for David, and for his seed unto eternity.

Glory.

For the End: A Psalm of David, 18.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands. Day unto day poureth forth speech, and night unto night proclaimeth knowledge. There are no tongues nor words in which their voices are not heard. Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. In the sun hath He set His tabernacle; and He, like a bridegroom coming forth from his chamber, will rejoice like a giant to run his course. From the outermost border of heaven is His going forth, and His goal is unto the outermost part of heaven, and there shall no man hide himself from His heat. The law of the Lord is blameless, converting souls; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, bringing wisdom to infants. The statutes of the Lord are upright, gladdening the heart; the commandment of the Lord is far-shining, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring for ever and ever; the judgements of the Lord are true, altogether justified, More to be desired than gold and much precious stone, and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb. Yea, for Thy servant keepeth them; in keeping them there is much reward. As for transgressions, who will understand them? From my secret sins cleanse me, and from those of others spare Thy servant. If they have not dominion over me, then blameless shall I be, and I shall be cleansed from great sin. And the sayings of my mouth shall be unto Thy good pleasure, and the meditation of my heart shall be before Thee for ever, O Lord, my helper and redeemer.

For the End: A Psalm of David, 19.

The Lord hear thee in the day of affliction; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee. Let Him send forth unto thee help from His sanctuary, and out of Sion let Him help thee. Let Him remember every sacrifice of thine, and thy whole-burnt offering let Him fatten. The Lord grant thee according to thy heart, and fulfil all thy purposes. We will rejoice in Thy salvation, and in the name of the Lord our God shall we be magnified. The Lord fulfil all thy requests. Now have I known that the Lord hath saved His anointed one; He will hearken unto him out of His holy heaven; in mighty deeds is the salvation of His right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will call upon the name of the Lord our God. They have been fettered and have fallen, but we are risen and are set upright. O Lord, save the king, and hearken unto us in the day when we call upon Thee.

For the End: A Psalm of David, 20.

O Lord, in Thy strength the king shall be glad, and in Thy salvation shall he rejoice exceedingly. The desire of his heart hast Thou granted unto him, and hast not denied him the requests of his lips. Thou wentest before him with the blessings of goodness, Thou hast set upon his head a crown of precious stone. He asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest him length of days unto ages of ages. Great is his glory in Thy salvation; glory and majesty shalt Thou lay upon him. For Thou shalt give him blessing for ever and ever, Thou shalt gladden him in joy with Thy countenance. For the king hopeth in the Lord, and through the mercy of the Most High shall he not be shaken. Let Thy hand be found on all Thine enemies; let Thy right hand find all that hate Thee. For Thou wilt make them as an oven of fire in the time of Thy presence; the Lord in His wrath will trouble them sorely and fire shall devour them. Their fruit wilt Thou destroy from the earth, and their seed from the sons of men. For they have intended evil against Thee, they have devised counsels which they shall not be able to establish. For Thou shalt make them turn their backs; among those that are Thy remnant, Thou shalt make ready their countenance. Be Thou exalted, O Lord, in Thy strength; we will sing and chant of Thy mighty acts.

Glory.

For the End: A Psalm of David concerning Help That Cometh in the Morning, 21.

O God, my God, attend to me; why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my salvation are the words of my transgressions. My God, I will cry by day, and wilt Thou not hearken? and by night, and it shall not be unto folly for me. But as for Thee, Thou dwellest in the sanctuary, O Praise of Israel. In Thee have our fathers hoped; they hoped, and Thou didst deliver them. Unto Thee they cried, and were saved; in Thee they hoped, and were not brought to shame. But as for me, I am a worm, and not a man, a reproach of men, and the outcast of the people. All that look upon me have laughed me to scorn; they have spoken with their lips and have wagged their heads: He hoped in the Lord; let Him deliver him, let Him save him, for He desireth him. For Thou art He that drewest me forth from the womb; my hope from the breasts of my mother. On Thee was I cast from the womb; from my mother's womb, Thou art my God. Depart not from me, for tribulation is nigh, for there is none to help me. Many bullocks have encircled me, fat bulls have surrounded me. They have opened their mouth against me, as might a lion ravenous and roaring. I have been poured out like water, and scattered are all my bones; my heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue hath cleaved to my throat, and into the dust of death hast Thou brought me down. For many dogs have encircled me, the congregation of evil doers hath surrounded me; they have pierced my hands and my feet. They have numbered all my bones, and they themselves have looked and stared upon me. They have parted my garments amongst themselves, and for my vesture have they cast lots. But Thou, O Lord, remove not Thy help far from me; attend unto mine aid. Rescue my soul from the sword, even this only-begotten one of mine from the hand of the dog. Save me from the mouth of the lion, and my lowliness from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare Thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I hymn Thee. Ye that fear the Lord, praise Him; all ye that are of the seed of Jacob, glorify Him; let all fear Him that are of the seed of Israel. For He hath not set at naught nor abhorred the supplications of the pauper, nor hath He turned His face from me; and when I cried unto Him, He hearkened unto me. From Thee is my praise; in the great church will I confess Thee; my vows will I pay before them that fear Thee. The poor shall eat and be filled, and they that seek the Lord shall praise Him; their hearts shall live for ever and ever. All the ends of the earth shall remember and shall turn unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Him. For the kingdom is the Lord's and He Himself is sovereign of the nations. All they that be fat upon the earth have eaten and worshipped; all they that go down into the earth shall fall down before Him. Yea, my soul liveth for Him, and my seed shall serve Him. The generation that cometh shall be told of the Lord, and they shall proclaim His righteousness to a people that shall be born, which the Lord hath made.

A Psalm of David, 22.

The Lord is my shepherd, and I shall not want. In a place of green pasture, there hath He made me to dwell; beside the water of rest hath He nurtured me. He hath converted my soul, He hath led me on the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they have comforted me. Thou hast prepared a table for me in the presence of them that afflict me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy cup which filleth me, how excellent it is! And Thy mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.

A Psalm of David, on the First Day of the Week, 23.

The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof, the world, and all that dwell therein. He hath founded it upon the seas, and upon the rivers hath He prepared it. Who shall ascend into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that is innocent in hands and pure in heart, who hath not received his soul in vain, and hath not sworn deceitfully to his neighbour. Such a one shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Saviour. This is the generation of them that seek the Lord, of them that seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in war. Lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall enter in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory.

Glory.

Monday

Fourth Kathisma

A Psalm of David, 24.

Unto Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. O my God, in Thee have I trusted; let me never be put to shame, nor let mine enemies laugh me to scorn. Yea, let none that wait on Thee be put to shame; let them be ashamed which are lawless without a cause. Make Thy ways, O Lord, known unto me and teach me Thy paths. Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, for Thou art God my Saviour; for on Thee have I waited all the day long. Remember Thy compassions; O Lord, and Thy mercies, for they are from everlasting. The sins of my youth and mine ignorances remember not; according to Thy mercy remember Thou me, for the sake of Thy goodness, O Lord. Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He set a law for them that sin in the way. He will guide the meek in judgement, He will teach the meek His ways. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto them that seek after His covenant and His testimonies. For the sake of Thy name, O Lord, be gracious unto my sin; for it is great. Who is the man that feareth the Lord? He will set him a law in the way which He hath chosen. His soul shall dwell among good things, and his seed shall inherit the earth. The Lord is the strength of them that fear Him, and His covenant shall be manifested unto them. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He it is that will draw my feet out of the snare. Look upon me, and have mercy on me; for I am one only-begotten and poor. The afflictions of my heart are multiplied; bring me out from my necessities. Behold my lowliness and my toil, and forgive all my sins. Look upon my enemies, for they are multiplied, and with an unjust hatred they have hated me. Keep my soul and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I have hoped in Thee. The innocent and the upright have cleaved unto me, for I waited on Thee, O Lord. Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his afflictions.

David's, 25.

Judge me, O Lord, for in mine innocence have I walked; and hoping in the Lord I shall not grow weak. Prove me, O Lord, and try me; prove with fire my reins and my heart. For Thy mercy is before mine eyes, and I have been well-pleasing in Thy truth. I have not set with the council of vanity, nor shall I go in with them that transgress the law. I have hated the congregation of evil-doers, and with the ungodly will I not sit. I will wash my hands in innocency and I will compass Thine altar, O Lord, that I may hear the voice of Thy praise and tell of all Thy wondrous works. O Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house, and the place where Thy glory dwelleth. Destroy not my soul with the ungodly, nor my life with men of blood, in whose hands are iniquities; their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, in mine innocence have I walked; redeem me, O Lord, and have mercy on me. My foot hath stood in uprightness; in the congregations will I bless Thee, O Lord.

David's. Before He was Anointed, 26.

The Lord is my light and my saviour; whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the defender of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? When the wicked draw nigh against me to eat my flesh, they that afflict me and are mine enemies, they themselves became weak and they fell. Though a host should array itself against me, my heart shall not be afraid; though war should rise up against me, in this have I hoped. One thing have I asked of the Lord, this will I seek after: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, that I may behold the delight of the Lord, and that I may visit His holy temple. For He hid me in His tabernacle in the day of my troubles, He sheltered me in the secret place of His tabernacle, upon a rock hath He exalted me. And now, behold, He exalted my head above mine enemies. I went round about and I sacrificed in His tabernacle a sacrifice of praise and jubilation; I will sing and I will chant unto the Lord. Hearken, O Lord, unto my voice, wherewith I cried; have mercy on me, and hearken unto me. My heart said unto Thee: I will seek the Lord. My face hath sought after Thee; Thy face, O Lord, will I seek. Turn not Thy face from me and turn not away in wrath from Thy servant. Be Thou my helper; cast me not utterly away, and forsake me not, O God my Saviour. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord hath taken me to Himself. Set me a law, O Lord, in Thy way, and lead me in the right path because of mine enemies. Deliver me not over unto the souls of them that afflict me, for unjust witnesses are risen up against me, and injustice hath lied to itself. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be thou manful, and let thy heart be strengthened, and wait on the Lord.

Glory.

David's, 27.

Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry; O my God, be not silent unto me, lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hearken, O Lord, unto my supplication when I pray unto Thee, when I lift up my hands toward Thy holy temple. Draw me not in with sinners, and with the workers of unrighteousness destroy me not, who speak peace with their neighbours, but evils are in their hearts. Give unto them, O Lord, according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours; according to the work of their hands, give unto them. Render their reward unto them. For they have not understood the works of the Lord, and the works of His hands. Thou shalt destroy them, and shalt not build them up. Blessed is the Lord, because He hath heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my helper and my defender; my heart hath hoped in Him, and I am helped and my flesh hath flourished again, and out of my desire will I confess Him. The Lord is the strength of His people, and the champion of salvation for His anointed one. Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance; shepherd them and bear them up unto eternity.

A Psalm of David. A Processional of the Tabernacle, 28.

Bring unto the Lord, ye sons of God, bring unto the Lord the sons of rams; bring unto the Lord glory and honour. Bring unto the Lord the glory due unto His name, worship the Lord in His holy court. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory hath thundered, the Lord is upon the many waters. The voice of the Lord in might, the voice of the Lord in majesty, The voice of the Lord Who breaketh the cedars, yea, the Lord will break the cedars of Lebanon. And He will break them small like the calf of Lebanon, and His beloved is like a son of the unicorns. The voice of the Lord Who divideth the flame of fire, The voice of the Lord Who shaketh the wilderness, yea, the Lord will shake the wilderness of Kaddis. The voice of the Lord gathereth the harts, and shall reveal the thickets of oak, and in His temple every man uttereth glory. The Lord dwelleth in the flood, yea, the Lord shall sit as king for ever. The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

For the End: A Canticle Psalm at the Dedication of the House of David, 29.

I will exalt Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me. O Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul out of hades; Thou hast saved me from them that go down into the pit. Chant unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For wrath is in His anger, but in His will there is life; at evening shall weeping find lodging, but in the morning rejoicing. And I said in my prosperity: I shall remain unshaken for ever. O Lord, by Thy will hast Thou granted power to my beauty, but Thou hast turned away Thy face, and I am become troubled. Unto Thee, O Lord, will I cry, and unto my God will I make supplication. What profit is there in my blood when I go down into corruption? Shall dust confess Thee, or declare Thy truth? The Lord hath heard me and hath had mercy on me; the Lord became my helper. Thou hast turned my mourning into joy for me, Thou didst rend my sackcloth and didst gird me with gladness, That my glory may chant unto Thee, and that I may not be pierced with sorrow; O Lord my God, I will confess Thee for ever.

Glory.

For the End: A Psalm of David. In Time of Sudden Fear, 30.

In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be put to shame in the age to come; in Thy righteousness deliver me, and rescue me. Bow down Thine ear unto me, make haste to rescue me, be Thou unto me a God to defend me and a house of refuge to save me. For my strength and my refuge art Thou, and for Thy name's sake wilt Thou guide me and nourish me. Thou wilt bring me out of this snare which they have hid for me, for Thou art my defender, O Lord. Into Thy hands I will commit my spirit; Thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. Thou hast hated them that cling to empty vanities; but I have hoped in the Lord. I will rejoice and be glad in Thy mercy, for Thou hast regarded my lowliness; Thou hast saved my soul out of necessities, And hast not shut me up in the hands of enemies; Thou hast set my feet in a spacious place. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am afflicted; mine eye is troubled with anger, as also my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with groanings; my strength hath grown weak in poverty, and my bones are troubled. I am become a reproach among all mine enemies, and greatly for my neighbours also, and a fear to mine acquaintances. They that saw me without fled from me. I am forgotten by the heart like a dead man. I am become like a broken vessel. For I have heard the reproach of many that dwell round about; when they assembled together against me, they devised to take away my life. But as for me, I have hoped in Thee, O Lord; I said: Thou art my God; in Thy hands are my lots. Deliver me from the hands of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, save me in Thy mercy. O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I have called upon Thee; let the ungodly be put to shame and let them be brought down into hades. Speechless be the deceitful lips which speak iniquity against the righteous man with arrogance and contempt. How great is the multitude of Thy goodness, O Lord, which Thou hast hid for them that fear Thee, which Thou hast wrought for them that hope in Thee before the sons of men. Thou shalt hide them in the secrecy of Thy presence from the disturbance of men; Thou shalt shelter them in the tabernacle from contradiction of tongues. Blessed is the Lord, for He hath made His mercy wondrous in a fortified city. But as for me, I said in mine ecstasy: I am cast away from the presence of Thine eyes. Therefore hast Thou heard the voice of my supplication when I cried unto Thee. O love ye the Lord, all ye His saints, for the Lord requireth truth; and unto them that act with exceeding pride, He rendereth them their due. Be ye manful, and let your heart be strengthened, all ye that hope in the Lord.

David's. Concerning Instruction, 31.

Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not sin, and in whose mouth there is no guile. Because I kept silence, my bones are waxed old through my crying all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me, I was reduced to misery whilst the thorn stuck fast in me. Mine iniquity have I acknowledged, and my sin have I not hid. I said: I will confess mine iniquities before the Lord against myself. And Thou forgavest the ungodliness of my heart. For this shall every one that is holy pray unto Thee in a seasonable time; moreover, in a flood of many waters shall they not come nigh unto him. Thou art my refuge from the affliction which surroundeth me; O my Rejoicing, deliver me from them which have encircled me. (Diapsalm) I will instruct thee and teach thee in this way which thou shalt go; I will fix Mine eyes upon thee. Be ye not as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding; whose jaws thou must hold with bit and bridle, lest they come nigh unto thee. Many are the scourges of the sinner, but mercy shall encircle him that hopeth in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous; and glory, all ye that are upright of heart.

Glory.

Fifth Kathisma

David's. Without Superscription among the Hebrews, 32.

Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright. Give praise to the Lord with the harp, chant unto Him with the ten-stringed psaltery. Sing unto Him a new song, chant well unto Him with jubilation. For the word of the Lord is true, and all His works are in faithfulness. The Lord loveth mercy and judgement; the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord. By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established, and all the might of them by the Spirit of His mouth, Who gathereth together as into a wineskin the waters of the sea, Who layeth up the abysses in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord, and let all the inhabitants of the world be shaken before Him. For he spake, and they came into being; He commanded, and they were created. The Lord scattereth the plans of the heathens, He setteth aside the devices of the peoples, and He bringeth to nought the plans of princes. But the counsel of the Lord abideth unto eternity, the thoughts of His heart unto generation and generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He hath chosen for His inheritance. The Lord looked down from heaven, He beheld all the sons of men. From His habitation which He prepared, He looked upon all the inhabitants of the earth, He that alone fashioned the heart of them, Who understandeth all their works. A king is not saved by great might, nor shall a giant be saved by the magnitude of his own strength. Futile is the horse for salvation, nor by the magnitude of his might shall he be saved. Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy. To deliver their souls from death, and to nourish them in famine. Our soul shall wait for the Lord, for he is our helper and our defender. For our heart shall be glad in Him, and in His holy name have we hoped. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we have hoped in Thee.

David's. When He Changed His Countenance before Abimelech, and Was Dismissed, and Went Away, 33.

I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. In the Lord shall my soul be praised; let the meek hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my tribulations. Come unto Him, and be enlightened, and your faces shall not be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his tribulations. The angel of the Lord will encamp round about them that fear Him, and will deliver them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that hopeth in Him. O fear the Lord, all ye His saints; for there is no want to them that fear Him. Rich men have turned poor and gone hungry; but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good thing. Come ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there that desireth life, who loveth to see good days? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are opened unto their supplication. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, utterly to destroy the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them, and He delivered them out of all their tribulations. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a contrite heart, and He will save the humble of spirit. Many are the tribulations of the righteous, and the Lord shall deliver them out of them all. The Lord keepeth all their bones, not one of them shall be broken. The death of sinners is evil, and they that hate the righteous shall do wrong. The Lord will redeem the souls of His servants, and none of them will do wrong that hope in Him.

Glory.

David's, 34.

Judge them, O Lord, that do me injustice; war against them that war against me. Take hold of weapon and shield, and arise unto my help. Draw out a sword, and shut the way against them that persecute me; say to my soul: I am thy salvation. Let them that seek my soul be shamed and confounded. Let them be turned back, and be utterly put to shame, they that devise evils against me. Let them become as dust before the face of the wind, an angel of the Lord also afflicting them. Let their way become darkness and a sliding, an angel of the Lord also pursuing them. For without cause have they secretly prepared for my destruction in their snare, without reason have they cast reproach on my soul. Let a snare come upon him, which he knoweth not; and let the trap, which he hath hidden, catch him, and into that same snare let him fall. But my soul shall rejoice in the Lord, it shall delight in His salvation. All my bones shall say: Lord, O Lord, who is like unto Thee? Delivering the beggar from the hand of them that are stronger than he, yea, poor man and pauper from them that despoil him. Unjust witnesses rose up against me; things I knew not they asked me. They repaid me with evil things for good, and barrenness for my soul. But as for me, when they troubled me, I put on sackcloth. And I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer shall return to my bosom. As though it had been a neighbour, as though it had been our brother, so sought I to please; as one mourning and sad of countenance, so humbled I myself. Yet against me they rejoiced and gathered together; scourges were gathered together upon me, and I knew it not. They were rent asunder, yet not pricked at heart; they tempted me, they mocked me with mockery, they gnashed upon me with their teeth. O Lord, when wilt Thou look upon me? Deliver my soul from their evil doing, even this only-begotten one of mine from the lions. I will confess Thee in the great congregation; among a mighty people will I praise Thee. Let not them rejoice against me that unjustly are mine enemies, they that hate me without a cause, and wink with their eyes. For peaceably indeed they spake unto me, but in their wrath were they devising deceits. And they opened wide their mouth against me; they said: Well done, well done, our eyes have seen it. Thou hast seen it, O Lord; keep not silence. O Lord, depart not from me. Arise, O Lord, and be attentive unto my judgement, my God, and my Lord, unto my cause. Judge me, O Lord, according to Thy righteousness; O Lord my God, let them not rejoice against me. Let them not say in their hearts: Well done, well done, our soul. Let them not say: We have swallowed him up. Let them be shamed and confounded together who rejoice at my woes. Let them be clothed with shame and confusion who speak boastful words against me. Let them rejoice and be glad who desire the righteousness of my cause, and let them that desire the peace of Thy servant say continually: The Lord be magnified. And my tongue shall treat of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day long.

For the End: Of David, the Child of the Lord, 35.

The transgressor, that he may sin, saith to himself, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he hath wrought craftiness before Him, lest he should find his iniquity and hate it. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit, he hath not willed to understand how to do good. Iniquity hath he devised upon his bed, he hath set himself in every way that is not good, and evil hath he not abhorred. O Lord, Thy mercy is in heaven, and Thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. Thy righteousness is as the mountains of God, Thy judgements are a great abyss. Men and beasts wilt thou save, O Lord. How Thou hast multiplied Thy mercy, O God! Let the sons of men hope in the shelter of Thy wings. They shall be drunken with the fatness of Thy house, and of the torrent of Thy delight shalt Thou make them to drink. For in thee is the fountain of life, in Thy light shall we see light. O continue Thy mercy unto them that know Thee, and Thy righteousness unto the upright of heart. Let not the foot of pride come against me, nor let the hand of a sinner move me. Yonder be fallen all they that work iniquity; they are cast out, and shall not be able to stand.

Glory.

David's, 36.

Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, nor envy them that work iniquity. For like grass quickly shall they be withered, and like green herbs quickly shall they fall away. Hope in the Lord, and do good, and dwell on the earth, and like a shepherd shalt thou be fed with its riches. Delight thyself in the Lord, and He will give thee the askings of thy heart. Disclose unto the Lord thy way, and trust in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgement as the noonday. Submit thyself unto the Lord and supplicate Him; fret not thyself because of him that prospereth in his way, nor because of a man that doeth iniquity. Cease from wrath and forsake anger; fret not thyself so as to do evil. For evil-doers shall utterly perish, but they that wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. And yet a little while, and the sinner shall not be, and thou shalt seek for his place, and shalt not find it. But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in an abundance of peace. The sinner will diligently keep watch over the righteous man and will gnash with his teeth upon him. But the Lord shall laugh at him, because He foreseeth that his day will come. The sinners have drawn a sword; they have bent their bow, to cast down poor man and pauper, to slay the upright in heart. Let their sword enter into their own hearts and let their bows be broken. Better is the little which the just man hath than the great riches of sinners. For the arms of the sinners shall be broken, but the Lord upholdeth the righteous. The Lord knoweth the ways of the blameless and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be put to shame in an evil time, and in days of famine they shall be filled. But the sinners shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord, in the moment when they are glorified and exalted, vanish away, and like smoke have vanished away. The sinner borroweth and will not repay, but the just man showeth mercy and giveth. For they that bless him shall inherit the earth, but they that curse him shall utterly perish. By the Lord are the steps of a man rightly directed, and His way shall he greatly desire. When he falleth he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth his hand. I have been young, and now indeed I am old, and I have not seen the righteous man forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. All the day long the righteous showeth mercy, and lendeth, and his seed shall be unto blessing. Decline from evil and do good, and dwell unto ages of ages. For the Lord loveth judgement, and He will not forsake His holy ones; they shall be kept for ever. But the wicked shall be banished, and the seed of the ungodly shall be utterly destroyed. The righteous shall inherit the earth and shall dwell therein unto ages of ages. The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom and his tongue shall speak of judgement. The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be tripped. The sinner watcheth the righteous one, and seeketh to slay him. But the Lord will not abandon him to his hands, nor in any way condemn him when He judgeth him. Wait on the Lord and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the earth; when sinners are utterly destroyed, thou shalt see it. I have seen the ungodly man highly exalted and lifting himself up like the cedars of Lebanon. But I passed by, and lo, he was not; and I sought him, and place was not to be found. Keep innocence, and behold uprightness, for there is a remnant for the peaceable man. But the transgressors shall be utterly destroyed together, and the remnants of the ungodly shall be utterly destroyed. But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord, and He is their defender in a time of affliction. And the Lord shall help them and shall deliver them, and He will rescue them from sinners and will save them because they hoped in Him.

Glory.

Sixth Kathisma

A Psalm of David. In Remembrance. Concerning the Sabbath, 37.

O Lord, rebuke me not in Thine anger, nor chasten me in Thy wrath. For Thine arrows are fastened in me, and Thou hast laid Thy hand heavily upon me. There is no healing in my flesh in the face of Thy wrath; and there is no peace in my bones in the face of my sins. For mine iniquities are risen higher than my head; as a heavy burden have they pressed heavily upon me. My bruises are become noisome and corrupt in the face of my folly. I have been wretched and utterly bowed down until the end; all the day long I went with downcast face. For my loins are filled with mockings, and there is no healing in my flesh. I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly, I have roared from the groaning of my heart. O Lord, before Thee is all my desire, and my groaning is not hid from Thee. My heart is troubled, my strength hath failed me; and the light of mine eyes, even this is not with me. My friends and my neighbours drew nigh over against me and stood, and my nearest of kin stood afar off. And they that sought after my soul used violence; and they that sought evils for me spake vain things, and craftiness all the day long did they meditate. But as for me, like a deaf man I heard them not, and was as a speechless man that openeth not his mouth. And I became as a man that heareth not, and that hath in his mouth no reproofs. For in Thee have I hoped, O Lord; Thou wilt hearken unto me, O Lord my God. For I said: Let never mine enemies rejoice over me; yea, when my feet were shaken, those men spake boastful words against me. For I am ready for scourges, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity, and I will take heed concerning my sin. But mine enemies live and are made stronger than I, and they that hated me unjustly are multiplied. They that render me evil for good slandered me, because I pursued goodness. Forsake me not, O Lord my God, depart not from me. Be attentive unto my help, O Lord of my salvation.

For the End: An Ode of David for Idithum, 38.

I said: I will take heed to my ways lest I sin with my tongue. I set a guard for my mouth, when the sinner stood up against me. I was dumb and was humbled, and held my peace, even from good, and my sorrow was stirred anew. My heart grew hot within me, and in my meditation a fire was kindled. I spake with my tongue: O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is, that I may know what I lack. Behold, Thou hast made my days as the spans of a hand, and my being is as nothing before Thee. Nay, all things are vanity, every man living. Surely man walketh about like a phantom, nay, in vain doth he disquiet himself. He layeth up treasure, and knoweth not for whom he shall gather it. And now, what is my patient endurance? Is it not the Lord? Yea, my hope is from Thee. From all mine iniquities deliver me; Thou hast made me a reproach to the foolish. I was dumb and opened not my mouth, for Thou hast made me. Take away from me Thy scourges; for from the strength of Thy hand I have fainted. With reprovings for iniquity hast Thou chastened man, and hast made his life to melt away like a spider's web; nay, in vain doth every man disquiet himself. Hearken unto my prayer, O Lord, and unto my supplication; give ear unto my tears. Be not silent, for I am a sojourner with Thee, and a stranger, as were all my fathers. Spare me, that I may be refreshed before I go hence, and be no more.

For the End: A Psalm of David, 39.

With patience I waited patiently for the Lord, and He was attentive unto me, and He hearkened unto my supplication. And He brought me up out of the pit of misery, and from the mire of clay. And He set my feet upon a rock, and He ordered my steps aright. And He hath put into my mouth a new song, a hymn unto our God. Many shall see, and shall fear, and shall hope in the Lord. Blessed is the man, whose hope is in the name of the Lord, and who hath not looked upon vanities and false frenzies. Many, O Lord my God, are Thy wonders which Thou hast wrought, and Thy thoughts there is none that shall be likened unto Thee. I declared and spake: They are multiplied beyond number. Sacrifice and offering hast Thou not desired, but a body hast Thou perfected for me. Whole-burnt offerings and oblations for sin hast Thou not demanded. Then I said: Behold, I am come (in the heading of the book it is written concerning me) to do Thy will, O my God, and Thy law is in the midst of my bowels. I have proclaimed the good tidings of Thy righteousness in the great congregation; lo, my lips I shall not restrain; Lord, Thou knowest it. Thy righteousness have I not hid in my heart; Thy truth and Thy salvation have I declared. I have not concealed Thy mercy, nor Thy truth, from the great assemblage. But Thou, O Lord, remove not Thy compassions far from me; let Thy mercy and Thy truth continually help me. For evils without number have encompassed me; mine iniquities took hold of me, and I became unable to see. They are multiplied more than the hairs of my head, and my heart hath failed me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, be attentive unto helping me. Let them be shamed and confounded together which seek after my soul, to destroy it. Let them be turned back and confounded that desire evils for me. Let them quickly receive shame for their reward, who say to me: Well done, well done. Let them rejoice and be glad in Thee all they that seek after Thee, O Lord; and let them that love Thy salvation continually say: The Lord be magnified. But as for me, a poor man am I and a pauper; the Lord will care for me. My helper and my defender art Thou, O my God; make no tarrying.

Glory.

For the End: A Psalm of David, 40.

Blessed is the man that hath understanding for the poor man and the pauper; in an evil day the Lord will deliver him. May the Lord keep him, and make him to live, and make him blessed upon the earth, and never surrender him into the hands of his enemies. May the Lord help him on his bed of pain, the whole of his confinement in his sickness hast Thou turned to the better. I said: O Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee. Mine enemies have spoken evil things against me: When shall he die, and when shall his name perish? And though he came in to see me, his heart spake vanity; he gathered iniquity unto himself; he went forth, and spake in a like manner. All mine enemies whispered against me, against me they devised evils for me. An unjust word they set against me: Can it be that he that sleepeth shall rise up again? Yea, even the man of my peace in whom I hoped, who ate of my bread, hath magnified the lifting of heels against me. But Thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, and I will requite them. By this I know that Thou hast delighted in me, because mine enemy shall not rejoice over me. And because of mine innocence Thou hast helped me, and hast established me before Thee for ever. Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. So be it. So be it.

For the End: For the Instruction to the Sons of Kore, a Psalm of David, Without Superscription among the Hebrews, 41.

As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsted for God, the mighty, the living; when shall I come, and appear before the face of God? My tears have been my bread by day and by night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God? These things have I remembered, and I poured out my soul within me, for I shall go to the place of the wondrous tabernacle, even to the house of God, with a voice of rejoicing and thanksgiving, yea, of the sound of them that keep festival. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why dost thou disquiet me? Hope in God, for I will give thanks unto Him; He is the salvation of my countenance, and my God. Within me my soul hath been troubled; therefore will I remember Thee from the land of Jordan and Hermoniem, from the little mountain. Deep calleth unto deep, at the voice of Thy cataracts; all Thy billows and Thy waves have passed over me. By day the Lord will command His mercy, and by night His ode shall be with me, my prayer unto the God of my life. I will say unto God: Thou art my helper. Why hast Thou forgotten me? And wherefore go I with downcast face whilst mine enemy afflicteth me? Whilst my bones were broken, mine enemies reproached me; whilst they said to me daily: Where is thy God? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why dost thou disquiet me? Hope in God, for I will give thanks unto Him; He is the salvation of my countenance, and my God.

For the End: A Psalm of David. Without Superscription among the Hebrews, 42.

Judge me, O God, and give judgement in my cause, against a nation that is not holy; from a man unjust and crafty deliver me. For Thou, O God, art my strength. Wherefore hast Thou cast me off? And wherefore go I with downcast face whilst mine enemy afflicteth me? O send out Thy light and Thy truth; they have guided me along the way, and have brought me unto Thy holy mountain, and unto Thy tabernacles. And I shall go in unto the altar of God, unto God Who giveth gladness to my youth; I will give praise unto Thee, O God, my God, with the harp. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why dost thou disquiet me? Hope in God, for I will give thanks unto Him; He is the salvation of my countenance, and my God.

Glory.

For the End: For Instruction to the Sons of Kore, 43.

O God, with our ears have we heard, for our fathers have told us the work which Thou hadst wrought in their days, in the days of old. Thy hand utterly destroyed the heathen, and in their stead Thou didst plant them; Thou didst bring evils upon those peoples, and didst cast them out. For not by their own sword did they inherit the land, nor did their own arm save them, But Thy right hand, and Thine arm, and the light of Thy countenance, because Thou wast well-pleased in them. Thou Thyself art my King, and my God, Thou that commandest the salvation of Jacob. Through Thee shall the horn of our strength push down our enemies, and through Thy name shall we bring to nought them that rise up against us. For not in my bow will I hope, and my sword shall not save me. For Thou hast saved us from them that afflict us, and them that hate us hast Thou put to shame. In God we will boast all the day long, and in Thy name will we give praise in the age to come. But now Thou hast cast us off and put us to shame, and wilt not go forth, O God, with our hosts. Thou hast made us to turn back before our enemies, and they that hate us took spoils for themselves. Thou hast given us up as sheep to be eaten, and among the nations hast Thou scattered us. Thou hast sold Thy people without a price, and there was no gain in the selling of us. Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. Thou hast made us a byword among the nations, a shaking of head among the peoples. All the day long my disgrace is before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, Because of the voice of him that reproacheth and revileth, because of the face of the enemy and pursuer. All this hath come upon us, and we have not forgotten Thee, nor have we dealt unrighteously in Thy covenant. Though our heart hath not turned back, yet Thou hast turned aside our paths from Thy ways. For Thou hast humbled us in a place of affliction, and the shadow of death hath covered us. If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have stretched out our hands to a strange god, Shall not God search out these things? For He knoweth the secrets of the heart. For Thy sake we are slain all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Rise up, why sleepest Thou, O Lord? Arise, and cast us not off at the end. Wherefore turnest Thou Thy face away? Dost Thou forget our poverty and our affliction? For our soul hath been humbled down to the dust, our belly hath cleaved to the earth. Arise, O Lord, help us, and redeem us for Thy name's sake.

For the End: Concerning Those Verses That Are to be Alternated, for Instruction to the Sons of Kore. An Ode Concerning the Beloved One, 44.

My heart hath poured forth a good word; I speak of my works to the king; my tongue is the pen of a swiftly writing scribe. Comely art Thou in beauty more than the sons of men; grace hath been poured forth on Thy lips, wherefore God hath blessed Thee for ever. Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O Mighty One, in Thy comeliness and Thy beauty. And bend Thy bow, and proceed prosperously, and be king, because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and Thy right hand shall guide Thee wondrously. Thine arrows are sharp, O Mighty One, (under Thee shall peoples fall) sharp in the heart of the enemies of the king. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever; a sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity. Wherefore God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness more than Thy fellows. Myrrh and stacte and cassia exhale from Thy garments, from the ivory palaces, whereby they have made Thee glad, they the daughters of kings in Thine honour. At Thy right hand stood the queen, arrayed in a vesture of inwoven gold, adorned in varied colours. Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thine ear; and forget thine own people and thy father's house. And the King shall greatly desire thy beauty, for He Himself is thy Lord, and thou shalt worship Him. And Him shall the daughters of Tyre worship with gifts; the rich among the people shall entreat thy countenance. All the glory of the daughter of the King is within, with gold-fringed garments is she arrayed, adorned in varied colours. The virgins that follow after her shall be brought unto the King, those near her shall be brought unto Thee. They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing, they shall be brought into the temple of the King. In the stead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee; thou shalt make them princes over all the earth. I shall commemorate thy name in every generation and generation. Therefore shall peoples give praise unto thee for ever, and unto the ages of ages.

For the End: A Psalm of David. Concerning Hidden Things, for the Sons of Kore, 45.

Our God is refuge and strength, a helper in afflictions which mightily befall us. Therefore shall we not fear when the earth be shaken, nor when the mountains be removed into the heart of the seas. Their waters roared and were troubled, the mountains were troubled by His might. The rushings of the river make glad the city of God; the Most High hath hallowed His tabernacle. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be shaken; God shall help her right early in the morning. The nations were troubled, kingdoms tottered, the Most High gave forth His voice, the earth was shaken. The Lord of hosts is with us, our helper is the God of Jacob. Come and behold the works of God, what marvels He hath wrought on the earth, making wars to cease unto the ends of the earth. He will crush the bow and will shatter the weapon, and shields will He utterly burn with fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us, our helper is the God of Jacob.

Glory.