Wednesday Lauds 2

The divine, risen Judge

The thought of the divine Judge and of sin is unobtrusively present in the first scheme of Lauds on Wednesday.  The second scheme brings this thought to the foreground by means of the Miserere and the Antiphons.  Still, the canticle of Hannah rings a note of joy.

Prayer of penance

Confession of guilt

Miserére mei Deus, * secúndum magnam misericórdiam tuam.
2  Et secúndum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum, * dele iniquitátem meam.
3  Amplius lava me ab iniquitáte mea: * et a peccáto meo munda me.
4  Quóniam iniquitátem meam ego cognósco: * et peccátum meum contra me est semper.
5  Tibi soli peccávi, et malum coram te feci: * ut justificéris in sermónibus tuis, et vincas cum judicáris.
6  Ecce enim in iniquitátibus concéptus sum: * et in peccátis concépit me mater mea.
7  Ecce enim veritátem dilexísti: * incérta et occúlta sapiéntiæ tuæ manifestásti mihi.

Have mercy upon me, O God, * after thy great goodness.
2  According to the multitude of thy mercies * do away mine offences.
3  Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
4  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
5  Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.
6  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
7  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.

Plea for inner conversion

8  Aspérges me hyssópo, et mundábor: * lavábis me, et super nivem dealbábor.
9  Audítui meo dabis gáudium et lætítiam: * et exsultábunt ossa humiliáta.
10  Avérte fáciem tuam a peccátis meis: * et omnes iniquitátes meas dele.
11  Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: * et spíritum rectum ínnova in viscéribus meis.
12  Ne projícias me a fácie tua: * et spíritum sanctum tuum ne áuferas a me.
13  Redde mihi lætítiam salutáris tui: * et spíritu principáli confírma me.

8  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
9  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
10  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.
11  Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
12  Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
13  O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.

Thanksgiving and a promise

14  Docébo iníquos vias tuas: * et ímpii ad te converténtur.
15  Líbera me de sanguínibus, Deus, Deus salútis meæ: * et exsultábit lingua mea justítiam tuam.
16  Dómine, lábia mea apéries: * et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam.
17  Quóniam si voluísses sacrifícium dedíssem útique: * holocáustis non delectáberis.
18  Sacrifícium Deo spíritus contribulátus: * cor contrítum, et humiliátum, Deus non despícies.

Finale

19  Benígne fac, Dómine, in bona voluntáte tua Sion: * ut ædificéntur muri Jerúsalem.
20  Tunc acceptábis sacrifícium justítiæ, oblatiónes, et holocáusta: * tunc impónent super altáre tuum vítulos.

19  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
20  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations; * then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 64.  Te decet hymnus

The divine Provider

In this beautiful nature song, which pictures a summer landscape, God is praised for the blessings of nature during times of peace.

Gratitude

Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion: * et tibi reddétur votum in Jerúsalem.
2  Exáudi oratiónem meam: * ad te omnis caro véniet.
3  Verba iniquórum prævaluérunt super nos: * et impietátibus nostris tu propitiáberis.
4  Beátus quem elegísti et assumpsísti: * inhabitábit in átriis tuis.

Thou art worthy to be praised, † O God, in Sion; * †† and a vow shall be paid thee in Jerusalem.
2  O hear thou my prayer, * unto thee shall all flesh come.
3  The words of the wicked have prevailed against us : * and thou shalt pardon our transgressions.
4  Blessed is the man whom thou hast chosen and taken unto thee: * in thy courts shall he dwell.

Divine Providence

5  Replébimur in bonis domus tuæ, sanctum est templum tuum: *  mirábile in æquitáte.
6  Exáudi nos, Deus salutáris noster: * spes ómnium fínium terræ et in mari longe.
7  Præparans montes in virtúte tua, accínctus poténtia: * qui contúrbas profúndum maris sonum flúctuum ejus.
8  Turbabúntur Gentes, et timébunt qui inhábitant términos a signis tuis: * éxitus matutíni, et véspere delectábis.

5   We shall be filled with the good things of thy house, holy is thy temple : * wonderful in thy righteousness.
6  Hear us, O God of our salvation; * thou that art the hope of all the ends of the earth, and in the broad sea.
7  Who by thy strength settest fast the mountains, and art girded about with power: * who makest the deep sea to rage, and the noise of its waves.
8  The heathen shall be thrown into confusion, and they also that dwell in the uttermost parts of the earth shall be afraid at thy signs, * thou shalt make the out-goings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

Bountiful harvest

9  Visitásti terram, et inebriásti eam: * multiplicásti locupletáre eam.
10  Flumen Dei replétum est aquis; parásti cibum illórum: * quóniam ita est præparátio ejus.
11  Rivos ejus inébria multíplica genímina ejus: * in stillicídiis ejus lætábitur gérminans.
12  Benedíces corónæ anni benignitátis tuæ: * et campi tui replebúntur ubertáte.
13  Pinguéscent speciósa desérti: * et exsultatióne colles accingéntur.
14  Indúti sunt aríetes óvium et valles abundábunt frumento: * clamábunt, étenim hymnum dicent.

9  Thou hast visited the earth, and made it plentiful; * thou hast many ways enriched it.
10  The river of God is full of water: * thou hast prepared their food, for so is thy providence.
11  Fill up plentifully the streams thereof, increase its fruits : * it shall spring forth and rejoice in its drops of rain.
12  Thou shalt bless the crown of the year with thy goodness; * and thy fields shall be filled with plenty.
13  The beauty of the wilderness shall grow fat : * and the hills shall be girded about with joy.
14  The rams of the flock are clothed, and the vales also shall abound with corn, * they shall call out, yea, they shall sing praises.

Morning resolutions

In this Psalm, a Jewish king sets forth the principles according to which he means to govern.  Christ, possessor of a priestly kingdom, in this prayer sets forth his program for the day: battle against sin.

Misericórdiam, et judícium * cantábo tibi, Dómine:
2  Psallam, et intélligam in via immaculáta, * quando venies ad me.
3  Perambulábam in innocéntia cordis mei: * in médio domus meæ.
4  Non proponébam ante óculos meos rem injústam: * faciéntes prævaricatiónes odívi.
5  Non adhæsit mihi cor pravum: * declinántem a me malígnum non cognoscébam.
6  Detrahéntem secréto próximo suo, * hunc persequébar.
7  Supérbo óculo, et insatiabili corde, * cum hoc non edébam.
8  Oculi mei ad fidéles terræ ut sédeant mecum: * ámbulans in via immaculáta, hic mihi ministrábat.
9  Non habitábit in médio domus meæ, qui facit supérbiam: * qui lóquitur iníqua, non diréxit in conspéctu oculórum meórum.
10  In matutíno interficiébam omnes peccatóres terræ: * ut dispérderem de civitáte Dómini omnes operántes iniquitátem.
 

MY song shall be of mercy and judgment; * unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.
2  O let me have understanding * in the way of godliness!
3  When wilt thou come unto me? * I will walk in my house with a perfect heart.
4  I will take no wicked thing in hand; I hate the sins of unfaithfulness; * there shall no such cleave unto me.
5  A froward heart shall depart from me; * I will not know a wicked person.
6  Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, * him will I destroy.
7  Whoso hath also a haughty look and a proud heart, * I will not suffer him.
8  Mine eyes look upon such as are faithful in the land, * that they may dwell with me.
9  Whoso leadeth a godly life, * he shall be my servant.
10  There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house; * he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.
11  I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the land; * that I may root out all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

Holiness and justice of the Lord

Hannah, wife of Eleana, by the grace of God, gave birth to the great prophet Samuel, after she had been barren all her life.  In gratitude her soul bursts forth in this canticle of praise.  Her song resembles somewhat the Magnificat.  It fits well into the Wednesday Hours: it praises God as Judge over sin.

Exsultávit cor meum in Dómino: * et exaltátum est cornu meum in Deo meo.
2  Dilatátum est os meum super inimícos meos: * quia lætáta sum in salutári tuo.
3  Non est sanctus, ut est Dóminus : neque enim est álius extra te, * et non est fortis sicut Deus noster.
4  Nolíte multiplicáre loqui sublimia, * gloriántes :
5   Recedant vetera de ore vestro : quia Deus scientiárum, Dóminus est, * et ipsi præparántur cogitatiónes.
6  Arcus fortium superátus est, * et infirmi accincti sunt robore.
7  Repléti prius, pro pánibus se locavérunt: * et famelici saturáti sunt.
8  Donec sterilis péperit plurimos: * et quæ multos habébat fílios, infirmáta est.
9  Dóminus mortíficat et vivificat: * dedúcit ad inferos et redúcit.
10  Dóminus páuperem facit et ditat, * humíliat et sublevat.
11  Suscitat de pulvere egénum, *  et de stercore elevat páuperem :
12  Ut sédeat cum princípibus: * et solium glóriæ teneat.
13  Dómini enim sunt cardines terræ, * et pósuit super eos orbem.
14  Pedes sanctórum suórum servábit, et ímpii in ténebris conticescent: * quia non in fortitúdine sua roborábitur vir.
15  Dóminum formidábunt adversarii ejus: * et super ipsos in cælis tonabit:
16  Dóminus judicábit fines terræ, et dabit impérium regi suo, * et sublimábit cornu Christi sui.

MY heart rejoiceth in the Lord, * and mine horn is exalted in my God.
2  My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, * because I rejoice in thy salvation.
3  There is none holy as the Lord; for there is none beside thee; * neither is there any rock like our God.
4  Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth; * for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
5  The bows of the mighty men are broken, * and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
6  They that before were full have hired out themselves for bread; * and they that were hungry have rest from their toiling for food.
7  Yea, the barren hath borne seven; * and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
8  The Lord giveth death, and maketh alive; * he casteth down into the grave, and bringeth up.
9  The Lord maketh poor, and conferreth riches: * he bringeth low, and also lifteth up.
10  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, * to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory.
11  For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, * and he hath set the world upon them.
12  He guardeth the feet of his saints, and the wicked are put to silence in darkness, * for by strength shall no man prevail.
13  They that strive with the Lord shall be broken to pieces; * out of heaven shall he thunder upon them.
14  The Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, and he shall give empire unto his King, * and shall exalt the horn of his Anointed.

Psalm 145.  Lauda, anima mea

The Saviour

"Come to me, all ye that are weary and heavy burthened..."

Praise of God

Lauda, ánima mea, Dóminum, laudábo Dóminum in vita mea: * psallam Deo meo quámdiu fúero.

PRAISE the Lord, O my soul: while I live, will I praise the Lord; * yea, as long as I have any being, I will sing praises unto my God.

Fickleness of men

2  Nolíte confídere in princípibus: * in fíliis hóminum, in quibus non est salus.
3  Exíbit spíritus ejus, et revertétur in terram suam: * in illa die períbunt omnes cogitatiónes eórum.

2  O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man; * for there is no help in them.
3  For when the breath of man goeth forth, he shall turn again to his earth, * and then all his thoughts perish.

Our most faithful friend is God in heaven

4  Beátus, cujus Deus Jacob adjútor ejus, spes ejus in Dómino Deo ipsíus: * qui fecit cælum et terram, mare et ómnia, quæ in eis sunt.

4  Blessed is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, * and whose hope is in the Lord his God:
5  Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that therein is; * who keepeth his promise for ever;

He is a faithful helper

5  Qui custódit veritátem in sæculum, facit judícium injúriam patiéntibus: * dat escam esuriéntibus.
6  Dóminus solvit compedítos: * Dóminus illúminat cæcos.
7  Dóminus érigit elísos: * Dóminus díligit justos.
8  Dóminus custódit ádvenas, pupíllum et víduam suscípiet: * et vias peccatórum dispérdet.

6  Who helpeth them to right that suffer wrong; * who feedeth the hungry.
7  The Lord looseth men out of prison; * the Lord giveth sight to the blind.
8  The Lord helpeth them that are fallen; * the Lord careth for the righteous.
9  The Lord careth for the strangers; he defendeth the fatherless and widow: * as for the way of the ungodly, he turneth it upside down.

Eternal King