he Penitential Psalms.' Ant. Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents: neither take thou vengeance of our sins. Psalm vi. Domine, ne in furore. 1. David, in deep affliction, prays for a mitigation of the Divine anger; 4. in consideration of God's mercy; 5. his glory; 6. his own repentance. 8. By faith he triumphs over his enemies. 1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thine indignation: nor chastise me in thy wrath. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is troubled exceedingly: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul: O save me for thy mercy's sake. 5 For in death there is no one that remembereth thee: and who will give thee thanks in hell? 6 I have laboured in my groanings, every night will I Psalm xxxi. wash my bed: and water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye is troubled through indignation: I have grown old among all mine enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye that work iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my prayer. 10 Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily. Glory &c. Beati quorum. 1. The blessedness of those whose sins are forgiven. 3. The misery of impenitence. 6. Confession of sin brings ease, 8. safety, 14. joy. 1 Blessed are they whose whose sins are covered. iniquities are forgiven and : 2 Blessed is the man to It is a pious custom to recite the seven penitential Psalms, respectively, by way of prayer against the seven deadly sins. whom the Lord hath not imputed sin and in whose spirit : there is no guile. 3 Because I was silent, my bones grew old: while I cried aloud all the day long. 4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: I turned in my anguish, while the thorn was fastened in me. 5 I have acknowledged my sin unto thee and my injustice have I not concealed. 6 I said, I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord: and thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. 7 For this shall every one that is holy pray unto thee: in a seasonable time. 8 But in the flood of many waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 9 Thou art my refuge from Psalm xxxvii. Domine, ne in furore. 1. David's extreme anguish. 15. He hopes in God. 18. His resignation and grief. 22. Prayer. the end: I go sorrowfully all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with illusions: and there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly: have roared for the groaning of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee and my groaning is not hidden from thee. 10 My heart is troubled, my strength hath failed me the very light of mine eyes is gone from me. 11 My friends and my neighbours drew near, and stood up against me. 12 They that were once nigh me stood afar off: and they that sought after my soul did violence against me. 13 And they that sought to do me evil talked vanities: and imagined deceits all the day long. 14 But I, as a deaf man, heard not and as one that is dumb, who openeth not his mouth. 15 I became as a man that heareth not and that hath no reproofs in his mouth. 16 For in thee, O Lord, have I hoped thou wilt hear me, O Lord my God. 17 For I said, Let not mine enemies at any time triumph over me: and when my feet slip, they have spoken great things against me. 18 For I am prepared for scourges and my sorrow is always before me. 19 For I will confess mine iniquity: and will think upon my sin. 20 But mine enemies live, and are strengthened against me: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 21 They that render evil for good spake against me: because I followed goodness. 22 Forsake me not, O Lord my God: go not thou far from me. 23 Haste thee to my help: O Lord God of my salvation. Glory &c. Psalm 1. Miserere. 19. David 1. David prays for remission of his sins; 8. for perfect sanctity. 17. God delights not in sacrifice, but in a contrite heart. prays for the exaltation of the Church. 1 Have mercy upon me, O God: according to thy great mercy. 2 And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies : blot out my iniquity. 3 Wash me yet more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 4 For I acknowledge my iniquity and my sin is always before me. 5 Against thee only have I sinned, and done evil in thy sight: that thou mayest be justified in thy words, and mayest overcome when thou art judged. 6 For behold, I was conceived in iniquities: and in sins did my mother conceive me. 7 For behold, thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest unto me. 8 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. 9 Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: and the bones that were humbled shall rejoice. 10 Turn away thy face from my sins: and blot out all my iniquities. 11 Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels. 12 Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy holy spirit from me. 13 Restore unto me the joy 1. The extreme affliction of the Psalmist. 12. The eternity and the mercy of God, 19. to be recorded and praised by future generations. 26. The unchangeableness of God. praised me have sworn together against me. 10 For I have eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drink with weeping. 11 Because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast lifted me up and cast me down. 12 My days are gone down like a shadow and I am withered like grass. 13 But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever and thy memorial to all generations. 14 Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Sion: for it is time that thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come. 15 For thy servants have delighted in her stones and they shall have compassion on the earth thereof. 16 The Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord: and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 17 For the Lord hath built up Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory. 18 He hath had regard unto the prayer of the lowly and hath not despised their petition. 19 Let these things be written for another generation: and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord. 20 For he hath looked down from his high and holy place out of heaven hath the Lord looked upon the earth. 21 That he might hear the groaning of them that are in fetters: that he might deliver the children of the slain. 22 That they may declare the name of the Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem. 23 When the people assemble together and kings, that they may serve the Lord. 24 He answered him in the way of his strength: Declare unto me the fewness of my days. 25 Call me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are unto generation and generation. 26 Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundations of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 27 They shall perish, but thou endurest: and they all shall grow old as a garment. 28 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. 29 The children of thy servants shall continue: and their seed shall be directed for ever. Glory &c. Psalm cxxix. De profundis. The cry of a contrite heart 1 Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. imploring the Divine mercy. 2 Oh, let thine ears consider well the voice of my supplication. 3 If thou, O Lord, shalt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall abide it? 4 For with thee there is propitiation and because of thy law I have waited for thee, Ŏ Lord. 5 My soul hath waited on his word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord. 6 From the morning watch even until night let Israel hope in the Lord. : 7 For with the Lord there is mercy and with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel: from all his iniquities. Glory &c. Psalm cxlii. Domine, exaudi. 1. David prays for favour in judgment. 3. He represents his distress. He prays for grace; 9. for deliverance; 10. for sanctification; 12. for victory over his enemies. 1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; thy truth: hearken unto me give ear to my supplication in for thy justice' sake. |