Start
℣. O Lord,
+
open thou my lips.
℟. And my mouth shall declare thy praise.
℣. O God, ✠ come to my assistance;
℟. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Alleluia.
Invitatory
{Antiphon from the Psalter for the day of the week}
Ant. God is the great Lord * Come, let us adore Him.
Ant. God is the great Lord * Come, let us adore Him.
Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our saviour. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms.
Ant. God is the great Lord * Come, let us adore Him.
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. For the Lord will not cast off his people: for in his hand are all the ends of the earth, and the heights of the mountains are his.
Ant. Come, let us adore Him.
For the sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
(genuflect)
Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us: For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.
Ant. God is the great Lord * Come, let us adore Him.
Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts: As in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness: where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.
Ant. Come, let us adore Him.
Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in heart. And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not enter into my rest.
Ant. God is the great Lord * Come, let us adore Him.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Come, let us adore Him.
Ant. God is the great Lord * Come, let us adore Him.
Hymn
{from the Psalter for the season of the Church year}
Who madest all and dost control,
Lord, with thy touch divine,
Cast out the slumbers of the soul,
The rest that is not thine.
Look down, Eternal Holiness,
And wash the sins away,
Of those, who, rising to confess,
Outstrip the lingering day.
Our hearts and hands by night, O Lord,
We lift them in Our need;
As holy Psalmists give the word,
And holy Paul the deed.
Each sin to thee of years gone by,
Each hidden stain lies bare;
We shrink not from thine awful eye,
But pray that thou wouldst spare.
Grant this, O Father, Only Son
And Spirit, God of grace,
To whom all worship shall be done
In every time and place,
Amen.
Psalms with lections
{Antiphons from the Psalter for the season of the Church year}
At the Nocturn
Ant. Thou art beautiful * above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips.
Psalm 44 (2a-10b)
My heart hath uttered a good word; * I speak my works to the King.44:2
My tongue is the pen of a scrivener * that writeth swiftly.44:2
Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; * therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.44:3
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, * O thou most mighty.44:4
With thy comeliness and thy beauty * set out, proceed prosperously, and reign.44:5
Because of truth and meekness and justice: * and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.44:5
Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, * into the hearts of the king’s enemies.44:6
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: * the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.44:7
Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: * therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.44:8
Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: * out of which the daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory.44:9
The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; * surrounded with variety.44:10
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips.
Ant.
Let people confess to thee, * O God, forever.
Psalm 44 (11-18b)
Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: * and forget thy people and thy father’s house.44:11
And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; * for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.44:12
And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, * yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.44:13
All the glory of the king’s daughter is within, * in golden borders, clothed round about with varieties.44:14
After her shall virgins be brought to the king: * her neighbours shall be brought to thee.44:15
They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: * they shall be brought into the temple of the king.44:16
Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: * thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.44:17
They shall remember thy name * throughout all generations.44:18
Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, * for ever and ever.44:18
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Let people confess to thee, O God, forever.
Ant.
Our God * is our helper in troubles.
Psalm 45
Our God is our refuge and strength: * a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.45:2
Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; * and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.45:3
Their waters roared and were troubled: * the mountains were troubled with his strength.45:4
The stream of the river maketh the city of God joyful: * the most High hath sanctified his own tabernacle.45:5
God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: * God will help it in the morning early.45:6
Nations were troubled, and kingdoms were bowed down: * he uttered his voice, the earth trembled.45:7
The Lord of armies is with us: * the God of Jacob is our protector.45:8
Come and behold ye the works of the Lord: what wonders he hath done upon earth, * making wars to cease even to the end of the earth.45:9
He shall destroy the bow, and break the weapons: * and the shield he shall burn in the fire.45:10
Be still and see that I am God; * I will be exalted among the nations, and I will be exalted in the earth.45:11
The Lord of armies is with us: * the God of Jacob is our protector.45:12
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Our God is our helper in troubles.
Ant.
Great is the Lord * and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God.
‡
Psalm 47
Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God,47:2
‡
in his holy mountain.
With the joy of the whole earth is mount Sion founded, * on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.47:3
In her houses shall God be known, * when he shall protect her.47:4
For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves: * they gathered together.47:5
So they saw, and they wondered, they were troubled, they were moved: * trembling took hold of them.47:6
There were pains as of a woman in labour; * with a vehement wind thou shalt break in pieces the ships of Tharsis.47:7
As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God: * God hath founded it for ever.47:9
We have received thy mercy, O God, * in the midst of thy temple.47:10
According to thy name, O God, so also is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: * thy right hand is full of justice.47:11
Let mount Sion rejoice, and the daughters of Juda be glad; * because of thy judgments, O Lord.47:12
Surround Sion, and encompass her: * tell ye in her towers.47:13
Set your hearts on her strength; and distribute her houses, * that ye may relate it in another generation.47:14
For this is God, our God unto eternity, and for ever and ever: * he shall rule us for evermore.47:15
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Great is the Lord and exceedingly to be praised in the city of our God.
Ant.
My mouth shall speak * wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding.
Psalm 48 (2-13)
Hear these things, all ye nations: * give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.48:2
All you that are earthborn, and you sons of men: * both rich and poor together.48:3
My mouth shall speak wisdom: * and the meditation of my heart understanding48:4
I will incline my ear to a parable; * I will open my proposition on the psaltery.48:5
Why shall I fear in the evil day? * the iniquity of my heel shall encompass me.48:6
They that trust in their own strength, * and glory in the multitude of their riches,48:7
No brother can redeem, nor shall man redeem: * he shall not give to God his ransom,48:8
Nor the price of the redemption of his soul: * and shall labour for ever, and shall still live unto the end.48:9
He shall not see destruction, when he shall see the wise dying: * the senseless and the fool shall perish together:48:11
And they shall leave their riches to strangers: * and their sepulchres shall be their houses for ever.48:11
Their dwelling places to all generations: * they have called their lands by their names.48:12
And man when he was in honour did not understand; * he is compared to senseless beasts, and is become like to them.48:13
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. My mouth shall speak wisdom: and the meditation of my heart understanding.
Ant.
Be not thou afraid * the things which made him rich, or his glory shall not descend with him to the sepulchre.
Psalm 48 (14-21)
This way of theirs is a stumbling block to them: * and afterwards they shall delight in their mouth.48:14
They are laid in hell like sheep: * death shall feed upon them.48:15
And the just shall have dominion over them in the morning; * and their help shall decay in hell from their glory.48:15
But God will redeem my soul from the hand of hell, * when he shall receive me.48:16
Be not thou afraid, when a man shall be made rich, * and when the glory of his house shall be increased.48:17
For when he shall die he shall take nothing away; * nor shall his glory descend with him.48:18
For in his lifetime his soul will be blessed: * and he will praise thee when thou shalt do well to him.48:19
He shall go in to the generations of his fathers: * and he shall never see light.48:20
Man when he was in honour did not understand: * he hath been compared to senseless beasts, and made like to them.48:21
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Be not thou afraid the things which made him rich, or his glory shall not descend with him to the sepulchre.
Ant.
The God of gods, * the Lord hath spoken.
‡
Psalm 49 (1-15)
The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken: *49:1
‡
and he hath called the earth.
From the rising of the sun, to the going down thereof: * out of Sion the loveliness of his beauty.49:1
God shall come manifestly: our God shall come, * and shall not keep silence.49:3
A fire shall burn before him: * and a mighty tempest shall be round about49:3
He shall call heaven from above, * and the earth, to judge his people.49:4
Gather ye together his saints to him: * who set his covenant before sacrifices.49:5
And the heavens shall declare his justice: * for God is judge.49:6
Hear, O my people, and I will speak: O Israel, and I will testify to thee: * I am God, thy God.49:7
I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices: * and thy burnt offerings are always in my sight.49:8
I will not take calves out of thy house: * nor he goats out of thy flocks.49:9
For all the beasts of the woods are mine: * the cattle on the hills, and the oxen.49:10
I know all the fowls of the air: * and with me is the beauty of the field.49:11
If I should be hungry, I would not tell thee: * for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.49:12
Shall I eat the flesh of bullocks? * or shall I drink the blood of goats?49:13
Offer to God the sacrifice of praise: * and pay thy vows to the most High.49:14
And call upon me in the day of trouble: * I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.49:15
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. The God of gods, the Lord hath spoken.
Ant.
Understand these things, * you that forget God.
Psalm 49 (16-23)
But to the sinner God hath said: * Why dost thou declare my justices, and take my covenant in thy mouth?49:16
Seeing thou hast hated discipline: * and hast cast my words behind thee.49:17
If thou didst see a thief thou didst run with him: * and with adulterers thou hast been a partaker.49:18
Thy mouth hath abounded with evil, * and thy tongue framed deceits.49:19
Sitting thou didst speak against thy brother, and didst lay a scandal against thy mother’s son: * these things hast thou done, and I was silent.49:20
Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee: * but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face.49:21
Understand these things, you that forget God; * lest he snatch you away, and there be none to deliver you.49:22
The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me: * and there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.49:23
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Understand these things, you that forget God.
Ant.
Thou shalt accept the sacrifice * of justice, upon thy altar, O Lord.
Psalm 50
Have mercy on me, O God, * according to thy great mercy.50:3
And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies * blot out my iniquity.50:3
Wash me yet more from my iniquity, * and cleanse me from my sin.50:4
For I know my iniquity, * and my sin is always before me.50:5
To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: * that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged.50:6
For behold I was conceived in iniquities; * and in sins did my mother conceive me.50:7
For behold thou hast loved truth: * the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.50:8
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.50:9
To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: * and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.50:10
Turn away thy face from my sins, * and blot out all my iniquities.50:11
Create a clean heart in me, O God: * and renew a right spirit within my bowels.50:12
Cast me not away from thy face; * and take not thy holy spirit from me.50:13
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, * and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.50:14
I will teach the unjust thy ways: * and the wicked shall be converted to thee.50:15
Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: * and my tongue shall extol thy justice.50:16
O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: * and my mouth shall declare thy praise.50:17
For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: * with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.50:18
A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: * a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.50:19
Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; * that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.50:20
Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: * then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.50:21
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Thou shalt accept the sacrifice of justice, upon thy altar, O Lord.
℣.
To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness.
℟. And the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
Our Father
is said silently until
And lead us not into temptation:
.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
℣. And lead us not into temptation:
℟. But deliver us from evil.
Absolution.
May the Almighty and merciful Lord loose us from the bonds of our sins.
℟. Amen.
℣.
Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction.
May His blessing be upon us who doth live and reign for ever.
℟. Amen.
Reading 1
Lesson from the book of Job
Job 3:1-5
1
After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day,
2
And he said:
3
Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said: A man child is conceived.
4
Let that day be turned into darkness, let not God regard it from above, and let not the light shine upon it.
5
Let darkness, and the shadow of death cover it, let a mist overspread it, and let it be wrapped up in bitterness.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. O that Thou wouldest hide me in the grave; that Thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, even thine, O Lord, Thou That alone art God;
* That Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
℣. Are thy days as the days of man, that Thou inquirest after mine iniquity, and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.
℟. That Thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!
℣.
Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction.
God's most mighty strength alway be His people's staff and stay.
℟. Amen.
Reading 2
Job 3:6-10
6
Let a darksome whirlwind seize upon that night, let it not be counted in the days of the year, nor numbered in the months.
7
Let that night be solitary, and not worthy of praise.
8
Let them curse it who curse the day. who are ready to raise up a leviathan:
9
Let the stars be darkened with the mist thereof: let it expect light and not see it, nor the rising of the dawning of the day:
10
Because it shut not up the doors of the womb that bore me, nor took away evils from my eyes.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. O that my sins, whereby I have deserved wrath;
* And the calamity whereunder I suffer, were laid in the balances together.
℣. For now it would appear heavier than the sand of the sea, therefore also my words are full of sorrow.
℟. And the calamity, whereunder I suffer, were laid in the balances together.
℣.
Grant, Lord, a blessing.
Benediction.
May He that is the Angels' King to that high realm His people bring.
℟. Amen.
Reading 3
Job 3:11-16
11
Why did I not die in the womb, why did I not perish when I came out of the belly?
12
Why received upon the knees? why suckled at the breasts?
13
For now I should have been asleep and still, and should have rest in my sleep.
14
With kings and consuls of the earth, who build themselves solitudes:
15
Or with princes, that possess gold, and All their houses with silver:
16
Or as a hidden untimely birth I should not be, or as they that being conceived have not seen the light.
℣. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℟. Why do ye argue against the words of truth? Do ye imagine words to reprove me and strive to confound one that is your friend?
* Nevertheless, finish that ye have in mind.
℣. Judge that which is just, and ye shall find no iniquity in my tongue.
℟. Nevertheless, finish that ye have in mind.
℣. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
℟. Nevertheless, finish that ye have in mind.
Skip the rest, unless praying
Lauds
separately.
Prayer
{from the Proper of the season}
℣. O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟. And let my cry come unto thee.
Let us pray.
O
Lord, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church, and because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness.
Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
℟. Amen.
Conclusion
℣. O Lord, hear my prayer.
℟. And let my cry come unto thee.
℣. Let us bless the Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God.
℣. May the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
℟. Amen.
