VALYERMO
FERIAL DIVINE OFFICE
 LAUDS and VESPERS
 

[Hymn–On this day, the first of days]

[Ant. 1—Arise, come to your God]

CRY out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Serve the Lord with gladness.

Come before him, singing for joy.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.

He made us, we belong to him,

we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Go within his gates, giving thanks.

Enter his courts with songs of praise.

Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,

eternal, his merciful love.

He is faithful from age to age.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit,

the God who is, who was and is to come,

give praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 1—Arise, come to your God]

[Ant. 2—The Lord is king]

THE Lord is king, with majesty enrobed;

the Lord has robed himself with might,

he has girded himself with power.

The world, you made firm, not to be moved;

your throne has stood firm from of old.

From all eternity, O Lord, you are.

The waters have lifted up, O Lord,

the waters have lifted up their voice,

the waters have lifted up their thunder.

Greater than the roar of mighty waters,

more glorious than the surgings of the sea,

the Lord is glorious on high.

Truly your decrees are to be trusted.

Holiness is fitting to your throne,

O Lord, until the end of time.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit,

the God who is, who was and is to come,

give praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 2—The Lord is King]

[Ant. 3—This day the Lord has made]

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,

for his love endures for ever.

Let the sons of Israel say:

“His love endures for ever.”

Let the sons of Aaron say:

“His love endures for ever.”

Let those who fear the Lord say:

“His love endures for ever.”

I called to the Lord in my distress;

he answered and freed me.

The Lord is at my side; I do not fear.

What can man do against me?

The Lord is at my side as my helper:

I shall look down on my foes.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in man;

it is better to take refuge in the Lord

than to trust in princes.

The nations all encompassed me;

in the Lord’s name I crushed them.

They compassed me, compassed me about;

in the Lord’s name I crushed them.

They compassed me, about like bees, –

they blazed like a fire among thorns;

in the Lord’s name I crushed them.

I was thrust down, thrust down and falling

but the Lord was my helper.

The Lord is my strength and my song;

he was my savior.

There are shouts of joy and victory

in the tents of the just.

The Lord’s right hand was triumphed;

his right hand raised me.

The Lord’s right hand was triumphed; –

I shall not die, I shall live

and recount, his deeds.

I was punished, I was punished by the Lord,

but not doomed to die.

Open to me the gates of holiness

I will enter and give thanks.

This is the Lord’s own gate

where the just may enter.

I will thank you for you have answered

and you are my savior.

The stone which the builders rejected

has become the corner stone.

This is the work of the Lord,

a marvel in our eyes.

[Ant. 3—This day the Lord has made]

If another Ant. is used, all sing:

This day was made by the Lord;

we rejoice and are glad.

O Lord, grant us salvation;

O Lord, grant success.

Blessed in the name of the Lord

is he who comes.

We bless you from the house of the Lord;

the Lord is our light.

Go forward in procession with branches

even to the altar.

You are my God, I thank you.

My God, I praise you.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good;

for his love endures for ever.

[Ant.—This day the Lord has made]

[Response—Let everything that lives…]

Praise God in his holy place,

praise him in his mighty heavens,

Praise him for his powerful deeds,

praise his surpassing greatness.

Response

O praise him with sound of trumpet,

praise him with lute and harp.

Praise him with timbrel and dance,

praise him with strings and pipes.

Response

O praise him resounding cymbals,

praise him with clashing of cymbals.

Let everything that lives and that breathes

praise and acclaim the Lord.

Response

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for evermore.

Response

CANTICLE

[Ant.—Like the dawn from on high]

[Hymn—Praise to the living God]

[Ant. 1—Seek the face of the Lord]

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,

the world and all its peoples.

It is he who set it on the seas;

on the waters he made it firm.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?

Who shall stand in his holy place?

The man with clean hands and pure heart,

who desires not worthless things.

He shall receive blessings from the Lord

and reward from the God who saves him.

Such are the men who seek him,

seek the face of the God of Jacob.

O gates, lift high your heads;

grow higher, ancient doors.

Let him enter the king of glory!

Who is the king of glory?

The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,

the Lord, the valiant in war.

O gates, lift high your heads;

grow higher, ancient doors.

Let him enter, the king of glory!

Who is he, the king of glory?

He, the Lord of armies,

he is the king of glory.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit,

the God, who is, who was and is to come,

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 1—Seek the face of the Lord]

[Ant. 2—He shall rule from sea to sea]

O God, give your judgment to the king,

to a king’s son your justice,

that he may judge your people in justice

and your poor in right judgment.

May the mountains bring forth peace for the people

and the hills, justice.

May he defend the poor of the people

and save the children of the needy.

He shall endure like the sun and the moon

from age to age.

He shall descend like rain on the meadow,

like raindrops on the earth.

In his day justice shall flourish

and peace till the moon fails.

He shall rule from sea to sea,

from the Great River to earth’s bounds.

Before him his enemies shall fall,

his foes lick the dust.

The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts

shall pay him tribute.

The kings of Sheba and Seba

shall bring him gifts.

Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,

all nations shall serve him.

For he shall save the poor when they cry

and the needy who are helpless.

He will have pity on the weak

and save the lives of the poor.

From oppression he will rescue their lives,

to him their blood is dear.

They shall pray for him without ceasing

and bless him all the day.

May corn be abundant in the land

to the peaks of the mountains.

May its fruit rustle like Lebanon;

ºmay men flourish in the cities –

like grass on the earth.

May his name be blessed for ever

and endure like the sun.

Every tribe shall be blessed in him,

all nations bless his name.

Praise the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

both now and for ever,

the God who is, who was, and is to come

at the end of the ages.

[Ant. 2—He shall rule]

[Ant. 3—I will hear what the Lord has to say]

O Lord, you once favored your land

and revived the fortunes of Jacob,

you forgave the guilt of your people

and covered all their sins.

You averted all your rage,

you calmed the heat of your anger.

F Revive us now, God, our helper!

Put an end to your grievance against us.

Will you be angry with us for ever,

will you anger never cease?

F Will you not restore again our life

that your people may rejoice in you?

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy

and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace,

peace for his people and his friends

and those who turn to him in their hearts.

His help is near for those who fear him

and his glory will dwell in our land.

F Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

give praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 3—I will hear what the Lord has to say]

[Ant. 4—God alone is the rock of my strength]

In God alone is my soul at rest;

my help comes from him.

He alone is my rock, my stronghold,

my fortress:  I stand firm.

How long will you all attack one man

to break him down,

as though he were a tottering wall,

or a tumbling fence?

Their plan is only to destroy:

they take pleasure in lies.

With their mouth they utter blessing

but in their heart they curse.

In God alone be at rest, my soul;

for my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock, my stronghold,

my fortress:  I stand firm.

In God is my safety and glory,

the rock of my strength.

Take refuge in God, all you people.

Trust him at all times.

Pour out your hearts before him,

for God is our refuge.

Common folk are only a breath,

great men an illusion.

Placed in the scales, they rise;

they weigh less than a breath.

Do not put your trust in oppression

nor vain hopes on plunder.

Do not set your hearts on riches

even when they increase.

For God has said only one thing:

only two do I know:

that to God alone belongs power

and to you, Lord, love;

and that you repay each man

according to his deeds.

Praise the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

both now and for ever,

the God who is, who was, and is to come

at the end of the ages.

[Ant.—God alone]

[Response—Let the peoples praise you]

O God be gracious and bless us

and let your face shed its light upon us.

So will your ways be known upon earth

and all nations learn your saving help.

Response

Let the nations be glad and exult,

for you rule the world with justice.

With fairness you rule the peoples,

you guide the nations on earth.

Response

The earth has yielded its fruit

for God, our God, has blessed us.

May God still give us his blessing

till the ends of the earth revere him.

Response

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts

both now and for evermore.

Response

[V/.—Let my prayer come before you]

CANTICLE

[Ant.—A light shining in the darkness]

[Hymn-Come, my soul, thou must be waking]

[Ant. 1—Exalt the Lord]

The Lord is king; the peoples tremble.

He is throned on the cherubim; the earth quakes.

The Lord is great in Zion.

He is supreme over all the peoples.

Let them praise his name, so terrible and great.

He is holy, full of power.

You are a king who loves what is right;

you have established justice, equity and right;

you have established them in Jacob.

Exalt the Lord our God;

bow down before Zion, his footstool

He, the Lord, is holy.

Among his priests were Aaron and Moses;

among those who invoked him was Samuel.

They invoked the Lord and he answered;

To them he spoke in the pillar of cloud.

They did his will; they kept the law,

which he, the Lord, had given.

O Lord our God, you answered them.

For them you were a God who forgives,

yet you punished all their offences.

Exalt the Lord our God;

bow down before his holy mountain;

for the Lord our God is holy.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit,

the God who is, who was and is to come,

give praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 1—Exalt the Lord]

[Ant. 2—The Lord will bless all]

I will praise you, Lord with all my heart;

I will recount all your wonders.

I will rejoice in you and be glad,

and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.

See how my enemies turn back,

how they stumble and perish before you.

You upheld the justice of my cause;

you sat enthroned, judging with justice.

You have checked the nations, destroyed the wicked;

you have wiped out their name for ever and ever.

The foe is destroyed, eternally ruined.

You uprooted their cities; their memory has perished.

But the Lord sits enthroned for ever.

He has set up his throne for judgment;

he will judge the world with justice,

he will judge the peoples with his truth.

For the oppressed let the Lord be a stronghold,

a stronghold in times of distress.

Those who know your name will trust you;

you will never forsake those who seek you.

Sing psalms to the Lord who dwells in Zion;

Proclaim his mighty works among the peoples;

for the Avenger of blood has remembered them,

has not forgotten the cry of the poor.

Have pity on me, Lord; see my sufferings,

you who save me from the gates of death;

°that I may recount all your praise–

at the gates of the city of Zion

and rejoice in your saving help.

The nations have fallen in the pit which they made,

caught their feet in the snare they laid.

The Lord has revealed himself, and given judgment.

The wicked are snared in the work of their hands.

Let the wicked go down among the dead,

all the nations forgetful of God.

For the needy shall not always be forgotten,

nor the hopes of the poor be in vain.

Arise, Lord, let men not prevail!

Let the nations be judged before you.

Lord, strike them with terror,

let the nations know they are but men.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant.—The Lord will bless all]

Not to us, Lord, not to us,

but to your name give the glory,

for the sake of your love and your truth,

lest the heathen say, ‘Where is their God?’

But our God is in the heavens;

he does whatever he wills.

Their idols are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

They have mouths but they cannot speak;

they have eyes but they cannot see;

they have ears but they cannot hear;

they have nostrils but they cannot smell.

With their hands they cannot feel;

with their feet they cannot walk.

Their makers will come to be like them

and so will all who trust in them.

Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord;

he is their help and their shield.

Sons of Aaron, trust in the Lord;

he is their help and their shield.

You who fear him, trust in the Lord;

he is their help and their shield.

He remembers us, and he will bless us;

he will bless the sons of Israel.

The Lord will bless those who fear him,

the little no less than the great:

to you may the Lord grant increase,

to you and all your children.

May you be blessed by the Lord,

the maker of heaven and earth.

The heavens belong to the Lord,

but the earth he has given to men.

The dead shall not praise the Lord,

nor those who go down to the silence.

But we who live bless the Lord

now and for ever. Amen.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant.—The Lord will bless all]

[Response—Come, let us praise the Lord]

Praise the name of the Lord,

praise him, servants of the Lord,

who stand in the house of the Lord,

in the courts of the house of our God.

Praise the Lord for the Lord is good.

Sing a psalm to his name for he is loving.

For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself

and Israel for his own possession.

Response

 For I know the Lord is great,

that our Lord is high above all gods.

The Lord does whatever he wills

in heaven, on earth, in the seas.

He summons clouds from the ends of the earth;

makes lightning produce the rain;

from his treasuries he sends forth the wind.

Response

The first-born of the Egyptians he smote,

of man and beast alike.

Signs and wonders he worked

in the midst of your land, O Egypt,

against Pharaoh and all his servants.

Response

Nations in their greatness he struck,

kings in their splendor he slew,

Sihon, king of the Amorites,

Og, the king of Bashan,

and all the kingdoms of Canaan.

He let Israel inherit their land;

on his people their land he bestowed.

Response

Lord, your name stands for ever,

unforgotten from age to age:

for the Lord does justice for his people;

the Lord takes pity on his servants.

Pagan idols are silver and gold,

the work of human hands.

They have mouths but they cannot speak;

they have eyes but they cannot see.

Response

They have ears but they cannot hear;

there is never a breath on their lips.

Their makers will come to be like them,

and so will all who trust in them!

Sons of Israel, bless the Lord!

Sons of Aaron, bless the Lord!

Sons of Levi, bless the Lord!

You who fear him, bless the Lord!

Response

From Zion may the Lord be blessed,

he who dwells in Jerusalem!

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

Response

[V/.—In the morning fill us with your love]

CANTICLE

[Ant.—Blessed be the Lord]

[Hymn—Saviour again to thy dear]

[Ant. 1—I will sing]

The Lord is my light and my help;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

before whom shall I shrink?

When evil-doers draw near

to devour my flesh,

it is they, my enemies and foes,

who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me

my heart would not fear.

Though war break out against me

even then would I trust.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,

for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to savor the sweetness of the Lord,

to behold his temple.

For there he keeps me safe in his tent

in the day of evil.

He hides me in the shelter of his tent,

on a rock he sets me safe.

And now my head shall be raised

above my foes who surround me,

and I shall offer within his tent

a sacrifice of joy.

[Ant. 1—I will sing]

O Lord, hear my voice when I call;

have mercy and answer.

Of you my heart has spoken:

“Seek his face.”

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;

hide not your face.

Dismiss not your servant in anger;

you have been my help.

Do not abandon or forsake me,

O God my help!

Though father and mother forsake me,

the Lord will receive me.

Instruct me, Lord, in your way;

on an even path lead me.

When they lie in ambush protect me

from my enemies greed.

False witnesses rise against me,

breathing out fury.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord!

Praise the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

both now and for ever,

the God who is, who was, and is to come

at the end of the ages.

[Ant. 1—I will sing]

[Ant. 2—For the poor and the needy]

Help, O Lord, for good men have vanished:

truth has gone from the sons of men.

Falsehood they speak one to another,

with lying lips, with a false heart.

May the Lord destroy all lying lips,

the tongue that speaks high-sounding words,

Those who say:  “Our tongue is our strength;

our lips are our own, who is our master?”

[Ant. 2 - For the poor and needy]

“I will grant then the salvation for which they thirst.”

The words of the Lord are words without alloy,

silver from the furnace, seven times refined.

It is you, O Lord, who will take us in your care

and protect us for ever from this generation.

See how the wicked prowl on every side,

while the worthless are prized highly by the sons of men.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 2—For the poor and needy]

[Ant. 3—Give heed, O Lord]

Turn your ear, O Lord, and give answer,

for I am poor and needy.

Preserve my life, for I am faithful:

save the servant who trusts in you.

You are my God, have mercy on me, Lord,

for I cry to you all the day long.

Give joy to your servant, O Lord,

for to you I lift up my soul.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,

full of love to all who call.

Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer

and attend to the sound of my voice.

In the day of distress I will call

and surely you will reply.

Among the gods, there is none like you, O Lord;

nor work to compare with yours.

All the nations shall come to adore you

and glorify your name, O Lord:

for you are great and do marvelous deeds,

you who alone are God.

Show me, Lord, your way

so that I may walk in your truth.

Guide my heart to fear your name.

I will praise, Lord my God, with all my heart

and glorify your name, for ever;

for your love to me has been great:

you have saved me from the depths of the grave.

The proud have risen against me;

ruthless men seek my life:

to you they pay no heed.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,

slow to anger, O Lord,

abounding in love and truth,

turn and take pity on me.

O give your strength to your servant

and save your handmaid’s son.

Show me a sign of your favor

that my foes may see to their shame–

that you console me and give me your help.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit,

the God who is, who was, and is to come,

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 3—Give heed, o Lord, to my prayer]

[Response—Your love, o Lord, reaches]

Sin speaks to the sinner

in the depths of his heart.

There is no fear of God

before his eyes.

Response

He so flatters himself in his mind

that he knows not his guilt.

In his mouth are mischief and deceit.

All wisdom is gone.

Response

He plots the defeat of goodness

as he lies on his bed.

He has set his foot on evil ways,

he clings to what is evil.

Response

Your love, Lord, reaches to heaven;

your truth to the skies.

Your justice is like God’s mountain,

your judgments like the deep.

Response

To both man and beast you give protection.

O Lord, how precious is your love.

My God, the sons of men

find refuge in the shelter of your wings.

Response

They feast on the riches of your house;

they drink from the stream of your delight.

In you is the source of life

and in your light we see light.

Response

Keep on loving those who know you,

doing justice for upright hearts.

Let the foot of the proud not crush me

nor the hand of the wicked cast me out.

Response

See how the evil-doers fall!

Flung down, they shall never arise.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

Response

CANTICLE

[Canticle Ant.—God has regarded the lowly]

[Hymn—All creatures of our God]

[Ant.  1—Great is the Lord and worthy of praise]

O sing a new song to the Lord,

sing to the Lord all the earth.

O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

Proclaim his help day by day,

tell among the nations his glory

and his wonders among all the peoples.

The Lord is great and worthy of praise,

to be feared above all gods;

the gods of the heathens are naught.

It was the Lord who made the heavens,

his are majesty and state and power

and splendor in his holy place.

Give the Lord, you families of peoples,

give the Lord glory and power,

give the Lord the glory of his name.

Bring an offering and enter his courts,

worship the Lord in his temple.

O earth, tremble before him.

Proclaim to the nations:  “God is king.”

The world he made firm in its place;

he will judge the peoples in fairness.

Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,

let the sea and all within it thunder praise,

let the land and all it bears rejoice;

all the trees of the wood shout for joy

at the presence of the Lord for he comes,

he comes to rule the earth.

With justice he will rule the world,

he will judge the peoples with his truth.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant.—Great is the Lord and worthy of praise]

[Ant. 2—Our God is a saving God]

Let God arise, let his foes be scattered.

Let those who hate him flee before him.

As smoke is blown away, so will they be blown away;-

like wax that melts before the fire,

so the wicked shall perish at the presence of God.

But the just shall rejoice at the presence of God,

they shall exult and dance for joy.

O sing to the Lord, make music to his name;–

make a highway for him who rides on the clouds.

Rejoice in the Lord, exult at his presence.

Father of the orphan, defender of the widow,

such is God in his holy place.

God gives the lonely a home to live in;–

he leads the prisoners forth into freedom;

but rebels must dwell in a parched land.

When you went forth, O God, at the head of your people,

when you marched across the desert, the earth trembled:

the heavens melted at the presence of God,

at the presence of God, Israel’s God.

You poured down, O God, a generous rain:

when your people were starved you gave them new life.

It was there that your people found a home,

prepared in your goodness, O God, for the poor.

The Lord gives the word to the bearers of good tidings:

The Almighty has defeated a numberless army, –

and kings and armies are in flight, in flight,

while you were at rest among the sheepfolds.

At home the women already share the spoil.

They are covered with silver as the wings of a dove,

its feathers brilliant with shining gold

and jewels flashing like snow on Mount Zalmon.

The mountains of Bashan are mighty mountains;

high-ridged mountains are the mountains of Bashan.

Why look with envy, you high-ridged mountains,–

at the mountain where God has chosen to dwell?

It is there that the Lord shall dwell for ever.

The chariots of God are thousands upon thousands.

The Lord has come from Sinai to the holy place.

You have gone up on high; you have taken captives,–

receiving men in tribute, O God,

even those who rebel into your dwelling, O Lord.

May the Lord be blessed day after day.

He bears our burdens, God our Savior.

This God of ours is a God who saves.

The Lord our God holds the keys of death.

And God will smite the head of his foes,

the crown of those who persist in their sins.

The Lord said:  “I will bring them back from Bashan;

I will bring them back from the depth of the sea.

Then your feet will tread in their blood

and the tongues of your dogs take their share of the foe.”

They see your solemn procession, O God,

the procession of my God, of my king, to the sanctuary:

the singers in the forefront, the musicians coming last,

between them, maidens sounding their timbrels.

“In festive gatherings, bless the Lord;

bless God, O you who are Israel’s sons.”

There is Benjamin, least of the tribes, at the head,–

Judah’s princes, a mighty throng,

Zebulun’s princes, Naphtali’s princes.

Show forth, O God, show forth your might,

your might, O God, which you have shown for us;

for the sake of your temple high in Jerusalem

may kings come to you bringing their tribute.

Threaten the wild beast that dwells in the reeds,

the bands of the mighty and lords of the peoples.

Let them bow down offering silver.

Scatter the peoples who delight in war.

Princes make their way from Egypt:

Ethiopia will stretch out her hands to God.

Kingdoms of the earth, sing to God, praise the Lord

who rides on the heavens, the ancient heavens.

He thunders his voice, his mighty voice.

Come, acknowledge the power of God.

His glory is on Israel; his might is in the skies.

God is to be feared in his holy place.

He is the Lord, Israel’s God.

He gives strength and power to his people.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant.—Our God is a saving God]

[Response—I will praise the Lord all my days.

My soul, give praise to the Lord;

I will praise the Lord all my days,

make music to my God while I live.

Put no trust in princes,

in mortal men in whom there is no help.

Take their breath, they return to clay

and their plans that day come to nothing.

Response

He is happy who is helped by Jacob’s God,

whose hope is in the Lord his God,

who alone made heaven and earth,

the seas and all they contain.

It is he who keeps faith for ever,

who is just to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry,

the Lord, who sets prisoners free.

Response

The Lord who gives sight to the blind,

who raises up those who are bowed down,

the Lord who protects the stranger

and upholds the widow and orphan.

It is the Lord who loves the just

but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever,

Zion’s God, from age to age.

Response

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for evermore.

Response

[V/.—In the morning]

CANTICLE

[Ant.—He raised up for us a mighty Savior]

[Hymn—O brightness of the immortal]

[Ant.—Come, children, hear me]

I will bless the Lord at all times,

his praise always on my lips;

in the Lord shall my soul make its boast.

The humble shall hear and be glad.

Glorify the Lord with me.

Together let us praise his name.

I sought the Lord and he answered me;

from all my terrors he set me free.

Look towards him and be radiant;

let your faces not be abashed.

This poor man called; the Lord heard him

and rescued him from all his distress.

The angel of the Lord is encamped

around those who revere him to rescue them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

Revere the Lord, you his saints.

They lack nothing, those who revere him.

Strong lions suffer want and go hungry

but those who seek the Lord lack no blessing.

[Ant. 1—Come, children, hear me]

Who is he who longs for life

and many days, to enjoy his prosperity?

Then keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking deceit.

Turn aside from evil and do good;

seek and strive after peace.

The Lord turns his face against the wicked

to destroy their remembrance from the earth.

The Lord turns his eyes to the just

and his ears to their appeal.

They call and the Lord hears

and rescues them in all their distress.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted;

those whose spirit is crushed he will save.

Many are the trials of the just man,

but from them all the Lord will rescue him.

He will keep guard over all his bones,

not one of his bones shall be broken.

Evil brings death to the wicked;

those who hate the good are doomed.

The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants.

Those who hide in him shall not be condemned.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 1 - Come, children, hear me]

[Ant. 2—Lord you have rescued me]

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me

and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O Lord, I cried to you for help

and you, my God, have healed me.

O Lord, you have raised my soul from the dead,

restored me to life from those who sink into the grave.

Sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him,

give thanks to his holy name.

His anger lasts a moment; his favor through all life.

At night there are tears, but joy comes at dawn.

I said to myself in my good fortune:

“Nothing will ever disturb me.”

Your favor had set me on a mountain fastness,

then you hid your face and I was put to confusion.

To you, Lord, I cried,

to my God I made my appeal:

“What profit would my death be, my going to the grave?

Can dust give you praise or proclaim your truth?”

The Lord listened and had pity;

the Lord came to my help.

For me you have changed my mourning into dancing,

you removed my sackcloth and girded me with joy.

So my soul sings psalms to you unceasingly.

O Lord my God, I will thank you for ever.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant.—Lord you have rescued me]

[Ant. 3—The Lord will forgive those]

Happy the man whose offence is forgiven,

whose sin is remitted.

O happy the man to whom the Lord

imputes no guilt,

in whose spirit is no guile.

I kept it secret and my frame was wasted.

I groaned all day long,

for night and day your hand

was heavy upon me.

Indeed, my strength was dried up

as by the summer’s heat.

But now I have acknowledged my sins;

my guilt I did not hide.

I said: “I will confess

my offence to the Lord.”

And you, Lord, have forgiven

the guilt of my sin.

So let every good man pray to you

in the time of need.

The floods of water may reach high

but him they shall not reach.

You are my hiding place, O Lord;

you save me from distress.

I will instruct you and teach you

the way you should go;

I will give you counsel

with my eye upon you.

Be not like horse and mule, unintelligent,

needing bridle and bit,

else they will not approach you.

Many sorrows has the wicked;

but he who trusts in the Lord,

loving mercy surrounds him.

Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,

exult, you just!

O come, ring out your joy,

all you upright of heart.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all glory for ever.

[Ant.—The Lord will forgive]

[response—It is good to proclaim your love]

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

to make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning

and your truth in the watches of the night,

on the ten-stringed lyre and the lute,

with the murmuring sound of the harp.

Response

Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad;

for the work of your hands I shout with joy.

O Lord, how great are your works!

How deep are your designs!

The foolish man cannot know this

and the fool cannot understand.

Response

Though the wicked spring up like grass

and all who do evil thrive,

they are doomed to be eternally destroyed.

But you, Lord, are eternally on high.

See how your enemies perish;

all doers of evil are scattered.

Response

To me you give the wild-ox’s strength;

you anoint me with purest oil.

My eyes looked in triumph on my foes;

my ears heard gladly of their fall.

The just will flourish like the palm-tree

and grow like a Lebanon cedar.

Response

Planted in the house of the Lord

they will flourish in the courts of our God,

still bearing fruit when they are old,

still full of sap, still green,

to proclaim that the Lord is just.

In him, my rock, there is no wrong.

Response

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

Response

[V/.—Let my prayer come before you like incense]

CANTICLE

[Canticle Ant.—My spirit rejoices in God]

[music—Ye servants of God]

[Ant.  1—Rejoice in your King]

The Lord is king, let earth rejoice,

let all the coastlands be glad.

Cloud and darkness are his raiment;

his throne, justice and right.

fire prepares his path;

it burns up his foes on every side.

His lightnings light up the world,

the earth trembles at the sight.

The mountains melt like wax

before the Lord of all the earth.

The skies proclaim his justice;

all peoples see his glory.

Let those who serve idols be ashamed,

those who boast of their worthless gods.

All you spirits, worship him.

Zion hears and is glad;

the people of Judah rejoice

because of your judgments, O Lord.

For you indeed are the Lord

most high above all the earth,

exalted far above all spirits.

The Lord loves those who hate evil:

he guards the souls of his saints;

he sets them free from the wicked.

Light shines forth for the just

and joy for the upright of heart.

Rejoice, you just, in the Lord;

give glory to his holy name.

Give praise to the Father almighty,

to his Son, Jesus Christ the Lord,

to the Spirit who dwells in our hearts,

both now and for evermore.

[Ant.—Rejoice in your King, O earth]

[Ant. 2—Why are you cast down, my soul]

Like the deer that yearns

for running streams,

so my soul is yearning

for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for God,

the God of my life;

when can I enter and see

the face of the Lord?

My tears have become my bread,

by night, by day,

as I hear it said all the day long:

“Where is your God?”

These things will I remember–

as I pour out my soul:

How I would lead the rejoicing crowd–

into the house of God,

amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,

the throng wild with joy.

[Ant. - Why are you cast down, my soul]

My soul is cast down within me

as I think of you,

from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon,

from the hill of Mizar.

Deep is calling upon deep,

in the roar of waters:

your torrents and all your waves

swept over me.

By day the Lord will send

his loving kindness;

by night I will sing to him,

praise the God of my life.

I will say to God, my rock:

“Why have you forgotten me?

Why do I go mourning,

oppressed by the foe?”

With cries that pierce me to the heart,

my enemies revile me,

saying to me all the day long:

“Where is your God?”

[Ant. - Why are you cast down, my soul]

\

Defend me, O God, and plead my cause

against a godless nation.

From deceitful and cunning men

rescue me, O God.

Since you, O God, are my stronghold,

why have you rejected me?

Why do I go mourning,

oppressed by the foe?

O send forth your light and your truth;

let these be my guide.

Let them bring me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you dwell.

And I will come to the altar of God,

the God of my joy.

My redeemer, I will thank you on the harp,

O God, my God.

Praise the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit

both now and for ever,

the God who is, who was, and is to come

at the end of the ages.

[Ant. 2 - Why are you cast down, my soul]

[Response—The Lord delights in all who wait for his love]

Praise the Lord for he is good;

sing to our God for he is loving:

to him our praise is due.

Response

The Lord builds up Jerusalem

and brings back Israel’s exiles,

he heals the broken-hearted,

he binds up all their wounds.

He fixes the number of the stars;

he calls each one by its name.

Response

Our Lord is great and almighty;

his wisdom can never be measured.

The Lord raises the lowly;

he humbles the wicked to the dust.

O sing to the Lord, giving thanks;

sing psalms to our God with the harp.

Response

He covers the heavens with clouds;

he prepares the rain for the earth,

making mountains sprout with grass

and with plants to serve man’s needs.

He provides the beasts with their food

and young ravens that call upon him.

Response

His delight is not in horses

nor his pleasure in warriors’ strength.

The Lord delights in those who revere him,

in those who wait for his love.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

Response

[response - The Lord delights in all who wait]

[V/.—In the morning fill us with your love]

CANTICLE

[Ant.—From the hands of our foes free us]

[music—The great Creator]

[Ant.—Humble hearts]

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

In your compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my guilt

and cleanse me from my sin.

My offences truly I know them;

my sin is always before me.

Against you, you alone, have I sinned;

what is evil in your sight I have done.

That you may be justified when you give sentence

and be without reproach when you judge,

o see, in guilt I was born,

a sinner was I conceived.

Indeed you love truth in the heart;

then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.

O purify me, then I shall be clean;

O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,

that the bones you have crushed may thrill.

From my sins turn away your face

and blot out all my guilt.

A pure heart create for me, O God,

put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Give me again the joy of your help;

with a spirit of fervor sustain me,

that I may teach transgressors your ways

and sinners may return to you.

O rescue me, God my helper,

and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.

O Lord, open my lips

and my mouth shall declare your praise.

For in sacrifice you take no delight,

burnt offering from me you would refuse;

my sacrifice, a contrite spirit,

a humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.

In your goodness, show favor to Zion:

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,

then you will be offered young bulls on your altar.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant. 1—Humble hearts]

[Ant. 2—Turn your ear]

Lord, hear a cause that is just,

pay heed to my cry.

Turn your ear to my prayer:

no deceit is on my lips.

From you may my judgment come forth:

your eyes discern the truth.

 You search my heart, you visit me by night.

You test me and find in me no wrong.

My words are not sinful as are men’s words,

I kept from violence because of your word,

I kept my feet firmly in your paths;

there was no faltering in my steps.

I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.

Turn your ear to me: hear my words.

Display your great love, you whose right hand saves

your friends from those who rebel against them.

Guard me as the apple of your eye.

Hide me in the shadow of your wings

from the violent attack of the wicked.

My foes encircle me with deadly intent.

Their hearts tight shut, their mouths speak proudly.

They advance against me, and now they surround me.

Their eyes are watching to strike me to the ground,

as though they were lions ready to claw

or like some young lion crouched in hiding.

Lord, arise, confront them, strike them down

Let your sword rescue my soul from the wicked;

let your hand, O Lord, rescue me from men,

from men whose reward is in this present life.

You give them the fill of your treasures;

they rejoice in abundance of offspring

and leave their wealth to their children.

As for me, in my justice I shall see your face

and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

give praise and glory for ever.

[Ant.—Turn your ear]

[Ant. 3—I trust in the goodness]

Why do you boast of your wickedness,

you champion of evil,

planning ruin all day long,

you master of deceit?

You love evil more than good;

lies more than truth.

You love the destructive word,

you tongue of deceit.

For this God will destroy you

and remove you for ever.

He will snatch you from your tent and uproot you

from the land of the living.

The just shall see and fear.

They shall laugh and say:

“So this is the man who refused

to take God as his stronghold,

but trusted in the greatness of his wealth

and grew powerful by his crimes."

But I am like a growing olive tree

in the house of God.

I trust in the goodness of God

for ever and ever.

I will thank you evermore;

for this is your doing.

I will proclaim that your name is good,

in the presence of your friends.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all glory for ever.

[Ant.3 —I trust in the goodness]

[Ant. 4—He who walks in justice will stand firm]

Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent

and dwell on your holy mountain?

He who walks without fault;

he who acts with justice

and speaks the truth from his heart;

he who does not slander with his tongue;

he who does no wrong to his brother,

who casts no slur on his neighbor,

who holds the godless in disdain,

but honors those who fear the Lord;

he who keeps his pledge, come what may;

who takes no interest on a loan

and accepts no bribes against the innocent.

Such a man will stand firm for ever.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

[Ant.—He who walks]

[response—And now Lord]

Psalm 38

I said: “I will be watchful of my ways

for fear I should sin with my tongue.

I will put a curb on my lips

when the wicked man stands before me.”

I was dumb, silent and still

His prosperity stirred my grief.

Response

My heart was burning within me.

At the thought of it, the fire blazed up

and my tongue burst into speech:

“O Lord, you have shown me my end,

how short is the length of my days.

Now I know how fleeting is my life.

Response

You have given me a short span of days;

my life is nothing in your sight.

A mere breath, the man who stood so firm,

a mere shadow, the man passing by,

a mere breath the riches he hoards,

not knowing who will have them.”

Response

Set me free from all my sins,

do not make me the taunt of the fool.

I was silent, not opening my lips,

because this was all your doing.

Take away your scourge from me.

I am crushed by the blows of your hand.

Response

You punish man’s sins and correct him;

like the moth you devour all he treasures.

Mortal man is no more than a breath;

O Lord, hear my prayer.

O Lord, turn your ear to my cry.

Do not be deaf to my tears.

Response

In your house I am a passing guest,

a pilgrim, like all my fathers.

Look away that I may breathe again

before I depart to be no more.

To the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit

all praise and glory for ever.

  Response

[V/.—Let my prayer come before you like incense]

CANTICLE

[Canticle Ant.—He who is mighty]