First Sunday of August

King Solomon

Vespers on the Eve of the
First Sunday of August

The first part of Vespers is in the Ordinary

All as at Saturday Vespers except for what is proper as below

V.  Vespertína orátio ascéndat ad te, Dómine.
R.  Et descéndat super nos misericórdia tua.

V.  Let our evening prayer come up before thee, O Lord.
R.  And let thy mercy come down upon us.

Ad Magnif. Ant:  Sapiéntia * ædificávit sibi domum, excídit colúmnas septem, súbdidit sibi gentes, superbórum et sublímium colla própria virtúte calcávit.

Ant. on Magnif:  Wisdom * hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars ; she hath broken the nations under her ; in the greatness of her strength she hath trodden under her feet the necks of such as be haughty and proud.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

SUFFRAGE OF ALL SAINTS if it is said

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH

Matins

The first part of Matins is in the Ordinary

First Nocturn

Second Nocturn

Third Nocturn

If this Scripture cannot be read on this day, it with the Responds of this day should be transferred to the first ensuing day upon which the Scripture of the Season can be read, the Lessons of which day are then omitted.

First Nocturn

Absolutio: Exáudi, Dómine Jesu Christe, preces servórum tuórum, et miserére nobis : Qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivis et regnas in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  Graciously hear, O Lord Jesu Christ, the prayers of thy servants, and have mercy upon us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

Benedíctio 1: Benedictióne perpétua benedícat nos Pater ætérnus.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 1:  May the Father Eternal bless us with a never-ending blessing.
R.  Amen.

Incípiunt Parábolæ Salomónis

Here beginneth the Book of Proverbs

Parábolæ Salomónis, fílii David regis Israël, ad sciéndam sapiéntiam et disciplínam, ad intelligénda verba prudéntiæ et suscipiéndam eruditiónem doctrínæ, justítiam et judícium et æquitátem, ut detur párvulis astútia, adolescénti sciéntia et intelléctus.  Audiens sápiens sapiéntior erit, et intélligens gubernácula possidébit : animadvértet parábolam et interpretatiónem, verba sapiéntum et ænígmata eórum.

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  In princípio Deus ántequam terram fáceret, priúsquam abyssos constitúeret, priúsquam prodúceret fontes aquárum, * Antequam montes collocaréntur, ante omnes colles generávit me Dóminus.
V.  Quando præparábat cælos, áderam, cum eo cuncta compónens.
R.  Antequam montes collocaréntur, ante omnes colles generávit me Dóminus.

R.  The Lord possessed me in the beginning, or ever the earth was, when there were no fountains abounding with water ; * Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.
V.  When he prepared the heavens, I was there, present with him, forming all things.
R.  Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth.

Benedíctio 2: Unigénitus Dei Fílius nos benedícere et adjuváre dignétur.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 2: May the Son of God, the sole-begotten, mercifully bless and keep us.
R.  Amen.

Timor Dómini princípium sapiéntiæ.  Sapiéntiam atque doctrínam stulti despíciunt.  Audi, fili mi, disciplínam patris tui et ne dimíttas legem matris tuæ, ut addátur grátia cápiti tuo et torques collo tuo.  Fili mi, si te lactáverint peccatóres, ne acquiéscas eis : si díxerint : Veni nobíscum, insidiémur sánguini, abscondámus tendículas contra insóntem frustra, deglutiámus eum sicut inférnus vivéntem et íntegrum quasi descendéntem in lacum ; omnem pretiósam substántiam reperiémus, implébimus domos nostras spóliis : sortem mitte nobíscum, marsúpium unum sit ómnium nostrum.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.  My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.  If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: we shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Gyrum cæli circuívi sola, et in flúctibus maris ambulávi, in omni gente et in omni pópulo primátum ténui : * Superbórum et sublímium colla própria virtúte calcávi.
V.  Ego in altíssimis hábito, et thronus meus in colúmna nubis.
R.  Superbórum et sublímium colla própria virtúte calcávi.

R.  I alone have compassed the circuit of heaven, and walked in the bottom of the deep, and in every people and nation have I gotten myself a possession ; *  And by mine own power have I trodden under my feet the hearts of both the high and the low.
V.  I dwell in the highest places, and my throne is in a pillar of cloud.
R.  And by mine own power have I trodden under my feet the hearts of both the high and the low.

Benedíctio 3: Spíritus Sancti grátia illúminet sensus et corda nostra.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 3: May the grace of the Holy Spirit all our heart and mind enlighten.
R.  Amen.

Fili mi, ne ámbules cum eis : próhibe pedem tuum a sémitis eórum ; pedes enim illórum ad malum currunt, et festínant ut effúndant sánguinem.  Frustra autem jácitur rete ante óculos pennatórum.  Ipsi quoque contra sánguinem suum insidiántur et moliúntur fraudes contra ánimas suas.  Sic sémitæ omnis avári : ánimas possidéntium rápiunt.

My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: for their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.  Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.  And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.  So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Emítte, Dómine, sapiéntiam de sede magnitúdinis tuæ, ut mecum sit et mecum labóret : * Ut sciam quid accéptum sit coram te omni témpore.
V.  Da mihi, Dómine, sédium tuárum assistrícem sapiéntiam.
R.  Ut sciam quid accéptum sit coram te omni témpore.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Ut sciam quid accéptum sit coram te omni témpore.

R.  Send Holy Wisdom out of thy heavens, O Lord, and from the Throne of thy Glory, to be present and labour with me, * That I may ever know what is pleasing unto thee.
V.  Give me, O Lord, Holy Wisdom that sitteth by thy Throne.
R.  That I may ever know what is pleasing unto thee.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  That I may ever know what is pleasing unto thee.

Second Nocturn

Absolutio: Ipsíus píetas et misericórdia nos ádjuvet, qui cum Patre et Spíritu Sancto vivit et regnat in sæcula sæculórum.
R.  Amen.

Absolution:  May his loving-kindness and mercy assist us.  Who, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, for ever and ever.
R.  Amen.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 4: Deus Pater omnípotens sit nobis propítius et clemens.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 4:  May God the Father Almighty shew us his mercy and pity.
R.  Amen.

Inítium esse sapiéntiæ timórem Dómini, dicit prophéta.  Quid est autem inítium sapiéntiæ, nisi sæculo renuntiáre?  Quia sápere sæculária, stultítia est.  Dénique sapiéntiam hujus mundi, stultítiam esse apud Deum, Apóstolus dicit.  Sed et ipse timor Dómini, nisi secúndum sciéntiam sit, nihil prodest, immo obest plúrimum.  Síquidem Judæi habent zelum Dei ; sed quia non habent secúndum sciéntiam, in ipso zelo et timóre majórem cóntrahunt divinitátis offénsam.  Quod circumcídunt infántulos suos, quod sábbata custódiunt, timórem Dei habent ; sed quia nésciunt legem spiritálem esse, circumcídunt corpus, non cor suum.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, saith the Prophet.  But what is the first act of wisdom, save to renounce the world?  For to love the things of the world is mere folly.  Hence the Apostle saith : The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  But note that even the fear of the Lord is useless, nay, harmful, if it be not according to knowledge.  Thus, the Jews have a truly fervent zeal for God ; but because they have it not according to knowledge, their very fear and zeal do often cause them to do things contrary to God's will.  In that they circumcise their children, in that they keep holy the Sabbath Day, they do shew their fear of the Lord ; but because they know not the spiritual meaning of the Law, they are all too often content to circumcise the body without any attempt to circumcise the heart.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Da mihi, Dómine, sedium tuárum assistrícem sapiéntiam, et noli me reprobáre a púeris tuis : * Quóniam servus tuus sum ego, et fílius ancíllæ tuæ.
V.  Mitte illam de sede magnitúdinis tuæ, ut mecum sit et mecum labóret.
R.  Quóniam servus tuus sum ego, et fílius ancíllæ tuæ.

R.  Give me, O Lord, Holy Wisdom that sitteth by thy Throne, and reject me not from among thy children : *  For I am thy servant and the son of thine handmaid.
V.  Send Holy Wisdom from the Throne of thy Glory, to be present and labour with me.
R.  For I am thy servant and the son of thine handmaid.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 5: Christus perpétuæ det nobis gáudia vitæ.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 5: May Christ bestow upon us the joys of life eternal.
R.  Amen.

Et quid de Judæis dico?  Sunt étiam in nobis qui habent timórem Dei, sed non secúndum sciéntiam, statuéntes durióra præcépta, quæ non possit humána condítio sustinére.  Timor in eo est, quia vidéntur sibi consúlere disciplínæ, opus virtútis exígere ; sed inscítia in eo est, quia non compatiúntur natúræ, non æstimant possibilitátem.  Non sit ergo irrationábilis timor.  Etenim vera sapiéntia a timóre Dei íncipit, nec est sapiéntia spiritális sine timóre Dei ; ita timor sine sapiéntia esse non debet.

But wherefore should I speak of Jewish failings?  There are many amongst ourselves who have a fear of God which is not according to knowledge.  Such are the folk that set up harsh ordinances which the weakness of man is not able to bear.  They fear God to this extent, that they seem to take measures for self-discipline, and to enforce the practice of virtue ; but what they do in these matters is not according to knowledge, because they take no account of the weakness of nature, nor do they consider whether a thing can or cannot be done.  In other words, we must understand that the fear of the Lord is not to be found in acts which are unreasonable.  For since the beginning of true wisdom is to be found in the fear of God, no fear is truly fear of God except wisdom be found in it ; and holy fear is therefore marked by the sweet reasonableness of holy wisdom.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Inítium sapiéntiæ timor Dómini : * Intelléctus bonus ómnibus faciéntibus eum : laudátio ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
V.  Diléctio illíus custódia legum est : quia omnis sapiéntia timor Dómini.
R.  Intelléctus bonus ómnibus faciéntibus eum : laudátio ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.

R.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom : * A good understanding have all they that do thereafter ; the praise of it endureth for ever.
V.  For the fear of the Lord is all wisdom, and love is the keeping of her law.
R.  A good understanding have all they that do thereafter ; the praise of it endureth for ever.

V.  Jube domne, (Dómine) benedícere.

V.  Vouchsafe, Reverend Father (O Lord), thy blessing.

Benedíctio 6: Ignem sui amóris accéndat Deus in córdibus nostris.
R.  Amen.

Benediction 6: May God enkindle in our hearts the fire of his holy love.
R.  Amen.

Basis quædam verbi est timor sanctus.  Sicut enim simulácrum áliquod in basi statúitur, et tunc majórem habet grátiam, cum in basi státua fúerit collocáta, standíque áccipit firmitátem : ita verbum Dei in timóre sancto mélius statúitur, fórtius radicátur in péctore timéntis Dóminum ; ne labátur verbum de corde viri, ne véniant vólucres et áuferant illud de incuriósi et dissimulántis afféctu.

This holy fear is the foundation on which is to be built all instruction in the Word.  Just as a statue must be set up on a pedestal, (whereby it is given both beauty and stability,) even so must the Word of God be set up in the soul of man on the basis of holy fear.  For it is in the heart of him that feareth that the Word of God hath the firmest foundation.  In an heart such as this, it is so grounded and, as it were, rooted, that the fowls of the air cannot come and carry it away, as they do from the heart of him that is careless and given to self-deceit.

V.  Tu autem, Dómine, miserére nobis.
R.  Deo grátias.

V.  But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.
R.  Thanks be to God.

R.  Verbum iníquum et dolósum longe fac a me, Dómine : * Divítias et paupertátem ne déderis mihi, sed tantum víctui meo tríbue necessária.
V.  Duo rogávi te, ne déneges mihi ántequam móriar.
R.  Divítias et paupertátem ne déderis mihi, sed tantum víctui meo tríbue necessária.
V.  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.
R.  Divítias et paupertátem ne déderis mihi, sed tantum víctui meo tríbue necessária.

R.  Remove far from me, O Lord, vanity and lies, * And give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me only with the necessaries of life.
V.  Two things have I asked of thee, deny me them not before I die.
R.  And give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me only with the necessaries of life.
V.  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R.  And give me neither poverty nor riches, but feed me only with the necessaries of life.