Vespers

Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways.

For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house.

Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.

And mayst thou see thy children’s children, peace upon Israel.

Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say.

Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could not prevail over me.

The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their iniquity.

The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners: let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion.

Let them be as grass upon the tops of houses: which withereth before it be plucked up:

Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom.

And they that passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord.

Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice.

Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.

If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it.

For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord.

My soul hath relied on his word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord.

From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.

Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

O Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty.

Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.

If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul:

As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul.

Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.

Lord, remember David, and all his meekness.

How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob:

If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go up into the bed wherein I lie:

If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids,

Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob.

Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood.

We will go into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where his feet stood.

Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified.

Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice.

For thy servant David’s sake, turn not away the face of thy anointed.

The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne.

If thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them:

Their children also for evermore shall sit upon thy throne.

For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his dwelling.

This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it.

Blessing I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with bread.

I will clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy.

There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.

His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my sanctification flourish.