Sunday Vespers

The first part of Vespers is in the Ordinary

COMMENTARY

Psalmus 109.  Dixit Dominus

Dixit Dóminus † Dómino meo: * Sede a dextris meis:
2  Donec ponam inimícos tuos, * scabéllum pedum tuórum.
3  Virgam virtútis tuæ emíttet Dóminus ex Sion: * domináre in médio inimicórum tuórum.
4  Tecum princípium in die virtútis tuæ in splendóribus sanctórum: * ex útero ante lucíferum génui te.
5  Jurávit Dóminus, et non pœnitébit eum: * Tu es sacérdos in ætérnum secúndum órdinem Melchísedech.
6  Dóminus a dextris tuis, * confrégit in die iræ suæ reges.
7  Judicábit in natiónibus, implébit ruínas: * conquassábit cápita in terra multórum.
8  De torrénte in via bibet: * proptérea exaltábit caput.

The Lord said † unto my Lord, * Sit thou on my right hand:
2  Until I make thine enemies * thy footstool.
3  The Lord shall send the rod of thy power out of Sion: * be thou ruler, even in the midst among thine enemies.
4  Thine shall be the dominion in the day of thy power, amid the brightness of the saints : * from the womb before the day star have I begotten thee.
5  The Lord sware, and will not repent, * Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.
6  The Lord upon thy right hand * shall wound even kings in the day of his wrath.
7  He shall judge among the heathen; he shall fill the places with the dead bodies: * and smite in sunder the heads over divers countries.
8  He shall drink of the brook in the way; * therefore shall he lift up his head.

Psalmus 110.  Confitebor

Confitébor tibi, Dómine, in toto corde meo: * in consílio justórum, et congregatióne.
2  Magna ópera Dómini: * exquisíta in omnes voluntátes ejus.
3  Conféssio et magnificéntia opus ejus: * et justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
4  Memóriam fecit mirabílium suórum, miséricors et miserátor Dóminus: * escam dedit timéntibus se.
5  Memor erit in sæculum testaménti sui: * virtútem óperum suórum annuntiábit pópulo suo:
6  Ut det illis hereditátem géntium: * ópera mánuum ejus véritas, et judícium.
7  Fidélia ómnia mandáta ejus: confirmáta in sæculum sæculi, * facta in veritáte et æquitáte.
8  Redemptiónem misit pópulo suo: * mandávit in ætérnum testaméntum suum.
9  (fit reverentia) Sanctum, et terríbile nomen ejus: * inítium sapiéntiæ timor Dómini.
10  Intelléctus bonus ómnibus faciéntibus eum: * laudátio ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.

Psalm 110.  Confitebor

I will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart, * in the assembly of the righteous, and in the congregation.
2  The works of the Lord are great, * meet to serve for the doing of his will.
3  His work is worthy to be praised and had in honour, * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4  He hath made a memorial of his marvellous works; the Lord is merciful and gracious : * he hath given meat unto them that fear him.
5  He shall ever be mindful of his covenant : * he will shew his people the power of his works.
6  That he may give them the heritage of the heathen : * the works of his hands are verity and judgment.
7  All his commandments are true; they stand fast for ever and ever : * and are done in truth and equity.
8  He sent redemption unto his people; * he hath commanded his covenant for ever.
9  (all bow) Holy and terrible is his Name : * the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
10  A good understanding have all they that do thereafter; * his praise endureth for ever.

Psalmus 111.  Beatus vir

Beátus vir, qui timet Dóminum: * in mandátis ejus volet nimis.
2  Potens in terra erit semen ejus: * generátio rectórum benedicétur.
3  Glória, et divítiæ in domo ejus: * et justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi.
4  Exórtum est in ténebris lumen rectis: * miséricors, et miserátor, et justus.
5  Jucúndus homo qui miserétur et cómmodat, dispónet sermónes suos in judício: * quia in ætérnum non commovébitur.
6  In memória ætérna erit justus: * ab auditióne mala non timébit.
7  Parátum cor ejus speráre in Dómino, confirmátum est cor ejus: * non commovébitur donec despíciat inimícos suos.
8  Dispérsit, dedit paupéribus: justítia ejus manet in sæculum sæculi, * cornu ejus exaltábitur in glória.
9  Peccátor vidébit, et irascétur, déntibus suis fremet et tabéscet: * desidérium peccatórum períbit.

Psalm 111.  Beatus vir

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord; * he hath great delight in his commandments.
2  His seed shall be mighty upon earth; * the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.
3  Glory and riches shall be in his house; * and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4  Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness; * he is merciful, loving, and righteous.
5  Happy is the man that sheweth mercy, and lendeth; he will guide his words with discretion : * for he shall never be moved.
6  The righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance : * he shall not be afraid of any evil tidings.
7  His heart is ready, trusting in the Lord, his heart is stablished, * he shall not be afraid until he see his desire upon his enemies.
8  He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor, and his righteousness remaineth for ever; * his horn shall be exalted with honour.
9  The ungodly shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; * the desire of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalmus 112.  Laudate, pueri

Laudáte, púeri, Dóminum: * laudáte nomen Dómini.
2  (fit reverentia) Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum, * ex hoc nunc, et usque in sæculum.
3  A solis ortu usque ad occásum, * laudábile nomen Dómini.
4  Excélsus super omnes gentes Dóminus, * et super cælos glória ejus.
5  Quis sicut Dóminus, Deus noster, qui in altis hábitat, * et humília réspicit in cælo et in terra?
6  Súscitans a terra ínopem, * et de stércore érigens páuperem:
7  Ut cóllocet eum cum princípibus, * cum princípibus pópuli sui.
8  Qui habitáre facit stérilem in domo, * matrem filiórum lætántem.

Psalm 112.  Laudate, pueri

Praise the Lord, O ye his servants; * O praise the Name of the Lord.
2  (all bow) Blessed be the Name of the Lord * from this time forth for evermore.
3  From the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same, * the Lord's Name be praised.
4  The Lord is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.
5  Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling on high, * and beholdeth what is lowly in heaven and in the earth?
6  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, * and lifteth the needy out of the dung hill.
7  That he may set him with the princes, * even with the princes of his people.
8  He maketh the barren woman to keep house, * and to be a joyful mother of children.

Psalmus 113.  In exitu Israël

In éxitu Israël de Ægýpto, * domus Jacob de pópulo bárbaro:
2  Facta est Judæa sanctificátio ejus, * Israël potéstas ejus.
3  Mare vidit, et fugit: * Jordánis convérsus est retrórsum.
4  Montes exsultavérunt ut aríetes, * et colles sicut agni óvium.
5  Quid est tibi, mare, quod fugísti: * et tu, Jordánis, quia convérsus es retrórsum?
6  Montes, exsultástis sicut aríetes, * et colles, sicut agni óvium.
7  A fácie Dómini mota est terra, * a fácie Dei Jacob.
8  Qui convértit petram in stagna aquárum, * et rupem in fontes aquárum.
9  Non nobis, Dómine, non nobis: * sed nómini tuo da glóriam.
10  Super misericórdia tua, et veritáte tua: * nequándo dicant gentes: Ubi est Deus eórum?
11  Deus autem noster in cælo: * ómnia quæcúmque vóluit, fecit.
12  Simulácra géntium argéntum, et aurum, * ópera mánuum hóminum.
13  Os habent, et non loquéntur: * óculos habent, et non vidébunt.
14  Aures habent, et non áudient: * nares habent, et non odorábunt.
15  Manus habent, et non palpábunt: pedes habent, et non ambulábunt: * non clamábunt in gútture suo.
16  Símiles illis fiant qui fáciunt ea: * et omnes qui confídunt in eis.
17  Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
18  Domus Aaron sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,
19  Qui timent Dóminum, speravérunt in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est.
20  Dóminus memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis:
21  Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron.
22  Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus.
23  Adjíciat Dóminus super vos: * super vos, et super fílios vestros.
24  Benedícti vos a Dómino, * qui fecit cælum, et terram.
25  Cælum cæli Dómino: * terram autem dedit fíliis hóminum.
26  Non mórtui laudábunt te, Dómine: * neque omnes, qui descéndunt in inférnum.
27  Sed nos qui vívimus, benedícimus Dómino, * ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.

Psalm 113.  In exitu Israel

When Israel came out of Egypt, * and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,
2  Judah was his sanctuary, * and Israel his dominion.
3  The sea saw that, and fled; * Jordan was driven back.
4  The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.
5  What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? * and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6  Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? * and ye little hills, like young sheep?
7  The earth trembled at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8  Who turned the hard rock into a standing water, * and the flint-stone into a springing well.
9  Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, * but unto thy Name give the glory.
10  For thy loving mercy, and for thy truth's sake : * wherefore shall the heathen say, Where is now their God?
11  As for our God, he is in heaven: * he hath done whatsoever pleased him.
12  The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, * even the work of men's hands.
13  They have mouths, and speak not; * eyes have they, and see not.
14  They have ears, and hear not; * noses have they, and smell not.
15  They have hands, and handle not; feet have they, and walk not; * neither speak they through their throat.
16  May they that make them be like unto them; * even every one that trusteth in them.
17  The house of Israel trusteth in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
18  The house of Aaron, trusteth in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
19  They that fear the Lord trust in the Lord; * he is their helper and defender.
20  The Lord hath been mindful of us, * and hath blessed us.
21  He hath blessed the house of Israel, * he hath blessed the house of Aaron.
22  He hath blessed all them that fear the Lord, * both small and great.
23  The Lord increase you more and more, * you and your children.
24  Ye are the blessed of the Lord, * who hath made heaven and earth.
25  The heaven of heavens is the Lord's; * but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
26  The dead shall praise thee not, O Lord, * neither all they that go down into the grave.
27  But we that live will praise the Lord, * from this time forth for evermore.

STAND

On Sundays after the Octave of the Epiphany, and on those after Pentecost, except those that fall in a privileged Octave, is said:

Benedíctus Deus, et Pater Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, Pater misericordiárum, et Deus totíus consolatiónis, qui consolátur nos in omni tribulatióne nostra.
R.  Deo grátias.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulations.
R.  Thanks be to God.

Lucis Creátor, óptime,
Lucem diérum próferens,
Primórdiis lucis novæ,
Mundi parans oríginem:

Qui mane junctum vésperi
Diem vocári præcipis:
Illábitur tetrum chaos,
Audi preces cum flétibus.

Ne mens graváta crímine,
Vitæ sit exsul múnere,
Dum nil perénne cógitat,
Seséque culpis ílligat.

Cæléste pulset óstium:
Vitále tollat præmium:
Vitémus omne nóxium:
Purgémus omne péssimum.

* Præsta, Pater piíssime,
Patríque compar Unice,
Cum Spíritu Paráclito
Regnans per omne sæculum.  Amen.

O blest Creator of the light,
Who mak'st the day with radiance bright,
And o'er the forming world didst call
The light from chaos first of all.

Whose wisdom join'd in meet array
The morn and eve, and nam'd them day:
Night comes with all its darkling fears,
Regard thy people's pray'rs and tears.

Lest, sunk in sin and whelm'd with strife,
They lose the gift of endless life;
While thinking but the thoughts of time,
They weave new chains of woe and crime.

But grant them grace that they may strain
The heav'nly gate and prize to gain:
Each harmful lure aside to cast,
And purge away each error past.

Ordinary Doxology:
Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee
Doth live and reign eternally.  Amen.

MAGNIFICAT

THE MAGNIFICAT

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH