Sunday Sext

I am thine: O save me

Sext is the height of the day's battle.  Background is Mount Calvary: "Lead us not into temptation."  The six strophes all give the picture of a battle raging back and forth between God and the world.  We keep throwing new reserves into the battle, the religious motivations that are meant to keep us faithful.

Psalm 118. vi.  Defécit ánima mea

כ
Here begins the letter Caph (C)

Eleventh strophe:  Lead us not into temptation

81  Defécit in salutáre tuum ánima mea: * et in verbum tuum supersperávi.
82  Defecérunt óculi mei in elóquium tuum: * dicéntes: Quando consoláberis me?
83  Quia factus sum sicut uter in pruína: * justificatiónes tuas non sum oblítus.
84  Quot sunt dies servi tui? * quando fácies de persequéntibus me judícium?
85  Narravérunt mihi iníqui fabulatiónes: * sed non ut lex tua.
86  Omnia mandáta tua véritas: * iníque persecúti sunt me, ádjuva me.
87  Paulo minus consummavérunt me in terra: * ego autem non derelíqui mandáta tua.
88  Secúndum misericórdiam tuam vivífica me: * et custódiam testimónia oris tui.

81  MY soul hath longed for thy salvation, * and I have a good hope because of thy word.
82  Mine eyes long sore for thy word; * saying, O when wilt thou comfort me?
83  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; * yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84  How many are the days of thy servant? * when wilt thou be avenged of them that persecute me?
85  The proud have digged pits for me, * which are not after thy law.
86  All thy commandments are true: * they persecute me falsely; O be thou my help.
87  They had almost made an end of me upon earth; * but I forsook not thy commandments.
88  O quicken me after thy loving-kindness; * and so shall I keep the testimonies of thy mouth.

ל
Here begins the letter Lamed (L)

Twelfth strophe:  God is everlasting—man is weak

89  In ætérnum, Dómine,* verbum tuum pérmanet in cælo.
90  In generatiónem et generatiónem véritas tua: * fundásti terram, et pérmanet.
91  Ordinatióne tua persevérat dies: * quóniam ómnia sérviunt tibi.
92  Nisi quod lex tua meditátio mea est: * tunc forte periíssem in humilitáte mea.
93  In ætérnum non oblivíscar justificatiónes tuas: * quia in ipsis vivificásti me.
94  Tuus sum ego, salvum me fac: * quóniam justificatiónes tuas exquisivi.
95  Me exspectavérunt peccatóres ut perderent me: * testimónia tua intelléxi.
96  Omnis consummatiónis vidi finem: * latum mandátum tuum nimis.

89  O Lord, thy word * endureth for ever in heaven.
90  Thy truth also remaineth from one generation to another; * thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
91  They continue this day according to thine ordinance; * for all things serve thee.
92  If my delight had not been in thy law, * I should have perished in my trouble.
93  I will never forget thy commandments; * for with them thou hast quickened me.
94  I am thine: O save me, * for I have sought thy commandments.
95  The ungodly laid wait for me, to destroy me; * but I will consider thy testimonies.
96  I see that all things come to an end; * but thy commandment is exceeding broad.


Psalm 118. vii.  Quómodo diléxi !

מ
Here begins the letter Mem (M)

Thirteenth strophe:  God's wisdom above all

97  Quómodo diléxi legem tuam, Dómine? * tota die meditátio mea est.
98  Super inimícos meos prudéntem me fecísti mandato tuo: * quia in ætérnum mihi est.
99  Super omnes docéntes me intelléxi: * quia testimónia tua meditátio mea est.
100  Super senes intelléxi: * quia mandáta tua quæsívi.
101  Ab omni via mala prohíbui pedes meos: * ut custódiam verba tua.
102  A judíciis tuis non declinávi: * quia tu legem posuísti mihi.
103  Quam dulcia fáucibus meis elóquia tua, * super mel ori meo!
104  A mandátis tuis intelléxi: * proptérea odívi omnem viam iniquitátis.

97  Lord, what love have I unto thy law! * all the day long is my study in it.
98  Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies; * for they are ever with me.
99  I have more understanding than my teachers; * for thy testimonies are my study.
100  I am wiser than the aged; * because I keep thy commandments.
101  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, * that I may keep thy word.
102  I have not shrunk from thy judgments; * for thou teachest me.
103  O how sweet are thy words unto my throat; * yea, sweeter than honey unto my mouth!
104  Through thy commandments I get understanding: * therefore I hate all evil ways.

נ
Here begins the letter Nun (N)

Fourteenth strophe:  In spite of peril I will be true

105  Lucerna pédibus meis verbum tuum, * et lumen sémitis meis.
106  Jurávi, et státui * custodíre judícia justítiæ tuæ.
107  Humiliátus sum usquequáque, Dómine: * vivífica me secúndum verbum tuum.
108  Voluntária oris mei beneplácita fac, Dómine: * et judícia tua doce me.
109  Anima mea in mánibus meis semper: * et legem tuam non sum oblítus.
110  Posuérunt peccatóres láqueum mihi: * et de mandátis tuis non errávi.
111  Hereditáte acquisívi testimónia tua in ætérnum: * quia exsultátio cordis mei sunt.
112  Inclinávi cor meum ad faciéndas justificatiónes tuas in ætérnum, * propter retributiónem.

105  Thy word is a lantern unto my feet, * and a light unto my paths.
106  I have sworn, and am stedfastly purposed, * to keep thy righteous judgments.
107  I am troubled above measure: * quicken me, O Lord, according to thy word.
108  Let the free-will offerings of my mouth please thee, O Lord; * and teach me thy judgments.
109  My soul is alway in my hand; * yet do I not forget thy law.
110  The ungodly have laid a snare for me; * but yet I swerved not from thy commandments.
111  Thy testimonies have I claimed as mine heritage for ever; * and why? they are the very joy of my heart.
112  I have applied my heart to fulfil thy statutes alway, * even unto the end.


Psalm 118. viii.  Iníquos ódio habui

ס
Here begins the letter Samech (S)

Fifteenth strophe:  The godless

113  Iníquos ódio hábui: * et legem tuam diléxi.
114  Adjútor et suscéptor meus es tu: * et in verbum tuum supersperávi.
115  Declinate a me, malígni: * et scrutábor mandáta Dei mei.
116  Súscipe me secúndum elóquium tuum, et vivam: * et non confúndas me ab exspectatióne mea.
117  Adjuva me, et salvus ero: * et meditábor in justificatiónibus tuis semper.
118  Sprevísti omnes discedéntes a judíciis tuis: * quia injústa cogitátio eórum.
119  Prævaricántes reputávi omnes peccatóres terræ: * ídeo diléxi testimónia tua.
120  Confige timóre tuo carnes meas: * a judíciis enim tuis tímui.

113  I hate them that imagine evil things; * but thy law do I love.
114  Thou art my defence and shield; * and my trust is in thy word.
115  Away from me, ye wicked; * I will keep the commandments of my God.
116  O stablish me according to thy word, that I may live; * and let me not be disappointed of my hope.
117  Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe; * yea, my delight shall be ever in thy statutes.
118  Thou hast trodden down all them that depart from thy statutes; * for they imagine but deceit.
119  Thou puttest away all the ungodly of the earth like dross; * therefore I love thy testimonies.
120  My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; * and I am afraid of thy judgments.

ע
Here begins the letter Ayin (Gh)

Sixteenth strophe:  I will love good and hate evil

121  Feci judícium et justítiam: * non tradas me calumniántibus me.
122  Súscipe servum tuum in bonum: * non calumniéntur me supérbi.
123  Oculi mei defecérunt in salutáre tuum: * et in elóquium justítiæ tuæ.
124  Fac cum servo tuo secúndum misericórdiam tuam: * et justificatiónes tuas doce me.
125  Servus tuus sum ego: * da mihi intellectum, ut sciam testimónia tua.
126  Tempus faciéndi, Dómine: * díssipavérunt legem tuam.
127  Ideo diléxi mandáta tua, * super aurum et topázion.
128  Proptérea ad ómnia mandáta tua dirigébar: * omnem viam iníquam ódio hábui.

121  I deal with the thing that is lawful and right; * O give me not over unto mine oppressors.
122  Make thou thy servant to delight in that which is good, * that the proud do me no wrong.
123  Mine eyes are wasted away with looking for thy health, * and for the word of thy righteousness.
124  O deal with thy servant according unto thy loving mercy, * and teach me thy statutes.
125  I am thy servant; O grant me understanding, * that I may know thy testimonies.
126  It is time for thee, Lord, to lay to thine hand; * for they have destroyed thy law.
127  For I love thy commandments * above gold and precious stones.
128  Therefore hold I straight all thy commandments; * and all false ways I utterly abhor.