Antiphon. Before the gods.

Ps. cxxxviii. Confitebor tibi. I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: even before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee.

2. I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy Name, because of Thy lovingkindness and truth for Thou hast magnified Thy Name, and Thy Word, above all things.

3. When I called upon Thee, Thou heardest me: and enduedst my soul with much strength.

4. All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O Lord: for they have heard the words of Thy mouth.

5. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: that great is the glory of the Lord.

6. For though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: as for the proud, He beholdeth them afar off.

7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt Thou refresh me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thy Hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and Thy right Hand shall save me.

8. The Lord shall make good His lovingkindness toward me: yea, Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of Thine own hands.

Glory be to the Father, &c. Antiphon. Before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee, my God. Antiphon. O Lord, Thou hast

searched.

Ps. cxxxix. Domine, probasti. O Lord, Thou hast searched me out, and known me: Thou knowest my down-sitting, and mine up-rising; Thou understandest my thoughts long before.

2. Thou art about my path, and

about my bed and spiest out all my ways.

3. For lo, there is not a word in my tongue: but Thou, O Lord, knowest it altogether.

4. Thou hast fashioned me behind and before and laid Thine Hand upon me.

5. Such knowledge is too wonderful and excellent for me: I cannot attain unto it.

6. Whither shall I go then from Thy Spirit or whither shall I go then from Thy Presence?

7. If I climb up into heaven, Thou art there: if I go down to hell, Thou art there also.

8. If I take the wings of the morning and remain in the uttermost parts of the sea;

9. Even there also shall Thy Hand lead me and Thy Right Hand shall hold me.

10. If I say, Peradventure the darkness shall cover me: then shall my night be turned to day.

11. Yea, the darkness is no darkness with Thee, but the night is as clear as the day: the darkness and light to Thee are both alike.

12. For my reins are Thine : Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

13. I will give thanks unto Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well.

14. My bones are not hid from Thee: though I be made secretly,

and fashioned beneath in the earth.

15. Thine Eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect: and in Thy book were all my members written;

16. Which day by day were fashioned when as yet there was none of them.

17. How dear are Thy counsels

unto me, O God: O how great is the sum of them!

18. If I tell them, they are more in number than the sand: when I wake up I am present with Thee. 19. Wilt Thou not slay the wicked, O God: depart from me, ye bloodthirsty men.

20. For they speak unrighteously against Thee and Thine enemies take Thy Name in vain.

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21. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate Thee and am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee? 22. Yea, I hate them right sore: even as though they were mine enemies.

23. Try me, O God, and seek the ground of my heart: prove me, and examine my thoughts.

24. Look well if there be any way of wickedness in me: and lead me in the way everlasting.

Glory be to the Father, &c. Antiphon. O Lord, Thou hast searched me out and known me. Antiphon. Preserve me.

Ps. cxl. Eripe me, Domine. Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man and preserve me from the wicked man.

2. Who imagine mischief in their hearts and stir up strife all the day long.

3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: adder's poison is under their lips.

4. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly: preserve me from the wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings.

5. The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords: yea, and set traps in my way.

6. I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God hear the voice of my prayers, O Lord.

7. O Lord God, Thou strength of my health: Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

8. Let not the ungodly have his desire, O Lord: let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.

9. Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them : that compass me about.

10. Let hot burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire, and into the pit, that they never rise up again.

11. A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth: evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.

12. Sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor and maintain the cause of the helpless.

13. The righteous also shall give thanks unto Thy Name: and the just shall continue in Thy sight.

Glory be to the Father, &c. Antiphon. Preserve me from the wicked man.

Antiphon. Lord, I call.

Ps. cxli. Domine, clamavi. Lord, I call upon Thee, haste Thee unto me and consider my voice when I cry unto Thee.

2. Let my prayer be set forth in Thy sight as the incense: and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice.

3. Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth and keep the door of my lips.

4. O let not mine heart be inclined to any evil thing: let me not be occupied in ungodly works with the men that work wickedness, lest I eat of such things as please them.

5. Let the righteous rather smite me friendly and reprove me.

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6. But let not their precious balms break my head: yea, I will pray yet against their wickedness.

7. Let their judges be overthrown in stony places that they may hear my words, for they are sweet.

8. Our bones lie scattered before the pit like as when one breaketh and heweth wood upon the earth.

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9. But mine eyes look unto Thee, O Lord God: in Thee is my trust, O cast not out my soul.

10. Keep me from the snare that they have laid for me: and from the traps of the wicked doers.

11. Let the ungodly fall into their own nets together: and let me ever escape them.

Glory be to the Father, &c. Antiphon. Lord, I call upon Thee, haste Thee unto me.

Antiphon. Thou art my portion.

Ps. cxlii. Voce mea ad Dominum. I cried unto the Lord with my voice: yea, even unto the Lord did I make my supplication.

2. I poured out my complaints before Him: and shewed Him of my trouble.

3. When my spirit was in heaviness Thou knewest my path: in the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me.

4. I looked also upon my right hand and saw there was no man that would know me.

5. I had no place to flee unto: and no man cared for my soul.

6. I cried unto Thee, O Lord, and said: Thou art my hope, and my portion in the land of the living.

7. Consider my complaint: for I am brought very low.

8. O deliver me from my persecutors: for they are too strong for me. 9. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks unto Thy Name: which thing if Thou wilt grant me, then shall the righteous resort unto my company.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

Antiphon. Thou art my portion in the land of the living.

The Chapter, 2 Thess. iii. 5. The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Ry. Thanks be to God.

In Services of the Season this Chapter is said at Vespers, (1.) daily from Epiphany to Septuagesima; (2.) on all week-days from Septuagesima to the First Sunday in Lent; and (3.) daily from Trinity to Advent. Hymn for Fridays, from Epiphany to the First Sunday in Lent.

Plasmator hominis Deus. MAKER of men, from Heaven Thy Throne Who orderest all things, GOD alone; By Whose decree the teeming earth To reptile and to beast gave birth: The mighty forms that fill the land, Instinct with life at Thy command, Thou gav'st subdued to humankind For service in their rank assign'd. From all Thy servants chase away Whate'er of thought impure to-day Hath mingled with the heart's intent, Or with the actions hath been blent. In Heaven, Thine endless joys bestow, But grant Thy gifts of grace below: From chains of strife our souls release; Bind fast the gentle bands of peace. O FATHER, that we ask be done, Through JESUS CHRIST, Thine Only Son; Who, with the HOLY GHOST and Thee, Shall live and reign eternally. Amen.

y. Lord, let my prayer be set forth. Ry. In Thy sight as the incense. From Trinity to Advent is said the Hymn, with the V. and R. p. cli. Antiphon. God hath holpen.

Magnificat, St. Luke i.

Antiphon. God hath holpen His servant Israel, as He promised Abraham and his seed: and He hath exalted the humble for ever.

But from Septuagesima to Wednesday in Holy Week inclusive is said instead,

Praise to Thee, O Lord, we sing,
Of Glory the Eternal King.
Antiphon. Blessed be.

Ps. cxliv. Benedictus Dominus. Blessed be the Lord my Strength: Who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight;

2. My Hope and my Fortress, my Castle and Deliverer, my Defender in whom I trust: who subdueth my people that is under me.

3. Lord, what is man, that Thou hast such respect unto him: or the son of man, that Thou so regardest him? 4. Man is like a thing of nought: his time passeth away like a shadow. 5. Bow Thy heavens, O Lord, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6. Cast forth Thy lightning, and tear them shoot out Thine arrows, and consume them.

7. Send down Thine hand from above deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange children;

8. Whose mouth talketh of vanity: and their right hand is a right hand of wickedness.

9. I will sing a new song unto Thee, O God: and sing praises unto Thee upon a ten-stringed lute.

10. Thou hast given victory unto kings and hast delivered David Thy servant from the peril of the sword.

11. Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children: whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity.

12. That our sons may grow up as the young plants: and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple.

13. That our garners may be full and plenteous with all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets.

14. That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no decay: no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets.

15. Happy are the people that are in such a case: yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God. Glory be to the Father, &c. Antiphon. Blessed be the Lord my strength.

Antiphon. For ever.

Ps. cxlv. Exaltabo te, Deus. I will magnify Thee, O God, my King: and I will praise Thy Name for ever and ever.

2. Every day will I give thanks unto Thee and praise Thy Name for ever and ever.

3. Great is the Lord, and marvellous, worthy to be praised: there is no end of His greatness.

4. One generation shall praise Thy works unto another: and declare Thy power.

5. As for me, I will be talking of Thy worship: Thy glory, Thy praise, and wondrous works;