Thursday, April 2, 2015

Tenebrae

MAUNDY THURSDAY TENEBRÆ
sung on Wednesday Night

AT MATINS

Our Father, Hail Mary and I believe are said silently.  The Office is begun at once with the Antiphon on the first Psalm; and at the end of each Psalm at Matins and at Lauds one of the fifteen candles on the triangular stand before the Altar is extinguished.

NOCTURN I

Ant.  The zeal of thine house hath even eaten me; and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.

Psalm 69. Salvum me fac.

SAVE me, Ó God; * for the waters are come in, even únto my soul.
      2  I stick fast in the deep mire, where no gróund is; * I am come into deep waters, so that the floods rún over me.
      3  I am weary of crying; † my throat ís dry; * my sight faileth me for waiting so long úpon my God.
      4  They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; * they that are mine enemies, and would destroy me guiltléss, are mighty.
      5  I paid them the things that I nevér took: * God, thou knowest my simpleness, and my faults are nót hid from thee.
      6  Let not them that trust in thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my cause; * let not those that seek thee be confounded through me, O Lord God óf Israel.
      7  And why? † for thy sake have I suffered proof; * shame hath cóvered my face.
      8  I am become a stranger unto my bréthren, * even an alien unto my móther's children.
      9  For the zeal of thine house hath even eáten me; * and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallén upon me.
    10  I wept, and chastened myself with fásting, * and that was turned my reproof. 
    11  I put on sackcloth álso, * and they jestéd upon me.
    12  They that sit in the gate speak agáinst me, * and the drunkards make sóngs upon me.
    13  But, Lord, I make my prayer únto thee * in an accéptable time.
    14  Hear me, O God, in the multitude of thy rcy, * even in the truth of thy salvation.
    15  Take me out of the mire, that I sínk not; * O let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of thé deep waters.
   
1
    16  Let not the water flood drown me, † neither let the deep swallow up; * and let not the pit shut her móuth upon me.
    17  Hear me, O Lord, for thy loving-kindness is cómfortable; * turn thee unto me according to the multitude óf thy mercies.
    18  And hide not thy face from thy servant, for I am in tróuble: * O haste thée, and hear me.
    19  Draw nigh unto my soul, and sáve it; * O deliver me, because óf mine enemies.
    20  Thou hast known my reproof, my shame, and my dishónour: * mine adversaries are áll in thy sight.
    21  Thy rebuke hath broken my heart; † I am full of héaviness: * I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man, † neither found I any comfort me.
    22  They gave me gáll to eat; * and when I was thirsty they gave me vínegar to drink.
    23  Let their table be made a snare to take themsélves withal; * and let the things that should have been for their wealth be unto them an occasíon of falling.
    24  Let their eyes be blinded, that they sée not; * and ever bow thóu down their backs.
    25  Pour out thine indignation upón them, * and let thy wrathful displeasure táke hold of them.
    26  Let their habitation void, * and no man to dwéll in their tents.
    27  For they persecute him whom thou hast smítten; * and they talk how they may vex them whom thóu hast wounded.
    28  Let them fall from one wickedness to anóther, * and not come into thy righteousness.
    29  Let them be wiped out of the book of the líving, * and not be written amóng the righteous.
    30  As for me, when I am poor and in héaviness, * thy help, O God, sháll lift me up.
    31  I will praise the Name of God with á song, * and magnify it wíth thanksgiving.
    32  This also shall pléase the Lord, * better than a bullock that háth horns and hoofs.
    33  The humble shall consider this and glad: * seek ye after God, and yóur soul shall live.
    34  For the Lord heareth thé poor, * and despiseth nót his prisoners.
    35  Let heaven and earth práise him: * the sea, and all that móveth therein.
    36  For God will save Sion, and build the cities of dah, * that men may dwell there, and have it ín possession.
   
2
    37  The posterity also of his servants shall inrit it; * and they that love his Name sháll dwell therein.
      
Ant.  The zeal of thine house hath even eaten me; and the rebukes of them that rebuked thee are fallen upon me.

Ant.  Let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish me evil.

Psalm 70. Deus in adjutorium.

HASTE thee, O God, to delíver me; * make haste to hélp me, O Lord.
      2  Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul; * let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wísh me evil.
      3  Let them for their reward be soon brought shame * that cry ovér me, There, there.
      4  But let all those that seek thee be joyful and glád in thee: * and let all such as delight in thy salvation say alway, Thé Lord be praised.
      5  As for me, I am poor and in mísery: * haste thee un me, O God.
      6  Thou art my helper, and my redéemer: * O Lord, make long tarrying.

Ant.  Let them be turned backward and put to confusion that wish me evil.

Ant. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly.

Psalm 71. In te, Domine, speravi.

IN thee, O Lord, have I put my trust, let me never be put to consion: * but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness; † incline thine ear unto , and save me.
      2  Be thou my strong hold, whereunto I may alwáys resort: * thou hast promised to help me, for thou art my house of defence, ánd my castle.
      3  Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungódly, * out of the hand of the unrighteous ánd cruel man.
      4  For thou, O Lord God, art the thing that I lóng for: * thou art my hope, evén from my youth.
      5  Through thee have I been holden up ever since I wás born: * thou art he that took me out of my mother's womb; † my praise shall be álways of thee.
      6  I am become as it were a monster unto mány, * but my sure trúst is in thee.
      7  O let my mouth be filled with thy praise, * that I may sing of thy glory and honour áll the day long.
     
3
      8  Cast me not away in the time óf age; * forsake me not when my stréngth faileth me.
      9  For mine enemies speak against me; † and they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together, sáying, * God hath forsaken him; † persecute him, and take him, for there is none to liver him.
    10  Go not far from me, Ó God; * my God, haste thée to help me.
    11  Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul; * let them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to me evil.
    12  As for me, I will patiently abide álway, * and will praise thée more and more.
    13  My mouth shall daily speak of thy righteousness and saltion; * for I know end thereof.
    14  I will go forth in the strength of the Lórd God, * and will make mention of thy rightéousness only.
    15  Thou, O God, hast taught me from my youth up untíl now; * therefore will I tell of thy wondrous works.
    16  Forsake me not, O God, in mine old age when I am gray-héaded, * until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, † and thy power to all them that are yét for to come.
    17  Thy righteousness, O God, is véry high, * and great things are they that thou hast done; † O God, who is líke unto thee?
    18  O what great troubles and adversities hast thou shewed me! † and yet didst thou turn and refrésh me; * yea, and broughtest me from the deep of thé earth again.
    19  Thou hast brought me to great hónour, * and comforted me ón every side:
    20  Therefore will I praise thee and thy faithfulness, O God, † playing upon an instrument of sic: * unto thee will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One óf Israel.
    21  My lips will be fain when I sing únto thee; * and so will my soul whom thou hást delivered.
    22  My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the dáy long; * for they are confounded and brought unto shame that seek to me evil.

Ant. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly.

                  V. Let them be turned backward and put to cónfusion:
                  R. That seek to do evil.

Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.


4
Here beginneth the Lamentation of Jeremiah the Prophet.

Lesson i  Chapter 1:1-14 
      
ALEPH.  How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!  Beth.  She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks; among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.  Ghimel.  Judah is gone into captivity, because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.  Daleth.  The ways of Sion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate; her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness.  He.  Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.

V. On the mount of Olives he prayed to the Father: Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: * The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.  The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Lesson ii

VAU.  From the daughter of Sion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture: and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.  Zain.  Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.  Heth.  Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness; yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.  Teth.  Her filthiness is in her skirts; she remembereth not her last end; therefore she came down wonderfully: she had no comforter.  O Lord, behold my affliction; for the enemy hath magnified himself.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.


5
V. My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me: now shall ye see the multitude which shall come about me: * Ye shall flee, and I go to be offered up for you.  Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.  Ye shall flee, and I go to be offered up for you.

Lesson iii

JOD. The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.  Caph.  All her people sigh, they seek bread: they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, and consider: for I am become vile.  Lamed.  Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.  Mem.  From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back; he hath made me desolate and faint all the day.  Nun.  The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand; they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck; he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.

V. Lo, we have seen him without form or comeliness; his look is gone from him: he hath borne our sins and mourneth for us: but he was wounded for our transgressions, * with his stripes we are healed.  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.  With his stripes we are healed.  Lo, we have seen him without form or comeliness; his look is gone from him: he hath borne our sins and mourneth for us: but he was wounded for our transgressions, with his stripes we are healed.

NOCTURN II

Ant.  He shall deliver the poor when he crieth: the needy also, and him that hath no helper.

Psalm 72.  Deus, judicium.

GIVE the King thy judgments, Ó God, * and thy righteousness un the King's son.
     
6
      2  Then shall he judge thy people according un right, * and fend the poor.
      3  The mountains also shall bríng peace, * and the little hills righteousness un the people.
      4  He shall keep the simple folk by théir right, * defend the children of the poor, and punish thé wrong doer.
      5  They shall fear thee, as long as the sun and moon endúreth, * from one generation another.
      6  He shall come down like the rain into a fleece óf wool, * even as the drops that ter the earth.
      7  In his time shall the righteous flóurish; * yea, and abundance of peace, so long as the móon endureth.
      8  His dominion shall be also from the one sea to the óther, * and from the flood un the world's end.
      9  They that dwell in the wilderness shall kneel befóre him; * his enemies sháll lick the dust.
    10  The kings of Tharsis and of the isles shall give présents; * the kings of Arabia and Sabá shall bring gifts.
    11  All kings shall fall down befóre him; * all nations shall him service.
    12  For he shall deliver the poor when he críeth; * the needy also, and him that háth no helper.
    13  He shall be favourable to the simple and néedy, * and shall preserve the sóuls of the poor.
    14  He shall deliver their souls from falsehood ánd wrong; * and dear shall their blood in his sight.
    15  He shall live and unto him shall be given of the gold of Arábia; * prayer shall be made ever unto him and daily sháll he be praised.
    16  There shall be an heap of corn in the earth, high upón the hills; * his fruit shall shake like Libanus, and shall be green in the city like grass úpon the earth.
    17  His Name shall endure for ever; † his Name shall remain under the sun among the posterities which shall be blessed thróugh him; * and all the heathén shall praise him.
    18  Blessed be the Lord God, even the God of Ísrael, * which only doéth wondrous things;
    19  And blessed be the Name of his Majesty for éver: * and all the earth shall be filled with his Majesty. † Ámen, Amen.

Ant.  He shall deliver the poor when he crieth: the needy also, and him that hath no helper.


7
Ant. They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against the Most High.

Psalm 73.  Quam bonus Israel.

TRULY God is loving unto Ísrael: * even unto such as are óf a clean heart.
      2  Nevertheless, my feet were almóst gone, * my treadings hád well-nigh slipt.
      3  And why? † I was grieved at the wícked: * I do also see the ungodly in such prósperity.
      4  For they are in no peril óf death; * but are lústy and strong.
      5  They come in no misfortune like óther folk; * neither are they plagued líke other men.
      6  And this is the cause that they are so holden wíth pride, * and overwhélmed with cruelty.
      7  Their eyes swell with fátness, * and they do evén what they lust.
      8  They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blásphemy; * their talking is agáinst the Most High.
      9  For they stretch forth their mouth unto the héaven, * and their tongue goéth through the world.
    10  Therefore fall the people únto them, * and thereout suck they no smáll advantage.
    11  Tush, say they, how should God percéive it? * is there knowledge ín the Most High?
    12  Lo, these are the ungodly, † these prosper in the world, and these have riches in posséssion: * and I said, Then have I cleansed my heart in vain, and washed mine hands in ínnocency.
    13  All the day long have I been púnished, * and chastened évery morning.
    14  Yea, and I had almost said even ás they; * but lo, then I should have condemned the generation óf thy children.
    15  Then thought I to understánd this; * but it was tóo hard for me,
    16  Until I went into the sanctuary óf God: * then understood I the énd of these men;
    17  Namely, how thou dost set them in slippery pláces, * and castest them down, and déstroyest them.
    18  Oh, how suddenly do they cónsume, * perish, and come to á fearful end!
    19  Yea, even like as a dream when one awáketh; * so shalt thou make their image to vanish out óf the city.
   

8
    20  Thus my heart wás grieved, * and it went evén through my reins.
    21  So foolish was I, and ígnorant, * even as it were a béast before thee.
    22  Nevertheless, I am alway by thee; * for thou hast holden me by my right hand.
    23  Thou shalt guide me with thy cóunsel, * and after that receive with glory.
    24  Whom have I in heaven bút thee? * and there is none upon earth that I desire in comparíson of thee.
    25  My flesh and my heart fáileth; * but God is the strength of my heart, and my portíon for ever.
    26  For lo, they that forsake thee shall pérish; * thou hast destroyed all them that commit fornicatíon against thee.
    27  But it is good for me to hold me fast by God, † to put my trust in the Lórd God, * and to speak of all thy works in the gates of the daughtér of Sion.

Ant. They corrupt other, and speak of wicked blasphemy: their talking is against the Most High.

Ant. Arise O God: maintain my cause.

Psalm 74.  Ut quid, Deus.

O GOD, wherefore art thou absent from us long? * why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep óf thy pasture?
      2  O think upon thy congretion, * whom thou hast purchased, and deemed of old.
      3  Think upon the tribe of thine inhéritance, * and Mount Sion, whereín thou hast dwelt.
      4  Lift up thy feet, that thou mayest utterly destroy every énemy, * which hath done evil in thy sánctuary.
      5  Thine adversaries roar in the midst of thy congretions, * and set up their bannérs for tokens.
      6  He that hath hewed timber afore out of the thíck trees, * was known to bring it to an éxcellent work.
      7  But now they break down all the carved wórk thereof * with axés and hammers.
      8  They have set fire upon thy holy pláces, * and have defiled the dwelling-place of thy Name, even únto the ground.
      9  Yea, they said in their hearts, Let us make havoc of them altogéther: * thus have they burnt up all the houses of Gód in the land.
   
9
    10  We see not our tokens, † there is not one próphet more; * no, not one is there among us that understandéth any more.
    11  O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishónour? * how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy Náme, for ever?
    12  Why withdrawest thou thy hand? * why pluckest thou not thy right hand out of thy bosom to consume thé enemy?
    13  For God is my King óf old; * the help that is done upon earth he doéth it himself.
    14  Thou didst divide the sea through thy pówer; * thou brakest the heads of the dragons ín the waters.
    15  Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in píeces, * and gavest him to be meat for the people in thé wilderness.
    16  Thou broughtest out fountains and waters out of the hárd rocks; * thou driedst up ghty waters.
    17  The day is thine and the níght is thine; * thou hast prepared the líght and the sun.
    18  Thou hast set all the borders óf the earth; * thou hast made summér and winter.
    19  Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy hath buked; * and how the foolish people hath blásphemed thy Name.
    20  O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the énemies; * and forget not the congregation of the póor for ever.
    21  Look upon the cóvenant; * for all the earth is full of darkness and cruel hábitations.
    22  O let not the simple go away áshamed; * but let the poor and needy give praise únto thy Name.
    23  Arise, O God, maintain thine ówn cause; * remember how the foolish man blaspheméth thee daily.
    24  Forget not the voice of thine énemies; * the presumption of them that hate thee increaseth evér more and more.

Ant. Arise O God: maintain my cause.

                  V. Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the úngodly:
                  R. Out of the hand of the unrighteous and crúel man.

Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.



10
From the Treatise of Saint Augustine the Bishop, on the Psalms.

Lesson iv.  On Ps. 55:1.

'HEAR my prayer, O God: and hide not thyself from my petition.  Take heed unto me, and hear me.'

These are the words of one disquieted, in trouble and anxiety.  He prays under much suffering, desiring to be released from evil.  Let us now see under what evil he lies: and when he begins to speak, let us place ourselves by him: that, sharing his tribulation, we may join in his prayer.  I mourn, saith he, in my prayer, and am vexed.  When does he mourn?  When is he vexed?  He says: in my prayer.  He speaks of the evil men whom he suffers: and that sufferance of evil men he calls his complaint.  Think not that the evil are in the world to no avail, or that God makes no use of them.  Every wicked man lives either that he may be corrected himself: or that the righteous may be exercised by him.

V. Mine own familiar friend hath betrayed me with a kiss: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.  This wicked sign he gave: who with a kiss brought about my death.  * Unhappy man, he threw down the price of blood: and in the end hanged himself.  It had been good for that man if he had not been born.  Unhappy man, he threw down the price of blood: and in the end hanged himself.

Lesson v.

WOULD that they who now try us were converted and tried with us: yet, though they continue to try us, let us not hate them: for we know not whether any of them will continue to the end in his evil ways.  And mostly, when thou thinkest thyself to be hating thine enemy, thou hatest thy brother, and knowest it not.  The devil and his angels are shown to us in Scripture as doomed to eternal fire.  Their amendment alone is hopeless against whom we wage a secret strife: for which strife the Apostle arms us, saying; We wrestle not against flesh and blood: that is, not against men, whom we see, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world.  Lest that by saying, the world, ye should think perhaps that devils are rulers of heaven and earth, he says: Of the darkness of this world.  He says, of the world, that is, the lovers of the world: Of the world, that is, the impious and wicked: Of the world, that is, of which the Gospel saith; And the world knew him not.


11
V. Judas, that most wicked trader, betrayed the Lord with a kiss: he, like an innocent lamb, refused not the kiss of Judas: * For a few pence he hath delivered Christ to the Jews.  It had been better for that man if he had not been born.  For a few pence he hath delivered Christ to the Jews.

Lesson vi.

FOR I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city.  See the glory of the Cross itself.  Now on the brow of kings is placed that Cross, which enemies did deride.  Effect hath proved strength: he hath subdued the world, not with steel, but with wood.  The wood of the Cross seemed a worthy object of scorn to his enemies; and standing before that wood they wagged their heads, saying; If thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross.  He stretched forth his hands to an unbelieving and gainsaying people.  If he is just who lives by faith he is unrighteous who has not faith.  Therefore when he saith unrighteousness, understand that it is unbelief.  The Lord then saw unrighteousness and strife in the city, and stretched out his hand to an unbelieving and gainsaying people: yet, waiting for them, he saith; Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

V. One of my disciplesshall this day betray me: Woe unto that man by whom I shall be betrayed: * It had been better for that man if he had not been born.  He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same is he that shall betray me into the hands of sinners.  It had been better for that man if he had not been born.  One of my disciples shall this day betray me: Woe unto that man by whom I shall be betrayed: It had been better for that man if he had not been born.

NOCTURN III

Ant. I said unto the fools: speak not with a stiff neck.

Psalm 75.  Confitebimur tibi.

UNTO thee, O God, do we gíve thanks; * yea, unto thee we give thanks.
      2  Thy name also is nigh, * and that do thy wondróus works declare.
      3  When I receive the congretion * I shall judge accordíng unto right. 
      4  The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters théreof: * I bear up the píllars of it.
      5  I said unto the fools, Deal not so mádly; * and to the ungodly, Set nót up your horn.
      6  Set not up your horn ón high, * and speak not wíth a stiff neck.
     
12
      7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from thé west, * nor yét from the south.
      8  And why? † God is thé Judge; * he putteth down one, and setteth úp another.
      9  For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine ís red; * it is full mixed, and he poureth óut of the same.
    10  As for the dregs théreof, * all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, ánd suck them out.
    11  But I will talk of the God of cob, * and praise hím for ever.
    12  All the horns of the ungodly also will Í break, * and the horns of the righteous shall exalted.

Ant. I said unto the fools: speak not with a stiff neck.

Ant.  The earth trembled and was still, when God arose to judgment.

Psalm 76.  Notus in Judæa.

IN Jewry is Gód known; * his Name is great ín Israel.
      2  At Salem is his tabercle, * and his dwellíng in Sion.
      3  There brake he the arrows óf the bow, * the shield, the sword, ánd the battle.
      4  Thou art of more honour ánd might * than the hills óf the robbers.
      5  The proud are robbed, they have slept théir sleep; * and all the men whose hands were mighty háve found nothing.
      6  At thy rebuke, O God of cob; * both the chariot and hórse are fallen.
      7  Thou, even thou art to feared; * and who may stand in thy sight when thóu art angry?
      8  Thou didst cause thy judgment to be heard from héaven; * the earth trembléd, and was still.
      9  When God arose to júdgment, * and to help all the méek upon earth.
    10  The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise; * and the fierceness of them shált thou refrain.
    11  Promise unto the Lord your God and keep it, † all ye that are round abóut him; * bring presents unto him that óught to be feared.
    12  He shall refrain the spirit of prínces, * and is wonderful among the kíngs of the earth.

Ant.  The earth trembled and was still, when God arose to judgment.


13
Ant.  In the timeof my trouble: I sought the Lord.

Psalm 77.  Voce mea ad Dominum.

I WILL cry unto God with my voice; * even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearkén unto me.
      2  In the time of my trouble I sought thé Lord: * my sore ran, and ceased not in the night-season; † my soul fused comfort.
      3  When I am in heaviness, I will think upón God; * when my heart is vexed, Í will complain.
      4  Thou holdest mine eyes wáking: * I am so feeble that Í cannot speak.
      5  I have considered the days óf old, * and the yéars that are past.
      6  I call to remembrance my song, * and in the night I commune with mine own heart and search óut my spirits.
      7  Will the Lord absent himself for éver? * and will he be no móre intreated?
      8  Is his mercy clean gone for éver? * and is his promise come utterly to an end fór evermore?
      9  Hath God forgotten to be grácious? * and will he shut up his loving-kindness ín displeasure?
    10  And I said, It is mine own infírmity; * but I will remember the years of the right hand of thé Most Highest.
    11  I will remember the works of thé Lord, * and call to mind thy wondérs of old time.
    12  I will think also of all thy works, * and my talking shall be óf thy doings.
    13  Thy way, O God, is ly; * who is so great a Gód as our God?
    14  Thou art the God that doest wónders, * and hast declared thy power amóng the people.
    15  Thou hast mightily delivered thy péople, * even the sons of Jacób and Joseph.
    16  The waters saw thee, O God, † the waters saw thee and were áfraid; * the depths al were troubled.
    17  The clouds poured out water, the air thúndered, * and thine arróws went abroad.
    18  The voice of thy thunder was heard round ábout: * the lightnings shone upon the ground; † the earth was moved ánd shook withal.
    19  Thy way is in the sea and thy paths in the great ters, * and thy footstéps are not known.
    20  Thou leddest thy people líke sheep, * by the hand of Mosés and Aaron.

Ant.  In the timeof my trouble: I sought the Lord.

14
                                             V. Aríse, O God:
                                             R. Maintáin my cause.

Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.

From the First Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.

Lesson vii Ch. 11:17-34

NOW in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse.  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.  For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.  When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.  For in eating, every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.  What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not?  What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this?  I praise you not.

V. I was like a lamb that is innocent; I was brought to the slaughter, and I knew it not; mine enemies have taken counsel against me, saying: * Come, let us put wood into his bread: and let us root him out of the land of the living.  All mine enemies have thought evil things against me: and have spoken against me, saying: Come, let us put wood into his bread: and let us root him out of the land of the living.


Lesson viii

FOR I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.


15
V. Could ye notwatch with me one hour, who were ready to die for me? * Or see ye not Judas, how he sleepeth not, but hasteneth to deliver me up to the Jews?  Why sleep ye?  Arise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.  Or see ye not Judas, how he sleepeth not, but hasteneth to deliver me up to the Jews?

Lesson ix

WHEREFORE whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.  Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.  And if any man hunger, let him eat at home: that ye come not together unto condemnation.  And the rest will I set in order when I come.

V. The eldersof the people took counsel * How they might take Jesus by subtilty, and put him to death: they went out as against a thief, with swords and staves.  The chief priests and Pharisees took counsel.  How they might take Jesus by subtilty, and put him to death: they went out as against a thief, with swords and staves.  The elders of the people took counsel.  How they might take Jesus by subtilty, and put him to death: they went out as against a thief, with swords and staves.

AT LAUDS

Ant.  Mayest thoube justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

Psalm 51.  Miserere mei, Deus.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great góodness; * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away míne offences.
      2  Wash me throughly from my wíckedness, * and cleanse from my sin.
      3  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is evér before me.
      4  Against thee only have I sinned, † and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear whén thou art judged.
     
16
      5  Behold, I was shapen in wíckedness, * and in sin hath my mothér conceived me.
      6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inwárd parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdóm secretly.
      7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whíter than snow.
      8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gládness, * that the bones which thou hast brokén may rejoice.
      9  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out áll my misdeeds.
    10  Make me a clean heart, Ó God, * and renew a right spirít within me.
    11  Cast me not away from thy présence, * and take not thy holy Spírit from me.
    12  O give me the comfort of thy help ágain, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
    13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wícked, * and sinners shall be convertéd unto thee.
    14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, † thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
    15  Thou shalt open my lips, Ó Lord, * and my mouth sháll shew thy praise.
    16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would I gíve it thee; * but thou delightest not in búrnt-offerings.
    17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spírit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thóu not despise.
    18  O be favourable and gracious unto on; * build thou the walls of Jérusalem.
    19  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and obtions; * then shall they offer young bullocks upón thine altar.

Ant.  Mayest thoube justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged.

Ant. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and he opened not his mouth.

Psalm 90.  Domine, refugium.

LORD, thou hast been our réfuge, * from one generation another.
      2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the wórld were made, * thou art God from everlasting, and wórld without end.
      3  Thou turnest man to destrúction; * again thou sayest, Come again ye chíldren of men.
     
17
      4  For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yésterday; * seeing that is past as a wátch in the night.
      5  As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as ásleep; * and fade away suddenly like the grass.
      6  In the morning it is green, and growéth up; * but in the evening it is cut down, dried úp, and withered.
      7  For we consume away in thy displéasure, * and are afraid at thy wrathful índignation.
      8  Thou hast set our misdeeds befóre thee; * and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.
      9  For when thou art angry all our days áre gone: * we bring our years to an end, as it were a tále that is told.
    10  The days of our age are threescore years and ten; † and though men be so strong that they come to fourscóre years, * yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; † so soon passeth it away, ánd we are gone.
    11  But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? * for even thereafter as a man feareth, so is thy displeasure.
    12  So teach us to number óur days, * that we may apply our hearts únto wisdom.
    13  Turn thee again, O Lord, at thé last, * and be gracious un thy servants.
    14  O satisfy us with thy mercy, and thát soon: * so shall we rejoice and be glad all the dáys of our life.
    15  Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plágued us; * and for the years wherein we have suffered ádversity.
    16  Shew thy servants thy work, * and their childrén thy glory.
    17  And the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upón us: * prosper thou the work of our hands upon us, † O prosper thou óur handy-work.

Ant. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and he opened not his mouth.

Ant.  My heartwithin me is broken: all my bones shake.

Psalm 36.  Dixit injustus.

MY heart sheweth me the wickedness of the ungódly, * that there is no fear of God fore his eyes.
      2  For he flattereth himself in his ówn sight, * until his abominable sín be found out.
      3  The words of his mouth are unrighteous, and full of ceit: * he hath left off to behave himself wisely, ánd to do good.
     
18
      4  He imagineth mischief upon his bed, and hath set himself in no góod way; * neither doth he abhor any thing thát is evil.
      5  Thy mercy, O Lord, reacheth unto the héavens, * and thy faithfulness únto the clouds.
      6  Thy righteousness standeth like the strong móuntains: * thy judgments are líke the great deep.
      7  Thou, Lord, shalt save both man and beast; † How excellent is thy mercy, Ó God! * and the children of men shall put their trust under the shadów of thy wings.
      8  They shall be satisfied with the plenteousness of thy house; * and thou shalt give them drink of thy pleasures, as out óf the river.
      9  For with thee is the well óf life; * and in thy light sháll we see light.
    10  O continue forth thy loving-kindness unto them that knów thee, * and thy righteousness unto them that áre true of heart.
    11  O let not the foot of pride come agáinst me; * and let not the hand of the ungodly cast me down.
    12  There are they fallen, all that work wíckedness: * they are cast down, and shall not be áble to stand.
     
Ant.  My heartwithin me is broken: all my bones shake.

Ant. Thou hast encouraged us in thy power, O Lord, and in thy holy refection.

THE SONG OF MOSES
Exodus 15:1-19.  Cantemus Domino.

I WILL sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed glóriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown ínto the sea.
      2  The Lord is my strength ánd song, * and he is become my salvation:
      3  He is my God, and I will prepare him an habition; * my father's God, and I wíll exalt him.
      4  The Lord is a man óf war: * the Lórd is his Name.
      5  Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into thé sea: * his chosen captains also are drowned ín the Red Sea.
      6  The depths have cóvered them: * they sank into the bottóm as a stone.
      7  Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in pówer: * thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces thé enemy.
      8  And in the greatness of thine excellency † thou hast overthrown them that rose up agáinst thee; * thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed thém as stubble.
     

19
      9  And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered togéther, * the floods stood upright as an heap, † and the depths were congealed in the héart of the sea.
    10  The enemy said, † I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide thé spoil; * my lust shall be satisfíed upon them;
    11  I will draw my sword, * my hand sháll destroy them.
    12  Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea cóvered them: * they sank as lead in the míghty waters.
    13  Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among thé gods? * who is like thee, glorious in holiness, † fearful in praises, ing wonders?
    14  Thou stretchedst out thy ríght hand, * the éarth swallowed them.
    15  Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast deemed: * thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy bitation.
    16  The people shall hear, and be áfraid: * sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Pálistina.
    17  Then the dukes of Edom shall be ámazed; * the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; † all the inhabitants of Canaan sháll melt away.
    18  Fear and dread shall fall upon them, † by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as á stone; * till thy people pass over, O Lord, † till the people pass over which thóu hast purchased.
    19  Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inhéritance, * in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in; † in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands háve established.
    20  The Lord sháll reign * for evér and ever.
    21  For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into thé sea, * and the Lord brought again the waters of the séa upon them.
    22  But the children of Israel went on dry land * in the mídst of the sea.

Ant. Thou hast encouraged us in thy power, O Lord, and in thy holy refection.

Ant.  He was made an offering because he himself desired it: and himself bare our sins.

Psalm 147.  Laudate Dominum.

O PRAISE the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto óur God; * yea, a joyful and plesant thing it is be thankful.
      2  The Lord doth build up Jerúsalem, * and gather together the outcasts óf Israel.
     
20
      3  He healeth those that are broken ín heart, * and giveth medicine to héal their sickness.
      4  He telleth the number of thé stars, * and calleth them áll by their names.
      5  Great is our Lord, and great is his pówer; * yea, and his wisdom ís infinite.
      6  The Lord setteth up thé meek; * and bringeth the ungodly dówn to the ground.
      7  O sing unto the Lord with thanksgíving; * sing praises upon the harp únto our God;
      8  Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for thé earth; * and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for thé use of men;
      9  Who giveth fodder unto the cáttle, * and feedeth the young ravens that cáll upon him.
    10  He hath no pleasure in the strength of án horse; * neither delighteth he in ány man's legs.
    11  But the Lord's delight is in them that féar him, * and put their trust ín his mercy.

Ant.  He was made an offering because he himself desired it: and himself bare our sins.

                  V. Mine own familiar friend whom Í trusted;
                  R. Who did also eat of my bread, hath laid great wáit for me.

Ant. on Benedictus.  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.

All stand up.  During the singing of the following Canticle, all the candles upon the triangular stand having been put out (except the one placed at the top), the six candles upon the Altar are likewise extinguished one by one, so that at the last verse the last candle is put out.  The lamps and other lights throughout the church, except those which burn before the Blessed Sacrament, are extinguished, not to be relighted until Holy Saturday.

THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS
Saint Luke 1:68-79.  Benedictus Dominus.

BLESSED be the Lord God of Ísrael; * for he hath visited and redéemed his people;
      2  And hath raised up a mighty salvation fór us, * in the house of his sérvant David;
     
21
      3  As he spake by the mouth of his holy próphets, * which have been since thé world began;
      4  That we should be saved from our énemies, * and from the hand of áll that hate us;
      5  To perform the mercy promised to our fórefathers, * and to remember his holy covenant;
      6  To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Ábraham, * that would give us;
      7  That we being delivered out of the hand of our énemies, * might serve hím without fear;
      8  In holiness and righteousness befóre him, * all the dáys of our life.
      9  And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Híghest: * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prépare his ways;
    10  To give knowledge of salvation unto his péople, * for the remissíon of their sins,
    11  Through the tender mercy of óur God; * whereby the day-spring from on high hath vísited us;
    12  To give light to them that sit in darkness, † and in the shadow óf death, * and to guide our feet into thé way of peace.

Ant.  Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; hold him fast.

During the repetition of the Antiphon Now he that betrayed him, the topmost candle is taken from the candelabrum, and hidden from sight.  Then all kneel down and the following is sung:

Christ became † obedient for us unto death.

Our Father is then said in silence.

Then the Psalm Misere mei, Deus, is said in a humble voice.

Psalm 51.  Miserere mei, Deus.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
      2  Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
      3  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
      4  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.
     
22
      5  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
      6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
      7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
      8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
      9  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.
    10  Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
    11  Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
    12  O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
    13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
    14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, † thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
    15  Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
    16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
    17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
    18  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
    19  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.

Then the officiant, still kneeling, says the Collect in a humble voice, without The Lord be with you or Let us pray.

COLLECT

ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross.  He adds silently, Who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.

A slight noise is then made; the lighted candle is at once brought forth from the place where it was concealed; and all rise and depart in silence.

23
GOOD FRIDAY TENEBRÆ
sung on Maundy Thursday Night

AT MATINS

Our Father, Hail Mary and I believe are said silently.  The Office is begun at once with the Antiphon on the first Psalm; and at the end of each Psalm at Matins and at Lauds one of the fifteen candles on the triangular stand before the Altar is extinguished.

NOCTURN I

Ant.  The kingsof the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed.

Psalm 2.  Quare fremuerunt gentes.

WHY do the heathen so furiously rage togéther? * and why do the people imagíne a vain thing?
      2  The kings of the earth stand up and the rulers take counsel togéther * against the Lord and against hís Anointed.
      3  Let us break their bonds asúnder, * and cast away théir cords from us.
      4  He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them scorn: * the Lord shall have them ín derision.
      5  Then shall he speak unto them in hís wrath, * and vex them in his sóre displeasure:
      6  Yet have I set my King * upon my holy híll of Sion.
      7  I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said únto me, * Thou art my Son, this day have I gotten thee.
      8  Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inhéritance, * and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.
      9  Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of íron, * and break them in pieces like a pótter's vessel.
    10  Be wise now therefore, O kings; * be learned, ye that are judgés of the earth.
    11  Serve the Lord ín fear, * rejoice unto hím with reverence.
    12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, † and so ye perish from the ríght way; * if his wrath be kindled,  yea but a little, † blessed are all they that put théir trust in him.

Ant.  The kingsof the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his Anointed.

If this Office follows the Mass, the Altar is stripped during the following Psalm:

24
Ant. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Psalm 22.  Deus, Deus meus.

MY God, my God, look upon me; † why hast thou forsáken me? * and art so far from my health, and from the words óf my complaint?
      2  O my God, I cry in the day-time, but thou héarest not; * and in the night-season also Í take no rest.
      3  And thou continuest ly, * O thou worship óf Israel.
      4  Our fathers hóped in thee; * they trusted in thee and thou didst liver them.
      5  They called upon thee, and were hólpen; * they put their trust in thee, and were nót confounded.
      6  But as for me, I am a worm, and man; * a very scorn of men, and the outcast óf the people.
      7  All they that see me laught me scorn: * they shoot out their lips, and shake théir heads, saying,
      8  He trusted in God, that he would delíver him; * let him deliver him, if will have him.
      9  But thou art he that took me out of my móther's womb; * thou wast my hope, when I hanged yet upon my mother's breasts.
    10  I have been left unto thee ever since I wás born; * thou art my God even from my mother's womb.
    11  O go not from me, † for trouble is hard át hand, * and there is nóne to help me.
    12  Many oxen are come abóut me; * fat bulls of Basan close me in ón every side.
    13  They gape upon me with théir mouths, * as it were a ramping and a róaring lion.
    14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are óut of joint; * my heart also in the midst of my body is even líke melting wax.
    15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd, † and my tongue cleaveth my gums, * and thou shalt bring me into thé dust of death.
    16  For many dogs are come abóut me, * and the council of the wicked layeth síege against me.
    17  They pierced my hands and my feet; † I may tell áll my bones: * they stand staring and lookíng upon me.
    18  They part my garments amóng them, * and cast lots upón my vesture.
    19  But be not thou far from me, Ó Lord: * thou art my succour, haste thée to help me.
   

25
    20  Deliver my soul from thé sword, * my darling from the powér of the dog.
    21  Save me from the on's mouth; * thou hast heard me also from among the horns of thé unicorns.
    22  I will declare thy Name unto my bréthren; * in the midst of the congregation wíll I praise thee.
    23  O praise the Lord, ye that féar him: * magnify him, all ye of the seed of Jacob, † and fear him, all ye seed óf Israel;
    24  For he hath not despised nor abhorred the low estate of thé poor; * he hath not hid his face from him, but when he called unto hím he heard him.
    25  My praise is of thee in the great congretion; * my vows will I perform in the sight of thém that fear him.
    26  The poor shall eat and be sátisfied: * they that seek after the Lord shall praise him; † your heart shall líve for ever.
    27  All the ends of the world shall remember themselves, and be turned unto thé Lord; * and all the kindreds of the nations shall worshíp before him.
    28  For the kingdom ís the Lord's, * and he is the Governor amóng the people.
    29  All such as be fat upón earth * have eatén and worshipped.
    30  All they that go down into the dust shall kneel befóre him; * and no man hath quickéned his own soul.
    31  My seed shall sérve him; * they shall be counted unto the Lord for a géneration.
    32  They shall come and the heavens shall declare his ríghteousness * unto a people that shall be born, whom thé Lord hath made.

Ant. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Ant. There are false witnesses † risen up against me, and such as speak wrong.

Psalm 27.  Dominus illuminatio.

THE Lord is my light and my salvation; † whom then shall Í fear? * the Lord is the strength of my life; † of whom then shall Í be afraid?
      2  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, * they stúmbled and fell.
      3  Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be áfraid; * and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
     

26
      4  One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will quire; * even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, † to behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to visít his temple.
      5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernácle; * yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon á rock of stone.
      6  And now shall he lift up míne head * above mine enemies róund about me.
      7  Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gládness; * I will sing and speak praises únto the Lord.
      8  Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry únto thee; * have mercy upon , and hear me.
      9  My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face: * Thy face, Lórd, will I seek.
    10  O hide not thou thy face fróm me, * nor cast thy servant away ín displeasure.
    11  Thou hast been my súccour; * leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
    12  When my father and my mother forsáke me, * the Lord táketh me up.
    13  Teach me thy wáy, O Lord, * and lead me in the right way, because of míne enemies.
    14  Deliver me not over into the will of mine ádversaries: * for there are false witnesses risen up against me and súch as speak wrong.
    15  I should utterly have fáinted, * but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land óf the living.
    16  O tarry thou the Lord léisure; * be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; † and put thou thy trúst in the Lord.

Ant. There are false witnesses † risen up against me, and such as speak wrong.


                        V. They part my garments ámong them:
                        R. And cast lots upon my vesture.
   
Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.






27
From the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet.

Lesson i.  Chapter 2:8-15

HETH.  The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Sion; he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.  Teth.  Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the Lord.  Jod.  The elders of the daughter of Sion sit upon the ground, and keep silence: they have cast up dust upon their heads; they have girded themselves with sackcloth: the virgins of Jerusalem hang down their heads to the ground.  Caph.  Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, my liver is poured upon the earth, for the destruction of the daughter of my people; because the children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.

V. All my friends have forsaken me, and they that laid snares for me have prevailed against me; he whom I loved hath betrayed me: * And with terrible looks, piercing me with a cruel blow, they gave me vinegar to drink.  They cast me out among the wicked, and spared not my life.  And with terrible looks, piercing me with a cruel blow, they gave me vinegar to drink.

Lesson ii.

LAMED.  They say to their mothers, Where is corn and wine? when they swooned as the wounded in the streets of the city, when their soul was poured out into their mothers' bosom.  Mem.  What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? for thy breach is great like the sea; who can heal thee?  Nun.  Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee; and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.  Samech.  All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, Is this the city that men call The perfection of beauty, The joy of the whole earth?


28
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.

V. The veil of the temple was rent: * And the whole earth did quake: the thief from the cross cried out, saying: Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.  The rocks were rent, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.  And the whole earth did quake: the thief from the cross cried out saying: Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Lesson iii.  Chapter 3:1-9

ALEPHI am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.  Aleph. He hath led me, and brought me into darkness, but not into light.  Aleph.  Surely against me is he turned; he turneth his hand against me all the day.  Beth.  My flesh and my skin hath he made old; he hath broken my bones.  Beth.  He hath builded against me, and compassed me with gall and travail.  Beth.  He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old.  Ghimel.  He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy.  Ghimel.  Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.  Ghimel.  He hath inclosed my ways with hewn stone, he hath made my paths crooked.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.

V.  O my chosen vine, I have planted thee: * How art thou turned into bitterness; that thou shouldst crucify me, and let Barrabas go.  I fenced thee, and gathered out the stones from thee, and built a tower.  How art thou turned into bitterness; that thou shouldst crucify me, and let Barrabas go.  O my chosen vine, I have planted thee: how art thou turned into bitterness; that thou shouldst crucify me, and let Barrabas go.

Nocturn II

Ant.  They also that sought after my life laid snares for me.

Psalm 38.  Domine, ne in furore.

PUT me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine ánger; * neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure:
      2  For thine arrows stick fást in me, * and thy hand présseth me sore.
      3  There is no health in my flesh because of thy displéasure; * neither is there any rest in my bones by reasón of my sin.
     
29
      4  For my wickednesses are gone over my head, * and are like a sore burden, too heavy fór me to bear.
      5  My wounds stink, and are córrupt, * through my foolishness.
      6  I am brought into so great trouble and sery, * that I go mourning áll the day long.
      7  For my loins are filled with a sore dísease, * and there is no whole part ín my body.
      8  I am feeble and sore smítten; * I have roared for the very disquietnéss of my heart.
      9  Lord, thou knowest all my sire; * and my groaning is nót hid from thee.
    10  My heart panteth, my strength hath fáiled me, * and the sight of mine eyes ís gone from me.
    11  My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my tróuble, * and my kinsmen stóod afar off.
    12  They also that sought after my life laid snáres for me; * and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, † and imagined deceit áll the day long.
    13  As for me, I was like a deaf man, and héard not; * and as one that is dumb, who doth not ópen his mouth.
    14  I became even as a man that héareth not, * and in whose mouth áre no reproofs.
    15  For in thee, O Lord, have I pút my trust; * thou shalt answer for me, Ó Lord my God.
    16  I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph óver me; * for when my foot slipped, they rejoiced greatly against me.
    17  And I truly am set ín the plague, * and my heaviness is evér in my sight.
    18  For I will confess my wíckedness, * and be sorry for my sin.
    19 But mine enemies live and are míghty; * and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.
    20  They also that reward evil for good are agáinst me; * because I follow the thíng that good is.
    21  Forsake me not, O Lórd my God; * be not thóu far from me.
    22  Haste thee to hélp me, * O Lord God of my salvation.

Ant.  They also that sought after my life laid snares for me.

Ant.  Let them be ashamed and confounded together, that seek after my soul to destroy it.


30
Psalm 40.  Exspectans exspectavi.

I WAITED patiently fór the Lord, * and he inclined unto me, and héard my calling.
      2  He brought me also out of the horrible pit, † out of the míre and clay, * and set my feet upon the rock, and ordéred my goings.
      3  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, * even a thanksgiving únto our God.
      4  Many shall see it ánd fear, * and shall put their trúst in the Lord.
      5  Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in thé Lord, * and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go ábout with lies.
      6  O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, † like as be also thy thoughts which are to ús-ward; * and yet there is no man that ordereth thém unto thee.
      7  If I should declare them and spéak of them, * they should be more than I am ablé to express.
      8  Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldést not, * but mine ears hást thou opened.
      9  Burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin hast thou not quired: * then said Í, Lo, I come;
    10  In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God: * I am content to do it; † yea, thy law is wíthin my heart.
    11  I have declared thy righteousness in the great congretion: * lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and thát thou knowest.
    12  I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; * my talk hath been of thy truth, and of thy salvation.
    13  I have not kept back thy loving mercy ánd truth * from the great cóngregation.
    14  Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, Ó Lord; * let thy loving-kindness and thy truth alwáy preserve me.
    15  For innumerable troubles are come about me; † my sins have taken such hold upon me that I am not able to lóok up; * yea, they are more in number than the hairs of my head, and my heárt hath failed me.
    16  O Lord, let it be thy pleasure to delíver me; * make haste, O Lórd, to help me.
    17  Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destróy it; * let them be driven backward and put to rebuke that wísh me evil.
    18  Let them be desolate and rewarded wíth shame, * that say unto me Fie upon thee, fíe upon thee.
   

31
    19  Let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad ín thee; * and let such as love thy salvation say always, Thé Lord be praised.
    20  As for me, I am poor and néedy; * but the Lord cáreth for me.
    21  Thou art my helper and redéemer; * make no long tarryíng, O my God.

Ant.  Let them be ashamed and confounded together, that seek after my soul to destroy it.

Ant.  Strangers † are risen up against me, and tyrants seek after my soul.

Psalm 54.  Deus, in nomine.

SAVE me, O God, for thy Náme's sake, * and avenge in thy strength.
      2  Hear my prayer, Ó God, * and hearken unto the wórds of my mouth.
      3  For strangers are risen up agáinst me; * and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek áfter my soul.
      4  Behold, God is my hélper; * the Lord is with them that úphold my soul.
      5  He shall reward evil unto mine énemies: * destroy thou thém in thy truth.
      6  An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, Ó Lord; * because it is so cómfortable.
      7  For he hath delivered me out of all my tróuble; * and mine eye hath seen his desire upon míne enemies.

Ant.  Strangers † are risen up against me, and tyrants seek after my soul.

                           V. There are false witnesses risen up ágainst me.
                           R. And such ás speak wrong.

Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.

From the Treatise of Saint Augustine the Bishop, on the Psalms.

Lesson iv.  Ps. 64:2.

'HIDE me from the gathering together of the froward, and from the multi-tude of wicked doers.'


32
Now let us contemplate our Head Himself.  Many martyrs have suffered such things, but none shines with such glory as the head of the martyrs: in him we see better what they endured.  He was hidden from the multitude of the froward.  For God hid himself: he, the very Son made man, hid his own flesh.  For he is Son of Man and Son of God: Son of God, being in the form of God: Son of Man, being in the form of a servant: having power to lay down his life, and having power to take it again.  What could his enemies do unto him?  They killed the body, the soul they killed not.  Give heed: It were little for the Lord to exhort the martyrs by word, did he not confirm them by his example.

V.  Ye are come outagainst me as against a thief: with swords and staves for to take me. * I sat daily with you teaching in the temple; and ye laid no hold on me: and behold ye scourge me, and lead me away to be crucified.  And when they had laid hands on Jesus, and held him, he said unto them, I sat daily with you teaching in the temple; and ye laid no hold on me: and behold ye scourge me, and lead me away to be crucified.

Lesson v.

YE know what was the gathering together of the froward Jews, and what was the multitude of the wicked doers.  How were they wicked doers?  In that they desired to kill the Lord Jesus Christ.  Many good works, saith he, have I showed you: for which of these works do ye desire to kill me?  He bore all their infirmities, he healed all their sick, he preached the kingdom of heaven: he kept not silence concerning their vices, and this, that they might be displeased with the vices themselves, not with the physician who healed them.  Yet such was their ingratitude for all these cures, that, like men raging in high fever, they were maddened against the physician who had come to heal them, and took counsel for his destruction.  As though they would put it to the proof whether he were very man or mortal, or whether he were something superhuman, who would not suffer himself to die.  We recognized their words in the wisdom of Solomon: Let us condemn him, they say, with a shameful death.  Let us examine him: for by his own saying he shall be respected.  If he be the Son of God, he will help him.

V. There was darknessover all the land, when the Jews had crucified Jesus: and about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? * And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.  When Jesus had cried with a loud voice: he said, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit.  And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.

33
Lesson vi.

THEY have whet their tongues like a sword.  Let not the Jews say: We did not kill Christ.  For they delivered him up to Pilate's tribune in order that they should themselves seem innocent of his death.  For when Pilate said to them; Put ye him to death: they answered; It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.  Thus when they sought to cast the guilt of their crime upon a human judge: did they deceive God the Judge?  What Pilate did made him in some sort partaker of their crime: but in comparison with them he was much more innocent.  For he did all he could to rescue him out of their hands: and therefore ordered him to be scourged and brought before them.  Not by way of persecution did he scourge the Lord, but as wishing to satisfy their rage: that when they saw him scourged, they might relent, and cease to desire his death.  This then he did.  But when they persisted, ye know how he washed his hands, and said that it was not he that did the deed, and that he was innocent of his death.  Nevertheless he did do it.  But if he be guilty who did it, though reluctantly: shall they be innocent who forced him to do it?  By no means.  He pronounced sentence on him and commanded him to be crucified, and so might be said to kill him: but ye, O Jews, have killed him.  How did ye kill him?  With the sword of the tongue: for ye have whet your tongue.  And when did ye strike the blow, but when ye cried out: Crucify him, Crucify him.

V.  I have deliveredthe beloved of my soul into the hand of the wicked: and mine heritage is become unto me as a lion in the wood: mine adversary hath cried out against me saying: Gather ye together and make haste to devour him: they have placed me in a lonely desert: and all the earth hath mourned over me. * Because there was none found that would know me, and do me any good.  Men without mercy rose up against me, and spared not my life.  Because there was none found that would know me, and do me any good.  I have delivered the beloved of my soul into the hand of the wicked: and mine heritage is become unto me as a lion in the wood: mine adversary hath cried out against me saying: Gather ye together and make haste to devour him: They have placed me in a lonely desert: and all the earth hath mourned over me.  Because there was none found that would know me: and do me any good.

NOCTURN III

Ant.  Defend me, O Lord, from them that rise up against me: for lo, they lie waiting for my soul.


34
Psalm 59.  Eripe me de inimicis.

DELIVER me from mine enemies, Ó God; * defend me from them that rise úp against me.
      2  O deliver me from the wicked ers, * and save me from the blóodthirsty men.
      3  For lo, they lie waiting for my soul; * the mighty men are gathered against me, without any offence or fault óf me, O Lord.
      4  They run and prepare themselves without my fault; * arise thou therefore to help , and behold.
      5  Stand up, O Lord God of hosts, thou God of Israel, † to visit all the héathen, * and be not merciful unto them that offend of malicíous wickedness.
      6  They go to and fro in the évening, * they grin like a dog, and run about thróugh the city.
      7  Behold, they speak with their mouth, and swords are in théir lips; * fór who doth hear?
      8  But thou, O Lord, shalt have them in desion, * and thou shalt laugh all the héathen to scorn.
      9  My strength will I ascribe un thee; * for thou art the God óf my refuge.
    10  God sheweth me his goodness plénteously; * and God shall let me see my desire upon míne enemies.
    11  Slay them not, lest my people forgét it; * but scatter them abroad among the people, and put them down, O Lórd, our defence.
    12  For the sin of their mouth, and for the words of their lips, † they shall be taken in théir pride: * and why? † their preaching is of cúrsing and lies.
    13  Consume them in thy wrath, consume them that they may pérish; * and know that it is God that ruleth in Jacob, † and unto the énds of the world.
    14  And in the evening they will turn, * grin like a dog, and will go abóut the city.
    15  They will run here and there fór meat, * and grudge if they be nót satisfied.
    16  As for me, I will sing of thy power and will praise thy mercy betimes in the mórning; * for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day óf my trouble.
    17  Unto thee, O my strength, will Í sing; * for thou, O God, art my refuge, and my mérciful God.

Ant.  Defend me, O Lord, from them that rise up against me: for lo, they lie waiting for my soul.
35
Ant.  Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me: I am so fast in prison that I cannot get forth.

Psalm 88.  Domine Deus.

O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night befóre thee: * O let my prayer enter into thy presence, incline thine ear un my calling.
      2  For my soul is full of tróuble, * and my life draweth nígh unto hell.
      3  I am counted as one of them that go down into thé pit, * and I have been even as a man thát hath no strength.
      4  Free among the dead, like unto them that are wounded, and lie in thé grave, * who are out of remembrance, and are cut awáy from thy hand.
      5  Thou hast laid me in the lowést pit, * in a place of darkness, ánd in the deep.
      6  Thine indignation lieth hard upón me, * and thou hast vexed me wíth all thy storms.
      7  Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far fróm me, * and made me to be ábhorred of them.
      8  I am so fast in príson * that I cánnot get forth.
      9  My sight faileth for very tróuble; * Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hánds unto thee.
    10  Dost thou shew wonders among thé dead? * or shall the dead rise up agáin, and praise thee?
    11  Shall thy loving-kindness be shewed ín the grave? * or thy faithfulness ín destruction?
    12  Shall thy wondrous works be known ín the dark? * and thy righteousness in the land where all things áre forgotten?
    13  Unto thee have I cried, Ó Lord; * and early shall my prayer cóme before thee.
    14  Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul, * and hidest thou thy face from me?
    15  I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point die; * even from my youth up, thy terrors have I suffered with á troubled mind.
    16  Thy wrathful displeasure goeth óver me, * and the fear of thee háth undone me.
    17  They came round about me daily like ter, * and compassed me together ón every side.
    18  My lovers and friends hast thou put away fróm me: * and hid mine acquaintance óut of my sight.

Ant.  Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me: I am so fast in prison that I cannot get forth.
36
Ant. They gather them togetheragainst the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

Psalm 94.  Deus ultionum.

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belóngeth, * thou God, to whom vengeance belongéth, shew thyself.
      2  Arise, thou Judge of thé world, * and reward the proud after théir deserving.
      3  Lord, how long shall the ungódly, * how long shall the ungódly triumph?
      4  How long shall all wicked doers speak so disdáinfully, * and make súch proud boasting?
      5  They smite down thy people, Ó Lord, * and trouble thíne heritage.
      6  They murder the widow and the stránger, * and put the fathérless to death.
      7  And yet they say, Tush, the Lord shall nót see, * neither shall the God of Jacób regard it.
      8  Take heed, ye unwise among the péople: * O ye fools, when will understand?
      9  He that planted the ear, shall he nót hear? * or he that made the eye, sháll he not see?
    10  Or he that nurtureth the héathen, * it is he that teacheth man knowledge; † shall nót he punish?
    11  The Lord knoweth the thoughts óf man, * that théy are but vain.
    12  Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, Ó Lord, * and teachest hím in thy law;
    13  That thou mayest give him patience in time of advérsity, * until the pit be digged up for thé ungodly.
    14  For the Lord will not fail his péople; * neither will he forsake his ínheritance;
    15  Until righteousness turn again unto júdgment: * all such as are true in heart sháll follow it.
    16  Who will rise up with me against the wícked? * or who will take my part aginst the évil-doers?
    17  If the Lord had not hélped me, * it had not failed, but my soul had been pút to silence.
    18  But when I said, My foot háth slipt; * thy mercy, O Lórd, held me up.
    19  In the multitude of the sorrows that I had in my heart, * thy comforts have freshed my soul.
   
37
    20  Wilt thou have any thing to do with the stool of wíckedness, * which imagineth mischíef as a law?
    21  They gather them together against the soul of the ríghteous, * and condemn the ínnocent blood.
    22  But the Lord is my réfuge, * and my God is the strength of my confidence.
    23  He shall recompense them their wickedness, † and destroy them in their own málice; * yea, the Lord our God sháll destroy them.

Ant. They gather them togetheragainst the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.

                        V.  They have spoken against me wíth false tongues.
                        R.  They compassed me about also with words of hatred,
                              and fought against me withóut a cause.

Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.

From the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Lesson vii.  Chapter 4:11-16; 5:1-10

LET us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

V.  They have given me upinto the hands of sinners, and cast me out among the wicked, and spared not my life: the mighty gathered together against me: * And like giants they stood up against me.  Strangers are risen up against me; and the mighty sought after my life.  And like giants they stood up against me.



38
Lesson viii.

LET us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

V. The wicked manbetrayed Jesus to the chief priests and elders of the people: * But Peter followed him afar off, to see the end.  And they led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and Pharisees were assembled.  But Peter followed him afar off, to see the end.

Lesson ix.

AND no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech.  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the thing which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedech.

V. Mine eyes are dimmedby my weeping: for he is far from me that comforted me: See all ye people: * If there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.  All ye that pass by, behold and see: if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.  Mine eyes are dimmed by my weeping: for he is far from me that comforted me: See all ye people, if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.

AT LAUDS

Ant.  He spared nothis own Son: but delivered him up for us all.





39
Psalm 51.  Miserere mei, Deus.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great góodness; * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away míne offences.
      2  Wash me throughly from my wíckedness, * and cleanse from my sin.
      3  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is evér before me.
      4  Against thee only have I sinned, † and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear whén thou art judged.
      5  Behold, I was shapen in wíckedness, * and in sin hath my mothér conceived me.
      6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inwárd parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdóm secretly.
      7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whíter than snow.
      8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gládness, * that the bones which thou hast brokén may rejoice.
      9  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out áll my misdeeds.
    10  Make me a clean heart, Ó God, * and renew a right spirít within me.
    11  Cast me not away from thy présence, * and take not thy holy Spírit from me.
    12  O give me the comfort of thy help ágain, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
    13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wícked, * and sinners shall be convertéd unto thee.
    14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, † thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
    15  Thou shalt open my lips, Ó Lord, * and my mouth sháll shew thy praise.
    16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would I gíve it thee; * but thou delightest not in búrnt-offerings.
    17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spírit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thóu not despise.
    18  O be favourable and gracious unto on; * build thou the walls of Jérusalem.
    19  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and obtions; * then shall they offer young bullocks upón thine altar.

Ant.  He spared nothis own Son: but delivered him up for us all.


40
Ant.  My spirit is vexed within me: and my heart within me is desolate.

Psalm 143.  Domine, exaudi.

HEAR my prayer, O Lord, and consider my sire; * hearken unto me for thy truth and ríghteousness' sake.
      2  And enter not into judgment with thy sérvant; * for in thy sight shall no man living justified.
      3  For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; † he hath smitten my life down to thé ground; * he hath laid me in the darkness, and the men that háve been long dead.
      4  Therefore is my spirit vexed withín me, * and my heart within me ís desolate.
      5  Yet do I remember the time past; † I muse upon all thy works; * yea, I exercise myself in the wórks of thy hands.
      6  I stretch forth my hands únto thee; * my soul gaspeth unto thee as á thirsty land.
      7  Hear me, O Lord, and that soon, for my spirit wáxeth faint; * hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down ínto the pit.
      8  O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning, † for in thee is my trust: * shew thou me the way that I should walk in, for I lift up my sóul unto thee.
      9  Deliver me, O Lord, from mine énemies; * for I flee unto thée to hide me.
    10  Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee for thou art my God: * let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land óf righteousness.
    11  Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Náme's sake; * and for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul óut of trouble.
    12  And of thy goodness slay mine énemies, * and destroy all them that vex my soul; † for I ám thy servant.

Ant.  My spirit is vexed within me: and my heart within me is desolate.

Ant.  The other malefactoranswering rebuked him, saying; We indeed receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Psalm 85.  Benedixisti, Domine.

LORD, thou art become gracious unto thy land; * thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
     
      41
      2  Thou hast forgiven the offence of thy péople, * and covéred all their sins.
      3  Thou hast taken away all thy displéasure, * and turned thyself from thy wrathful índignation.
      4  Turn us then, O God our viour, * and let thine angér cease from us.
      5  Wilt thou be displeased at us for éver? * and wilt thou stretch out thy wrath from one generation another?
      6  Wilt thou not turn again, and quícken us, * that thy people may joice in thee?
      7  Shew us thy mercy, Ó Lord, * and grant us thy salvation.
      8  I will hearken what the Lord God will say concérning me; * for he shall speak peace unto his people, and to his saints, † that they túrn not again.
      9  For his salvation is nigh them that féar him; * that glory may dwéll in our land.
    10  Mercy and truth are met togéther: * righteousness and peace have kíssed each other.
    11  Truth shall flourish out of thé earth, * and righteousness hath looked dówn from heaven.
    12  Yea, the Lord shall shew loving-kíndness; * and our land shall gíve her increase.
    13  Righteousness shall go befóre him, * and he shall direct his goíng in the way.

Ant.  The other malefactoranswering rebuked him, saying; We indeed receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.  Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Ant.  When my soul is troubled, O Lord: thou wilt remember mercy.

THE SONG OF HABAKKUK
Habakkuk 3:2-19.  Domine, audivi.

O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was áfraid: * O Lord, revive thy work in the mídst of the years.
      2  In the midst of the years máke known, * in wrath remémber mercy.
      3  God came from man, * and the Holy One fróm Mount Paran.
      4  His glory covered the héavens, * and the earth was fúll of his praise.
      5  And his brightness was as the light; † he had horns coming out of hís hand; * and there was the hiding óf his power.
     

42
      6  Before him went the péstilence, * and burning coals went fórth at his feet.
      7  He stood and measured the earth, † he beheld, and drove asunder the tions: * and the everlasting mountains were scattered; † the perpetual hills did bow; † his ways are éverlasting.
      8  I saw the tents of Cushan in afflíction; * and the curtains of the land of Midián did tremble.
      9  Was the Lord displeased against the rívers? * was thine anger agáinst the rivers?
    10  Was thy wrath agáinst the sea, * that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots óf salvation?
    11  Thy bow was made quite náked, * according to the oaths of the tribes, éven thy word.
    12  Thou didst cleave the earth with rívers: * the mountains saw thee, ánd they trembled.
    13  The overflowing of the water pássed by: * the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up hís hands on high.
    14  The sun and moon stood still in their habition: * at the light of thine arrows they went, † and at the shining of thy glíttering spear.
    15  Thou didst march through the land in indigtion, * thou didst thresh out the heathén in anger.
    16  Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy péople, * even for salvation with thíne Anointed:
    17  Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wícked, * by discovering the foundation únto the neck.
    18  Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his víllages; * they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: † their rejoicing was as to devour the póor secretly.
    19  Thou didst walk through the sea with thine hórses, * through the heap óf great waters.
    20  When I heard, my belly trémbled; * my lips quivéred at the voice:
    21  Rottenness entered into my bones, * and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the dáy of trouble.
    22  When he cometh up unto the péople, * he will invade thém with his troops.
    23  Although the fig tree shall not blóssom, * neither shall fruit in the vines;
    24  The labour of the olive sháll fail, * and the fields sháll yield no meat;
    25  The flock shall be cut off fróm the fold, * and there shall be no hérd in the stalls:
    26  Yet will I rejoice ín the Lord, * I will joy in the God of my salvation.
   
43
    27  The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hínds' feet, * and he will make me to walk upon míne high places.

Ant.  When my soul is troubled, O Lord: thou wilt remember mercy.

Ant.  Lord, remember me:when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Psalm 147:12.  Lauda Jerusalem.

PRAISE the Lord, O Jerúsalem; * praise thy Gód, O Sion.
    13  For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed thy childrén within thee.
    14  He maketh peace in thy bórders, * and filleth thee with thé flour of wheat.
    15  He sendeth forth his commandment upón earth, * and his word runneth véry swiftly.
    16  He giveth snow líke wool, * and scattereth the hoar-fróst like ashes.
    17  He casteth forth his ice like mórsels: * who is able to ábide his frost?
    18  He sendeth out his word, and mélteth them: * he bloweth with his wind, and thé waters flow.
    19  He sheweth his word unto Jácob, * his statutes and ordinances un Israel.
    20  He hath not dealt so with any tion; * neither have the heathen knowlédge of his laws.

Ant.  Lord, remember me:when thou comest into thy kingdom.

                        V. He hath laid me in thé darkness:
                        R. As the men that have béen long dead.

Ant. on Benedictus.  And they set up over his head his accusation written: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.

All stand up.  During the singing of the following Canticle, all the candles upon the triangular stand having been put out (except the one placed at the top), the six candles upon the Altar are likewise extinguished one by one, so that at the last verse the last candle is put out.






44
THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS
Saint Luke 1:68-79.  Benedictus Dominus.

BLESSED be the Lord God of Ísrael; * for he hath visited and redéemed his people;
      2  And hath raised up a mighty salvation fór us, * in the house of his sérvant David;
      3  As he spake by the mouth of his holy próphets, * which have been since thé world began;
      4  That we should be saved from our énemies, * and from the hand of áll that hate us;
      5  To perform the mercy promised to our fórefathers, * and to remember his holy covenant;
      6  To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Ábraham, * that would give us;
      7  That we being delivered out of the hand of our énemies, * might serve hím without fear;
      8  In holiness and righteousness befóre him, * all the dáys of our life.
      9  And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Híghest: * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prépare his ways;
    10  To give knowledge of salvation unto his péople, * for the remissíon of their sins,
    11  Through the tender mercy of óur God; * whereby the day-spring from on high hath vísited us;
    12  To give light to them that sit in darkness, † and in the shadow óf death, * and to guide our feet into thé way of peace.

Ant. on Benedictus.  And they set up over his head his accusation written: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.

During the repetition of the Antiphon And they set up, the topmost candle is taken from the candelabrum, and hidden from sight.  Then all kneel down and the following is sung:

Christ became † obedient for us unto death.

Our Father is then said in silence.

Then the Psalm Misere mei, Deus, is said in a humble voice.





45
Psalm 51.  Miserere mei, Deus.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
      2  Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
      3  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
      4  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.
      5  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
      6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
      7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
      8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
      9  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.
    10  Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
    11  Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
    12  O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
    13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
    14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, † thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
    15  Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
    16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
    17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
    18  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
    19  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.

Then the officiant, still kneeling, says the Collect in a humble voice, without The Lord be with you or Let us pray.


46
COLLECT

ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross.  He adds silently, Who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.

A slight noise is then made; the lighted candle is at once brought forth from the place where it was concealed; and all rise and depart in silence.


HOLY SATURDAY TENEBRÆ
Sung on Good Friday Night

AT MATINS

Our Father, Hail Mary and I believe are said silently.  The Office is begun at once with the Antiphon on the first Psalm; and at the end of each Psalm at Matins and at Lauds one of the fifteen candles on the triangular stand before the Altar is extinguished.

NOCTURN I

Ant.  I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest.

Psalm 4.  Cum invocarem.

HEAR me when I call O God of my ríghteousness: * thou hast set me at liberty when I was in trouble; † have mercy upon me, and hearken únto my prayer.
      2  O ye sons of men, how long will ye blaspheme mine hónour, * and have such pleasure in vanity, and seek áfter leasing?
      3  Know this also, that the Lord hath chosen to himself the man that is gódly; * when I call upon the Lord, will hear me.
      4  Stand in awe, and sín not; * commune with your own heart, and in your chambér, and be still.
      5  Offer the sacrifice of ríghteousness, * and put your trúst in the Lord.
      6  There be many thát say, * Who will shew ús any good?
      7  Lord, lift thóu up * the light of thy countenánce upon us.
      8  Thou hast put gladness in my heart, * since the time that their corn and wine ánd oil increased.
      9  I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; * for it is thou, Lord, only, that makest me dwéll in safety.

47
Ant.  I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest.

Ant.  He shall dwellin thy tabernacle: he shall rest upon thy holy hill.

Psalm 15.  Domine, quis habitabit.

LORD, who shall dwell in thy tábernacle? * or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?
      2  Even he that leadeth an uncorrúpt life, * and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the trúth from his heart.
      3  He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his néighbour, * and hath not slandéred his neighbour.
      4  He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his ówn eyes, * and maketh much of them thát fear the Lord.
      5  He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth hím not, * though it were to hís own hindrance.
      6  He that hath not given his money upon úsury, * nor taken reward against thé innocent.
      7  Whoso doeth thése things * sháll never fall.

Ant.  He shall dwellin thy tabernacle: he shall rest upon thy holy hill.

Ant.  My flesh alsoshall rest in hope.

Psalm 16.  Conserva me, Domine.

PRESERVE me, Ó God; * for in thee have Í put my trust.
      2  O my soul, thou hast said un the Lord, * Thou art my God, my goods are nothíng unto thee.
      3  All my delight is upon the saints that are in thé earth, * and upon such as excél in virtue.
      4  But they that run after anóther god * shall háve great trouble.
      5  Their drink-offerings of blood will I not óffer, * neither make mention of their names wíthin my lips.
      6  The Lord himself is the portion of mine inheritance, and of my cup; * thou shalt máintain my lot.
      7  The lot is fallen unto me in a fáir ground; * yea, I have a goodly heritage.
      8  I will thank the Lord for giving me wárning; * my reigns also chasten me in thé night-season.
     
48
      9  I have set God always befóre me; * for he is on my right hand, therefore Í shall not fall.
    10  Wherefore my heart was glad, and my glory joiced: * my flesh also sháll rest in hope.
    11  For why? † thou shalt not leave my soul ín hell; * neither shalt thou suffer thy Holy One to sée corruption.
    12  Thou shalt shew me the path of life; † in thy presence is the fulness óf joy, * and at thy right hand there is pleasure fór evermore.

Ant.  My flesh alsoshall rest in hope.

                                       V. I will lay me dówn in peace.
                                       R. And táke my rest.

Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  the reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.

From the Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet.

Lesson i.  Chapter 3:22-30

HETH.  It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  Heth.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  Heth.  The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.  Teth.  The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.  Teth.  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.  Teth.  It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.  Jod.  He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him.  Jod.  He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope.  Jod.  He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.

V. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and when he was evil entreated, he opened not his mouth: he was delivered up to death, * that he might give life unto his people.  He hath poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered among the transgressors.  That he might give life unto his people.





49
Lesson ii.  Chapter 4:1-6

ALEPH.  How is the gold become dim!  how is the most fine gold changed!            the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.  Beth.  The precious sons of Sion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!  Ghimel.  Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.  Daleth.  The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask for bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.  He.  They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.  Vau.  For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.

V.  Arise, O Jerusalem,and put off thy garments of joy: put on thyself sackcloth and ashes: * For in thee the Saviour of Israel hath been slain.  Let thy tears run down like a river day and night: and let not the apple of thine eye cease.  For in thee the Saviour of Israel hath been slain.

Lesson iii.  Chapter 5:1-11

Here beginneth the Prayer of Jeremiah the Prophet.

REMEMBER, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach.  Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.  We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are as widows.  We have drunken our water for money; our wood is sold unto us.  Our necks are under persecution: we labour, and have no rest.  We have given the hand to the Egyptians, and to the Assyrians, to be satisfied with bread.  Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities.  Servants have ruled over us; there is none that doth deliver us out of their hands.  We gat our bread with the peril of our lives because of the sword of the wilderness. Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine.  They ravished the women in Sion, and the maids in the cities of Judah.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, return unto the Lord thy God.

50
V. Lament like a virgin, O my people: howl, O ye shepherds, in ashes and sackcloth: * For the day of the Lord cometh, a great day and exceeding bitter.  Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl ye ministers of the altar; cover yourselves with ashes.  For the day of the Lord cometh, a great day and exceeding bitter.  Lament, like a virgin, O my people: howl, O ye shepherds, in ashes and sackcloth.  For the day of the Lord cometh, a great day, and exceeding bitter.

NOCTURN II

Ant.  Be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.

Psalm 24.  Domini est terra.

THE earth is the Lord's, and all that thérein is; * the compass of the world, and they thát dwell therein.
      2  For he hath founded it upón the seas, * and prepared it úpon the floods.
      3  Who shall ascend into the hill of thé Lord? * or who shall rise up in hís holy place?
      4  Even he that hath clean hands, and a púre heart; * and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, † nor sworn to deceíve his neighbour.
      5  He shall receive the blessing from thé Lord, * and righteousness from the God of hís salvation.
      6  This is the generation of them that séek him; * even of them that seek thy fáce, O Jacob.
      7  Lift up your heads, O ye gates, † and be ye lift up, ye everlásting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
      8  Who is the King of glóry? * It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the Lord mighty in battle.
      9  Lift up your heads, O ye gates, † and be ye lift up, ye everlásting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
    10  Who is the King of glóry? * Even the Lord of hosts, he is the Kíng of glory.

Ant.  Be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.

Ant. I believeverily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.






51
Psalm 27.  Dominus illuminatio.

THE Lord is my light and my salvation; † whom then shall Í fear? * the Lord is the strength of my life; † of whom then shall Í be afraid?
      2  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes came upon me to eat up my flesh, * that stúmbled and fell.
      3  Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be áfraid; * and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
      4  One thing have I desired of the Lord, which I will quire; * even that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, † to behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to visít his temple.
      5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernácle; * yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon á rock of stone.
      6  And now shall he lift up míne head * above mine enemies róund about me.
      7  Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gládness; * I will sing and speak praises únto the Lord.
      8  Hearken unto my voice, O Lord, when I cry únto thee; * have mercy upon , and hear me.
      9  My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face: * Thy face, Lórd, will I seek.
    10  O hide not thou thy face fróm me, * nor cast thy servant away ín displeasure.
    11  Thou hast been my súccour; * leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
    12  When my father and my mother forsáke me, * the Lord táketh me up.
    13  Teach me thy wáy, O Lord, * and lead me in the right way, because of míne enemies.
    14  Deliver me not over into the will of mine ádversaries: * for there are false witnesses risen up against me and súch as speak wrong.
    15  I should utterly have fáinted, * but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land óf the living.
    16  O tarry thou the Lord's léisure; * be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; † and put thou thy trúst in the Lord.

Ant. I believeverily to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Ant.  Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul out of hell.


52
Psalm 30.  Exaltabo te, Domine.

I WILL magnify thee, O Lord, for thou hast set up, * and not made my foes to triúmph over me.
      2  O Lord my God, I cried únto thee; * and thóu hast healed me.
      3  Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul óut of hell: * thou hast kept my life from them that go dówn to the pit.
      4  Sing praises unto the Lord, O ye sáints of his; * and give thanks unto him for a remembrance of hís holiness.
      5  For his wrath endureth but the twinkling of an eye, and in his pleasure ís life; * heaviness may endure for a night, but joy cometh ín the morning.
      6  And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved: * thou, Lord, of thy goodness hast made my hill so strong.
      7  Thou didst turn thy fáce from me, * and Í was troubled.
      8  Then cried I unto thee, Ó Lord; * and gat me to my Lórd right humbly.
      9  What profit is there in my blood, * when I go dówn to the pit?
    10  Shall the dust give thanks únto thee? * or shall it clare thy truth?
    11  Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upón me; * Lord, be thóu my helper.
    12  Thou hast turned my heaviness ínto joy; * thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded with gladness.
    13  Therefore shall every good man sing of thy praise without céasing. * O my God, I will give thanks unto thée for ever.

Ant.  Thou, Lord, hast brought my soul out of hell.

                           V. Be thou merciful unto , O Lord.
                           R. Raise thou me up again and I shall ward them.

Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.

From the Treatise of Saint Augustine the Bishop, on the Psalms.

Lesson iv.  Ps. 64:6, 7

(Accedet homo ad cor altum, et exaltabitur Deus.)
'A MAN shall come to a deep heart, and God shall be exalted.'  They said, who will see us?  The searchers out of searchings, that is of evil counsels, have failed.  A man came to these very counsels, and suffered himself to be seized as a man.   For he  could not have been seized if he were  not  man,  nor been

53
seen if he were not man, nor been scourged if he were not man, nor been crucified, nor died, if he were not man.  As man, therefore, he came to endure all those sufferings which could have had no effect upon him had he not been man.  But if he had not been man, man could not have been freed.  He came, a man to a deep heart, that is a secret heart, exposing his manhood to human view, but keeping his divinity within: concealing the form of God, wherein he is equal to the Father, and exhibiting the form of a servant, wherein he is inferior to the Father.

V. Our Shepherd, the fountain of living water, is gone, at whose departure the sun was darkened: * For he also is taken who held the first man captive: this day hath our Saviour burst both the gates and bars of death.  He hath destroyed the bonds of hell, and overthrown the powers of the devil.  For he also is taken who led the first man captive: this day hath our Saviour burst both the gates and bars of death.

Lesson v.

HOW far did they carry these their searchings, those in which they failed?  So far that even when the Lord was dead and buried, they set a watch over the sepulchre.  For they said to Pilate; That deceiver: by this name the Lord Jesus Christ was named, to the comfort of his servants, when they are named deceivers.  That deceiver, say they to Pilate, said while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.  Command, therefore, that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.  Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

V.  All ye that pass by, behold and see * If there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.  All ye my people, behold and see my sorrow.  If there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.

Lesson vi.

THEY place a watch of soldiers over the sepulchre.  The earth quaked: the Lord rose again.  Such miracles were wrought about the sepulchre that the very soldiers who kept watch might have become witnesses, if they had been willing to declare  the truth.   But that  covetousness  which possessed the dis-

54
ciple and companion of Christ, possessed also the soldiers who guarded his tomb.  We will give you money, say they; and say ye that his disciples came and stole him away while ye slept.  Truly, they failed in searching out their searchings.  What is this thou saidst, O wretched cunning?  Dost thou so far forsake the light of prudence and duty, and plunge thyself so deep in craftiness as to speak thus; Say ye that his disciples came and stole him away while ye slept?  Thou producest sleeping witnesses: surely thou wast thyself asleep, who didst thus fail in searching out such things.

V.  Lo, the righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and righteous men are taken away, none considering it: the righteous is taken from that which is evil: * And his memory shall be in peace.  As a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth: He was taken from prison and from judgment.  And his memory shall be in peace.  Lo, the righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and righteous men are taken away, none considering it: the righteous is taken away from that which is evil: and his memory shall be in peace.

NOCTURN III

Ant.  God is my helper,the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

Psalm 54.  Deus, in nomine.

SAVE me, O God, for thy Náme's sake, * and avenge in thy strength.
      2  Hear my prayer, Ó God, * and hearken unto the wórds of my mouth.
      3  For strangers are risen up agáinst me; * and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek áfter my soul.
      4  Behold, God is my hélper; * the Lord is with them that úphold my soul.
      5  He shall reward evil unto mine énemies: * destroy thou thém in thy truth.
      6  An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, Ó Lord; * because it is so cómfortable.
      7  For he hath delivered me out of all my tróuble; * and mine eye hath seen his desire upon míne enemies.

Ant.  God is my helper,the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.

Ant.  At Salemis his tabernacle, and his dwelling in Sion.



55
Psalm 76.  Notus in Judæa.

IN Jewry is Gód known; * his Name is great ín Israel.
      2  At Salem is his tabercle, * and his dwellíng in Sion.
      3  There brake he the arrows óf the bow, * the shield, the sword, ánd the battle.
      4  Thou art of more honour ánd might * than the hills óf the robbers.
      5  The proud are robbed, they have slept théir sleep; * and all the men whose hands were mighty háve found nothing.
      6  At thy rebuke, O God of cob; * both the chariot and hórse are fallen.
      7  Thou, even thou art to feared; * and who may stand in thy sight when thóu art angry?
      8  Thou didst cause thy judgment to be heard from héaven; * the earth trembléd, and was still.
      9  When God arose to júdgment, * and to help all the méek upon earth.
    10  The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise; * and the fierceness of them shált thou refrain.
    11  Promise unto the Lord your God and keep it, † all ye that are round abóut him; * bring presents unto him that óught to be feared.
    12  He shall refrain the spirit of prínces, * and is wonderful among the kíngs of the earth.

Ant.  At Salemis his tabernacle, and his dwelling in Sion.

Ant.  I have beeneven as a man that hath no strength, free among the dead.

Psalm 88.  Domine Deus.

O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night befóre thee: * O let my prayer enter into thy presence, incline thine ear un my calling.
      2  For my soul is full of tróuble, * and my life draweth nígh unto hell.
      3  I am counted as one of them that go down into thé pit, * and I have been even as a man thát hath no strength.
      4  Free among the dead, like unto them that are wounded, and lie in thé grave, * who are out of remembrance, and are cut awáy from thy hand.
      5  Thou hast laid me in the lowést pit, * in a place of darkness, ánd in the deep.
      6  Thine indignation lieth hard upón me, * and thou hast vexed me wíth all thy storms.
      7  Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far fróm me, * and made me to be ábhorred of them.
      56
      8  I am so fast in príson * that I cánnot get forth.
      9  My sight faileth for very tróuble; * Lord, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched forth my hánds unto thee.
    10  Dost thou shew wonders among thé dead? * or shall the dead rise up agáin, and praise thee?
    11  Shall thy loving-kindness be shewed ín the grave? * or thy faithfulness ín destruction?
    12  Shall thy wondrous works be known ín the dark? * and thy righteousness in the land where all things áre forgotten?
    13  Unto thee have I cried, Ó Lord; * and early shall my prayer cóme before thee.
    14  Lord, why abhorrest thou my soul, * and hidest thou thy face from me?
    15  I am in misery, and like unto him that is at the point die; * even from my youth up, thy terrors have I suffered with á troubled mind.
    16  Thy wrathful displeasure goeth óver me, * and the fear of thee háth undone me.
    17  They came round about me daily like ter, * and compassed me together ón every side.
    18  My lovers and friends hast thou put away fróm me: * and hid mine acquaintance óut of my sight.

Ant.  I have beeneven as a man that hath no strength, free among the dead.

                                    V.  At Salem is his tabérnacle.
                                    R.  And his dwelling ín Sion.

Then all stand up and say the Our Father silently.  The reader goes to the lectern, and everyone else sits down.

From the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Lesson vii.  Chapter 9:11-12

CHRIST being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
57
V.  The kingsof the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together * against the Lord, and against his Anointed.  Why do the heathen so furiously rage together? and why do the people imagine a vain thing?  Against the Lord and against his Anointed.

Lesson viii.

AND for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.  For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.  Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

V.  I am countedas one of them that go down into the pit: * And I have been even as a man that hath no strength, free among the dead.  Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in a place of darkness, and in the deep.  And I have been as a man that hath no strength, free among the dead.

Lesson ix.

FOR when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.  Moreover, he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

V.  When the Lordwas buried, they sealed the sepulchre: rolling a great stone to the door of the sepulchre: * And placed soldiers to guard him.  The chief priests came together unto Pilate, and besought him: and placed soldiers to guard him.  When the Lord was buried, they sealed the sepulchre: rolling a great stone to the door of the sepulchre: and placed soldiers to guard him.

AT LAUDS

Ant.  O death, I will be thy plagues: O grave, I will be thy destruction.



58
Psalm 51.  Miserere mei, Deus.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great góodness; * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away míne offences.
      2  Wash me throughly from my wíckedness, * and cleanse from my sin.
      3  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is evér before me.
      4  Against thee only have I sinned, † and done this evil in thy sight; * that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear whén thou art judged.
      5  Behold, I was shapen in wíckedness, * and in sin hath my mothér conceived me.
      6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inwárd parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdóm secretly.
      7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whíter than snow.
      8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gládness, * that the bones which thou hast brokén may rejoice.
      9  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out áll my misdeeds.
    10  Make me a clean heart, Ó God, * and renew a right spirít within me.
    11  Cast me not away from thy présence, * and take not thy holy Spírit from me.
    12  O give me the comfort of thy help ágain, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
    13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wícked, * and sinners shall be convertéd unto thee.
    14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, † thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
    15  Thou shalt open my lips, Ó Lord, * and my mouth sháll shew thy praise.
    16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would I gíve it thee; * but thou delightest not in búrnt-offerings.
    17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spírit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thóu not despise.
    18  O be favourable and gracious unto on; * build thou the walls of Jérusalem.
    19  Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, † with the burnt-offerings and obtions; * then shall they offer young bullocks upón thine altar.

Ant.  O death, I will be thy plagues: O grave, I will be thy destruction.


59
Ant.  They shall mourn for himas one mourneth for his only son: for the Lord, who is without sin, is slain.

Psalm 92.  Bonum est confiteri.

IT is a good thing to give thanks unto thé Lord, * and to sing praises unto thy Name, Ó Most Highest;
      2  To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the mórning, * and of thy truth in thé night-season;
      3  Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon thé lute; * upon a loud instrument, and úpon the harp.
      4  For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works; * and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operatións of thy hands.
      5  O Lord, how glorious are thy works! * thy thoughts áre very deep.
      6  An unwise man doth not well consíder this, * and a fool doth not únderstand it.
      7  When the ungodly are green as the grass, † and when all the workers of wickedness do flóurish, * then shall they be destroyed for ever; † but thou, Lord, art the Most Highest fór evermore.
      8  For lo, thine enemies, O Lord, lo, thine enemies shall pérish; * and all the workers of wickedness sháll be destroyed.
      9  But mine horn shall be exalted like the horn of an únicorn; * for I am anointéd with fresh oil.
    10  Mine eye also shall see his lust of mine énemies, * and mine ear shall hear his desire of the wicked that arise úp against me.
    11  The righteous shall flourish like a pálm-tree, * and shall spread abroad like a cedar ín Libanus.
    12  Such as are planted in the house of thé Lord, * shall flourish in the courts of the hóuse of our God.
    13  They also shall bring forth more fruit in théir age, * and shall be fat ánd well-liking.
    14  That they may shew how true the Lord my stréngth is, * and that there is no unrightéousness in him.

Ant.  They shall mourn for himas one mourneth for his only son: for the Lord, who is without sin, is slain.

Ant.  All ye my peoplebehold and see my sorrow.




60
Psalm 64.  Exaudi, Deus.

HEAR my voice, O God, in my prayer; * preserve my life from fear of thé enemy.
      2  Hide me from the gathering together of the fróward, * and from the insurrection of wícked doers;
      3  Who have whet their tongue like á sword, * and shoot out their arrows, evén bitter words;
      4  That they may privily shoot at him that is pérfect: * suddenly do they hit hím, and fear not.
      5  They encourage themselves in míschief, * and commune among themselves how they may lay snares, † and say, that no mán shall see them,
      6  They imagine wickedness, and práctise it; * that they keep secret among themselves, every man in the déep of his heart.
      7  But God shall suddenly shoot at them with a swift árrow, * that they sháll be wounded.
      8  Yea, their own tongues shall make thém fall; * insomuch that whoso seeth them shall láugh them to scorn.
      9  And all men that see it shall say, This hath Gód done; * for they shall perceive that ít is his work.
    10  The righteous shall rejoice in the Lord, and put his trúst in him; * and all they that are true of héart shall be glad.

Ant.  All ye my peoplebehold and see my sorrow.

Ant.  From the gate of hell; O Lord, deliver my soul.

THE SONG OF HEZEKIAH
Isaiah 38:10-20.  Ego dixi.

I SAID; In the cutting off of my days, * I shall go to the gátes of the grave.
      2  I am deprived of the residue of my years * I said: I shall not see the Lord, † even the Lord, in the land óf the living.
      3  I shall behold man more * with the inhabitánts of the world.
      4  Mine age is depárted, * and is removed from me, even as á shepherd's tent.
      5  I have cut off, like a weaver, my life: * he will cut me off with píning sickness.
      6  From day even night * wilt thou make án end of me.
      7  I reckoned til morning, † that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: * from day even to night wilt thou make án end of me.
     
61
      8  Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chátter: * I did móurn as a dove.
      9  Mine eyes fail with looking úpward: * O Lord, I am oppressed; † undértake for me.
    10  What shall I say? † He hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath dóne it: * I shall go softly all my years in the bitternéss of my soul.
    11  O Lord, by these things men live, † and in all these things is the life of my spírit: * so wilt thou recover me, and máke me to live.
    12  Behold, for peace I had great bitterness; † but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corrúption: * for thou hast cast all my sins hind thy back.
    13  For the grave cannot praise thee, † death cannot celebráte thee: * they that go down into the pit cannot hópe for thy truth.
    14  The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do thís day: * the father to the children shall máke known thy truth.
    15  The Lord was ready to sáve me: * therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the hóuse of the Lord.

Ant.  From the gate of hell; O Lord, deliver my soul.

Ant.  All ye that pass by, behold and see: if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.

Psalm 150.  Laudate Dominum.

O PRAISE God in his liness: * praise him in the firmament óf his power.
      2  Praise him in his noblé acts: * praise him according to his excéllent greatness.
      3  Praise him in the sound of the trúmpet: * praise him upon thé lute and harp.
      4  Praise him in the cymbals and dánces: * praise him upon thé strings and pipe.
      5  Praise him upon the well-tuned cymbals: * praise him upon thé loud cymbals.
      6  Let everything that háth breath * give práise to the Lord.

Ant.  All ye that pass by, behold and see: if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.

                  V. My flesh also shall rést in hope.
                  R. Neither shalt thou suffer thy holy one to see córruption.


62
Ant. on Benedictus.  The women alsositting at the sepulchre made lamentation: weeping for the Lord.

All stand up.  During the singing of the following Canticle, all the candles upon the triangular stand having been put out (except the one placed at the top), the six candles upon the Altar are likewise extinguished one by one, so that at the last verse the last candle is put out.

THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS
Saint Luke 1:68-79.  Benedictus Dominus.

BLESSED be the Lord God of Ísrael; * for he hath visited and redéemed his people;
      2  And hath raised up a mighty salvation fór us, * in the house of his sérvant David;
      3  As he spake by the mouth of his holy próphets, * which have been since thé world began;
      4  That we should be saved from our énemies, * and from the hand of áll that hate us;
      5  To perform the mercy promised to our fórefathers, * and to remember his holy covenant;
      6  To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Ábraham, * that would give us;
      7  That we being delivered out of the hand of our énemies, * might serve hím without fear;
      8  In holiness and righteousness befóre him, * all the dáys of our life.
      9  And thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Híghest: * for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prépare his ways;
    10  To give knowledge of salvation unto his péople, * for the remissíon of their sins,
    11  Through the tender mercy of óur God; * whereby the day-spring from on high hath vísited us;
    12  To give light to them that sit in darkness, † and in the shadow óf death, * and to guide our feet into thé way of peace.

Ant. on Benedictus.  The women alsositting at the sepulchre made lamentation: weeping for the Lord.

During the repetition of the Antiphon The women also, the topmost candle is taken from the candelabrum, and hidden from sight.  Then all kneel down and the following is sung:

Christ became † obedient for us unto death, even the death of the Cross: wherefore God also hath highly exalted him: and given him a Name which is above every name.
63
Our Father is then said in silence.

Then the Psalm Misere mei, Deus, is said in a humble voice.

Psalm 51.  Miserere mei, Deus.

HAVE mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; * according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences.
      2  Wash me throughly from my wickedness, * and cleanse me from my sin.
      3  For I acknowledge my faults, * and my sin is ever before me.
      4  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.
      5  Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, * and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
      6  But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, * and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly.
      7  Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
      8  Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, * that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
      9  Turn thy face from my sins, * and put out all my misdeeds.
    10  Make me a clean heart, O God, * and renew a right spirit within me.
    11  Cast me not away from thy presence, * and take not thy holy Spirit from me.
    12  O give me the comfort of thy help again, * and stablish me with thy free Spirit.
    13  Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, * and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
    14  Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, † thou that art the God of my health; * and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness.
    15  Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, * and my mouth shall shew thy praise.
    16  For thou desirest no sacrifice, † else would I give it thee; * but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
    17  The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: * a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise.
    18  O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; * build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
    19  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.
64
Then the officiant, still kneeling, says the Collect in a humble voice, without The Lord be with you or Let us pray.

COLLECT

ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross.  He adds silently, Who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen.


A slight noise is then made; the lighted candle is at once brought forth from the place where it was concealed; and all rise and depart in silence.