Friday Lauds 2

A broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise

Friday's penitential Lauds present the Cross as a monument to penance and repentance.  We pray the Miserere at the foot of the Cross, and the Canticle of Habakkuk reminds us of the final judgment.

Plea to the Crucified

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  Auditui 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 convertentur.
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 contribulatus: * 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 142.  Domine, exaudi

Time of crisis

A vivid song of suffering, expressing all the sentiments that moved the divine Heart in his time of terrible suffering.  And at the same time this Psalm is being prayed by Adam, in the name of unredeemed humanity.

Awareness of guilt

Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam: áuribus pércipe obsecratiónem meam in veritáte tua : * exáudi me in tua justítia.
2  Et non intres in judícium cum servo tuo: * quia non justificábitur in conspéctu tuo omnis vivens.

Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplication in thy truth : * hear me in thy righteousness.
2  And enter not into judgment with thy servant; * for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

Lament over persecútion

3  Quia persecútus est inimícus ánimam meam: * humiliávit in terra vitam meam.
4  Collocávit me in obscúris sicut mórtuos sæculi : * et anxiátus est super me spíritus meus, in me turbátum est cor meum.

3  For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; * he hath smitten my life down to the ground.
4  He hath laid me in the darkness, as those that have been dead of old : * and my spirit is vexed within me, my heart within me is troubled.

Fervent plea to God

5  Memor fui diérum antiquórum, meditátus sum in ómnibus opéribus tuis: * in factis mánuum tuárum meditábar.
6  Expándi manus meas ad te: * ánima mea sicut terra sine aqua tibi.

5  I remembered the days of old, I mused upon all thy works; * yea, I meditated upon the works of thy hands.
6  I have stretched forth my hands unto thee; * my soul is as earth without water unto thee.

Make haste to help me

7  Velóciter exáudi me, Dómine: * defécit spíritus meus.
8  Non avértas fáciem tuam a me: * et símilis ero descendéntibus in lacum.
9  Auditam fac mihi mane misericórdiam tuam: * quia in te sperávi.
10  Notam fac mihi viam, in qua ámbulem: * quia ad te levávi ánimam meam.
11  Eripe me de inimícis meis, Dómine, ad te confúgi: * doce me fácere voluntátem tuam, quia Deus meus es tu.

7  Hear me, O Lord, and that soon; * for my spirit waxeth faint.
8  Hide not thy face from me, * lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
9  O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning; * for in thee is my trust.
10  Shew thou me the way that I should walk in; * for unto thee have I lift up my soul.
11  Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies, for unto thee have I fled : * teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God.

Finale

12  Spíritus tuus bonus dedúcet me in terram rectam: * propter nomen tuum, Dómine, vivificábis me, in æquitáte tua.
13  Edúces de tribulatióne ánimam meam: * et in misericórdia tua dispérdes inimícos meos.
14  Et perdes omnes, qui tríbulant ánimam meam, * quóniam ego servus tuus sum.

12  Thy loving Spirit shall lead me forth into the land of righteousness : * for thy Name's sake, O Lord, thou shalt quicken me in thy justice.
13  Thou shalt bring my soul out of trouble : * and in thy mercy thou shalt slay mine enemies.
14  And thou shalt destroy all them that vex my soul; * for I am thy servant.

Righteousness and peace have kissed each other

This Psalm, a hymn of thanksgiving after the deliverance from exile, is at the same time a glorious hymn of redemption.  Through Christ's death on the Cross the debt of sin has been wiped away (1st strophe), and the fruit of that death will now be given to him who asks (2nd strophe).  Again God walks here below with man.  Peace and justice, banished from the earth since the first sin, embrace beneath the Cross.  This Psalm unites in an excellent manner the thought of praise proper to Lauds with the thought of the day, the Crucifixion.

1.  End of slavery

Benedixísti, Dómine, terram tuam: * avertísti captivitátem Jacob.
2  Remisísti iniquitátem plebis tuæ: * operuísti ómnia peccáta eórum.
3  Mitigásti omnem iram tuam: * avertísti ab ira indignatiónis tuæ.

O Lord, thou hast blessed thy land; * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
2  Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, * thou hast covered all their sins.
3  Thou hast softened all thy displeasure, * thou hast turned thyself from thy wrathful indignation.

New, unexpected sufferings

4  Convérte nos, Deus, salutáris noster: * et avérte iram tuam a nobis.
5  Numquid in ætérnum irascéris nobis? * aut exténdes iram tuam a generatióne in generatiónem?
6  Deus, tu convérsus vivificábis nos: * et plebs tua lætábitur in te.
7  Osténde nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam: * et salutáre tuum da nobis.

4  Turn thou us, O God our Saviour, * and let thine anger cease from us.
5  Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? * and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation to another?
6  Thou shalt turn again, O God, and quicken us, * and thy people shall rejoice in thee.
7  Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy, * and grant us thy salvation.

2.  Help to come

8  Audiam quid loquátur in me Dóminus Deus: * quóniam loquétur pacem in plebem suam.
9  Et super sanctos suos: * et in eos, qui convertúntur ad cor.
10  Verúmtamen prope timéntes eum salutáre ipsíus: * ut inhábitet glória in terra nostra.

8  I will hearken what the Lord God will say unto me; * for he shall speak peace unto his people.
9  And unto his saints, * and unto them that are turned again unto their heart.
10  Surely his salvation is nigh unto them that fear him; * that glory may dwell in our land.

Kingdom of peace

11  Misericórdia, et véritas obviavérunt sibi: * justítia, et pax osculátæ sunt.
12  Véritas de terra orta est: * et justítia de cælo prospéxit.
13  Etenim Dóminus dabit benignitátem: * et terra nostra dabit fructum suum.
14  Justítia ante eum ambulábit: * et ponet in via gressus suos.

11  Mercy and truth are met together: * justice and peace have kissed.
12  Truth is sprung out of the earth, * and justice hath looked down from heaven.
13  Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kindness; * and our land shall yield her fruit.
14  Justice shall walk before him, * and shall direct his steps in the way.

God's judgment

This Canticle is one of the most magnificent poems of all times.  It depicts God the Judge, coming to pass sentence over all the enemies of his people―the prophet sees him in a vision.

In wrath remember mercy!

Dómine, audívi auditiónem tuam: * et tímui.
2  Dómine, opus tuum, *  in médio annórum vivífica illud.
3  In médio annórum notum fácies: * cum irátus fueris, misericórdiæ recordáberis.

O Lord, I have heard thy hearing : * and was afraid.
2  O Lord, thy work, * in the midst of the years bring it to life.
3  In the midst of the years thou shalt make it known; * when thou art wroth, thou shalt remember mercy.

God approaches for judgment

4  Deus ab Austro véniet: * et sanctus de monte Pharan.
5  Opéruit cælos glória ejus: * et laudis ejus plena est terra.
6  Splendor ejus ut lux erit: * córnua in mánibus ejus:
7   Ibi abscóndita est fortitúdo ejus : * ante fáciem ejus íbit mors.
8   Et egrediétur diábolus ante pedes ejus. * Stetit, et ménsus est terram.
9   Aspéxit, et dissolvit Gentes : * et contriti sunt montes sæculi.
10   Incurváti sunt colles mundi, * ab itinéribus æternitátis ejus.

4  God will come from the south, * and the holy one from mount Pharan.
5  His glory covered the heavens, * and the earth is full of his praise.
6  His brightness shall be as the light : he hath horns in his hands.
7  There is his strength hid : * death shall go before his face.
8  And the devil shall go forth before his feet. * He stood, and took measure of the earth.
9  He beheld, and melted the nations * and the everlasting hills were smitten to pieces.
10  The hills of the world were made to bow down, * by the course of his going forth throughout eternity.

Judgment

11  Pro iniquitáte vidi tentoria Æthiopiæ: * turbabúntur pelles terræ Mádian.
12  Numquid in flumínibus irátus es, Dómine? * aut in flumínibus furor tuus? vel in mari indignátio tua?
13  Qui ascendes super equos tuos: * et quadrigæ tuæ salvátio.
14  Suscitans suscitábis arcum tuum: * juraménta tríbubus quæ locútus es.
15  Fluvios scindes terræ : vidérunt te, et doluérunt montes: * gurges aquárum tránsiit.
16  Dedit abyssus vocem suam: * altitúdo manus suas levávit.
17  Sol, et luna stetérunt in habitáculo suo, * in luce sagittárum tuárum, ibunt in splendore fulgurántis hastæ tuæ.

11  I saw the tents of Ethiopia for their iniquity, * the curtains of the land of Midian shall be troubled.
12  Wast thou displeased with the rivers, O Lord? * or was thine anger upon the rivers, or thy wrath against the sea?
13  Who will ride upon thine horses : * and thy chariots of salvation?
14  Thou shalt take up thy bow, * according as thou hast sworn unto the tribes.
15  Thou shalt divide the rivers of the earth; the mountains saw thee and were grieved : * the great tempest of waters passed away.
16  The deep put forth its voice : * the deep lifted up its hands on high.
17  The sun and moon stood still in their habitation, * in the light of thine arrows, they shall go forth in the shining of thy glittering spear.

Judgment over the enemies of his people

18  In fremitu conculcábis terram: * et in furóre obstupefácies Gentes.
19  Egréssus es in salútem pópuli tui: * in salútem cum Christo tuo.
20  Percussísti caput de domo ímpii: * denudásti fundaméntum ejus usque ad collum.
21  Maledixísti sceptris ejus, capiti bellatórum ejus, * veniéntibus ut turbo ad dispergéndum me.
22  Exsultátio eórum, * sicut ejus, qui devorat páuperem in abscóndito.
23  Viam fecísti in mari equis tuis, * in luto aquárum multarum.

18  In thy wrath shalt thou tread the earth under thy feet : * yea, in thine anger shalt thou astonish the nations.
19  Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, * even for salvation with thine Anointed.
20  Thou hast smitten the head of the house of the wicked; * thou hast laid bare his foundation thereof even unto the neck.
21  Thou hast cursed his sceptres, even the chief of his warriors, * them that came out as a whirlwind to scatter me, 22  Their joy * was like that of him that devoureth the poor man in secret.
23  Thou madest a way in the sea for thine horses, * even in the mud of many waters.

God's scourge on the rebellious

24  Audívi, et conturbátus est venter meus: * a voce contremuérunt lábia mea.
25  Ingrediátur putredo in óssibus meis, * et subter me scateat.
26  Ut requiéscam in die tribulatiónis: * ut ascéndam ad pópulum accinctum nostrum.
27  Ficus enim non florébit: * et non erit germen in vineis.
28  Mentiétur opus olívae: * et arva non afferent cibum.
29  Abscindétur de ovili pecus: * et non erit arméntum in præsepibus.

24  I have heard, and my bowels were troubled : * my lips quivered at the voice.
25  Let decay enter into my bones : and swarm beneath me.
26  That I may rest in the day of tribulation : * that I may go up to our people that are girded about.
27  For the fig tree shall not blossom, * and there shall be no fruit in the vines.
28  The labour of the olive shall fail : * and the fields shall yield no food.
29  The flocks shall be cut off from the fold, * and there shall be no herd in the stalls.

Trust in the Saviour

30  Ego autem in Dómino gaudébo: * et exsultábo in Deo Jesu meo.
31  Deus Dóminus fortitúdo mea: * et ponet pedes meos quasi cervórum.
32  Et super excélsa mea dedúcet me victor * in psalmis canéntem.

30  But I will rejoice in the Lord : * and I will joy in God my Jesus.
31  The Lord God is my strength, * and he shall make my feet as the feet of the hind.
32  Yea, he that is conqueror shall lead me upon mine high places, * singing psalms.

Winter is past

Once again a hymn of thanksgiving at deliverance from the Babylonian captivity is used in reference to the Redemption.  After the winter of sin, through Christ's death on the Cross, the springtime of Redemption has come.  Now is the heavenly Jerusalem, holy Church, secure from the enemy and blessed with peace and prosperity.

Jerusalem delivered

Lauda, Jerúsalem, Dóminum: * lauda Deum tuum, Sion.
2  Quóniam confortávit seras portárum tuárum: * benedíxit fíliis tuis in te.
3  Qui pósuit fines tuos pacem: * et ádipe fruménti sátiat te.

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; *  praise thy God, O Sion.
2  For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed thy children within thee.
3  Who hath placed peace in thy borders, * and filleth thee with the fat of the crops.

Winter

4  Qui emíttit elóquium suum terræ: * velóciter currit sermo ejus.
5  Qui dat nivem sicut lanam: * nébulam sicut cínerem spargit.
6  Mittit crystállum suam sicut buccéllas: * ante fáciem frígoris ejus quis sustinébit?

4  Who sendeth forth his commandment upon earth, * and his word runneth swiftly.
5  Who giveth snow like wool, * and scattereth the mist like ashes.
6  He sendeth his ice like morsels: * who is able to abide before the face of his frost?

Springtime

7  Emíttet verbum suum, et liquefáciet ea: * flabit spíritus ejus, et fluent aquæ.
8  Qui annúntiat verbum suum Jacob: * justítias, et judícia sua Israel.
9  Non fecit táliter omni natióni: * et judícia sua non manifestávit eis.

7  He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: * his spirit shall breathe forth, and the waters shall flow.
8  Who declareth his word unto Jacob, * his statutes and judgments unto Israel.
9  He hath not dealt so with every nation; * neither hath he given them knowledge of his judgments.