Vespers #

After the Entrance Bows, (waist, always):

Elder: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Bow

Psalmist: Amen.

From Pascha until Pentecost, “O Heavenly King” is not read. Until the Leavetaking of Pascha, it is replaced by singing “Christ Resurrected”, thrice. After the Leavetaking, it is ommited.

Christ resurrected from the dead, by death he trod upon death, and to those in the tombs he bestowed life.

O Heavenly King, Comforter, True Spirit, which art everywhere and fillest all, Treasury of blessings and giver of life: come and dwell in us; and cleanse us from every defilement, and save our souls, O Good One.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice with bows)

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. Now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, cleanse us of our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for thy names sake.

Lord have mercy. (Thrice) Glory. Now and ever.

Our Father, which art in the heavens, hallowed may thy name be. May thy kingdom come. May thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth. Give us this day our essential bread. And forgive us our debts, even as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Elder: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. (Bow)

Psalmist: Amen. Lord have mercy. (12 times)

Glory. Now and ever.

Come, let us worship the King, our God. (Bow)

Come, let us worship Christ, the King and our God. (Bow)

Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Lord Jesus Christ, the King and our God. (Bow)

Psalm 103: Bless the Lord, O my soul; O Lord my God, thou art greatly magnified. In confession and majesty hath he clothed himself. Thou deckest thyself with light as with a garment, who spreadest out the heaven as a hide. Who covereth his high places with waters, setting clouds upon his ascent, walking upon the wing of the wind. Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flaming fire. Who foundeth the earth upon his foundation; it shall not be moved unto the age of the age. The deep - like a garment is her covering; the waters shall stand upon the hills. From thy rebuke they fled; from the voice of thy thunder shall they be afraid. The hills rise up, and the fields sink down, unto the place which thou hast established for them. He hath set a term which they shall not pass, neither shall they return to cover the earth. He sendeth springs into the valleys; the waters shall flow through the hills. They give drink to all beasts of the field; the wild asses wait in their thirst. Upon thee do the birds of the heavens dwell; from the midst of the rocks shall they give voice. Who watereth the hills from his lofty places; the earth shall be filled from the fruit of thy works. Who groweth forth pastures for cattle, and herb for the service of men, to bring forth bread from the earth. And wine maketh glad the heart of man, to anoint the face with oil. And bread shall strengthen the heart of man. The trees of the field shall be filled; the cedars of Lebanon which thou hast planted. There shall the birds nest; the house of the heron dwelleth therein. The high hills are for the harts, and the rock a refuge for the hares. Thou hast made the moon for seasons; the sun knew his setting. He set darkness and there was night, in which all the beasts of the forest go forth. The young lions roareth to seize, and beggeth their food from God. The sun arose, and they gathered, and in their lairs shall they lie. Man shall go forth unto his work, and unto his labor until the evening. How magnified are thy works, O Lord; in wisdom hast thou made all things, the earth is filled with thy creation. Lo, the sea, great and wide; therein are creeping things of which there is no number; living things, the small with the great. There do the ships sail; this dragon which he created to frolic before him. All things wait upon thee, to give them food in good time; when thou givest to them, they shall gather. When thou openest thine hand, all things shall be filled of goodness. But when thou turnest away thy face they shall be troubled; thou shalt take away their spirits, and they shall perish, and into their dust shall they return. Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be made, and thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let the glory of the Lord be unto the ages; the Lord shall rejoice over his works. Who looketh upon the earth, and maketh her to quake, who toucheth the hills, and they shall smoke. I shall sing unto the Lord in my life; I sing unto my God as long as I am. Let my speech be sweet unto him, and over him shall I rejoice. The sinners shall perish from the earth, and the iniquitous as if they be not. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Glory. Now and ever. Alleluia, alleluia, glory to thee, O God. (Thrice with bows)

Sing: Lord have mercy. (12 times) Glory. Now and ever.

Kathisma I #

Psalm 1. Blessed is the man, that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and stood not in the way of sinners, and sat not in the seat of the spoilers. But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law will he ponder day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the flowing waters, that shall bring forth his fruit in his time. And his leaf shall not fall away: and all things whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. Not so are the ungodly, not so: but as the dust which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth. Therefore, the ungodly shall not rise in the judgment, neither the sinners in the counsel of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous, and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2. Why have the heathen raged, and the peoples plotted vain things? The kings of the earth stood forth. And the princes took counsel together against the Lord, and against his Christ. Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yoke from us. He that dwelleth in the heavens shall scorn them, and the Lord shall revile them. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and confound them in his fury. But I am ordained of him a king upon Sion his holy hill, declaring the decree of the Lord. The Lord said unto me: Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the terms of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt shepherd them with a rod of iron, as a potter’s vessels shalt thou shatter them. And now, O ye kings, take heed: be instructed, all ye that judge the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice unto him with trembling. Take hold of chastising, lest the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the righteous way; when his fury shall burn forth, blessed are all they that trust in him.

Psalm 3. O Lord, how greatly are they multiplied that trouble me? Many rise up against me. Many say of my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God. But thou, O Lord, art my defender, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. I laid me down and slept; I arose, for the Lord shall defend me. I shall not be afraid for ten thousands of the people, that fall upon me me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God. For thou hast smitten all who in vain are mine enemies, thou hast broken the teeth of sinners. Salvation is of the Lord, and thy blessing is upon thy people.

Glory. Now and ever. Alleluia, alleluia, glory to thee, O God. (Thrice with bows) Lord have mercy (Thrice). Glory. Now and ever.

Psalm 4. When I called, thou didst hear me, O God of my righteousness; In distress thou hast enlarged me. Have mercy upon me, and hearken unto my prayer. O ye sons of men, how long will ye be heavy of heart; why do ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? And know that the Lord hath made marvelous his holy one; the Lord shall hear me when I cry unto him. Be angry, and sin not; for what ye speak in your hearts, show compunction upon your beds. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and hope upon the Lord. Many say, who will shew us good things? The light of thy face, O Lord, hath been signed upon us, thou hast put gladness in my heart. From the fruit of their wheat, wine, and oil, are they increased. In peace I shall both lay me down and sleep. For thou, O Lord, alone hast made me dwell in hope.

Psalm 5. Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my cry. O hearken thou unto the voice of my prayer, my King, and my God. For unto thee will I pray, O Lord; in the morning, hear my voice. In the morning I shall stand before thee, and thou shalt see me, for thou art a God that willeth not iniquity. The wicked man shall not come nigh thee, nor also shall transgressors abide before thine eyes. Thou hast hated all them that work iniquity; thou shalt destroy all them that speak leasing. The Lord abhorreth the man of blood and deceit. But I, in the multitude of thy mercy shall enter into thy house; I shall worship toward thy holy temple in thy fear. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness; because of mine enemies make straight my way before thee. For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is vain. Their throat is an opened sepulchre, they deceived with their tongues; judge them, O God. Let them fall down from their own thoughts; after the multitude of their ungodliness, cast them out, for they have provoked thee, O Lord. And all that hope on thee shall be gladdened; they shall ever rejoice, and thou shalt dwell in them. They that love thy name shall give praise unto thee, for thou shalt bless the righteous. O Lord, as with a shield of thy goodwill hast thou crowned us.

Psalm 6. O Lord, let not thy wrath rebuke me: nor yet chasten me in thine anger. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; heal me, O Lord, for my bones were shaken. My soul also was sore shook, but thou, O Lord, how long? Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul; save me for thy mercy’s sake. For in death is none remembrance of thee, and in Hades who shall confess thee? I am wearied in my groaning; in every night shall I wash my bed, I shall water my couch with my tears. Mine eye was troubled from wrath; I waxed old among all mine enemies. Away from me all ye that work iniquity, for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my petition, the Lord hath received my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and troubled; let them turn back and be greatly put to shame swiftly.

Glory. Now and ever. Alleluia, alleluia, glory to thee, O God. (Thrice with bows) Lord have mercy (Thrice). Glory. Now and ever.

Psalm 7. O Lord my God, in thee have I hoped; save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. Be it not when he snatch away my soul like a lion, there be none to deliver nor to save. O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there be unrighteousness in my hand; if I have returned to them that rendered me evil, let me fall down empty before mine enemies. Let then mine enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; and tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath, exalt thyself in the bounds of thine enemies. And rise up, O Lord my God, in the commandment which thou hast ordained, and a congregation of people shall encompass thee. And for that return on high; the Lord doth judge the people. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine innocency that is upon me. Let the wickedness of sinners come to an end, and thou shalt set aright the righteous, O God that triest the hearts and reins. My righteous help is from God, that saveth the right of heart. God is a righteous judge, both strong and longsuffering, and bringeth not his wrath every day. If ye turneth not back, he shall sharpen his weapon; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. And therein hath he prepared the instruments of death; his arrows he fashioned with flames. Behold, he travailed unrighteousness; he hath conceived pain, and begat iniquity. He hath digged a ditch and hollowed it, and hath fallen into the pit which he made. His travail shall turn upon his head, and his unrighteousness shall fall upon his pate. I will confess unto the Lord according to his righteousness, and I will sing unto the name of the Lord most high.

Psalm 8. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name over all the earth. For thy majesty is lifted above the heavens. From the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, for thine enemies, to destroy the enemy and the avenger. For I shall see the heavens, the works of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast founded. What is man, that thou rememberest him, or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him less by a little than the angels; with glory and honor hast thou crowned him, and thou hast set him over the works of thy hand. All things hast thou subjected under his foot, all sheep and oxen, yea and the beasts of the field. The birds of the heavens, the fish of the sea, passing through the paths of the sea. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name over all the earth.

Glory. Now and ever. Alleluia, alleluia, glory to thee, O God. (Thrice with bows) Lord have mercy (Thrice). Glory. Now and ever.

Psalm 140. O Lord, I cried unto thee; hear me. Attend unto the voice of my prayer when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth as incense before thee; the lifting up of my hand, an evening sacrifice. Set a guard to my mouth, O Lord, and a door of defense upon my lips. Incline not my heart unto words of wickedness, to care not for excuses about sins. With men the worketh iniquity, I am numbered not with their chosen. The righteous man shall guide me in mercy, and reprove me; but let not the oils of the sinner anoint my head. For yet also is my prayer in their good pleasure. Their judges were were devoured before the rock. My words shall be heard, for they prevailed. As a clod of earth sank into the ground, their bones were scattered before Hades. For unto thee, O Lord, O Lord, are mine eyes; in thee have I hoped, O take not my soul. Keep me from the snare which they set against me, and from the stumbling-block of them that work iniquity. The sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone, until I pass.

Psalm 141. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, with my voice shall I pray unto the Lord. I shall pour out my prayer before him, my sorrow before him shall I declare. When my spirit fadeth away, thou knewest my path. On this path along which I walked, they hid a snare for me. I looked to the right, and beheld, there was none that knew me. Flight hath failed from me, and there is none that seeketh after my soul. I cried unto thee, O Lord; I said thou art my hope, thou art my lot in the land of the living. Attend unto my prayer, for I am humbled greatly. Deliver me from those that persecute me, for they are strengthened beyond me. Lead my soul out of prison, to confess thy name. The righteous shall wait for me, until thou shalt recompense me.

Psalm 129. Out of the deep, I cried unto thee, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my prayer. If thou shalt mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who shall stand; for cleansing is from thee. For thy name’s sake have I suffered thee, O Lord; my soul hath suffered in thy word, my soul hath hoped on the Lord. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, let Israel hope on the Lord. For mercy is from the Lord, and from him is abundant deliverance; and he shall deliver Israel from all his iniquities.

Psalm 116. O praise the Lord, all ye heathen; exalt him, all ye peoples. For his mercy was made firm upon us, and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.

Then the stichera of the day. On Sundays, there are always 10.

Glory. Now and ever. (According to the Ustav)

Elder: O Gentle Light.

Sing: Of the holy glory of the immortal heavenly Father; of the holy blessed Jesus Christ, Son of God; the sun having come to the west, having seen the evening light, we laud the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, God. Thou art worthy to be sung at all times with venerable voices, O Son of God, who givest life to all the world, for whose sake the whole world doth glorify thee.

Elder: The Prokeimen from the Psalm of David. The Lord was enthroned, enrobed in majesty.