1st Kathisma. #

Psalm 1

Blessed is the man, that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the spoilers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law will he exercise himself day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of waters, that will bring forth his fruit in due season. His leaf also shall not fall away: and look whatsoever he doth, it shall prosper. Not so the ungodly, not so: rather are they like 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, & the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Psalm 2

Why have the Heathen raged, and the people imagined vain things? The kings of the earth have stood up. And the rulers take 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 made of him a king; upon Sion his holy hill, to declare the decree of the Lord. The Lord hath 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, understand: be instructed, all ye that judge the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before him with trembling. Take lore of chastising, lest the Lord be angry, and ye perish from the righteous way, when his wrath be suddenly kindled, blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalm 3

O Lord, how are they multiplied that trouble me? Many there be that 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 mine 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 will not be afraid for the multitude of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God. For thou hast smitten all who without cause are mine enemies, thou hast broken the teeth of sinners. Salvation belongeth unto 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? Know that the Lord hath made marvelous his holy one; the Lord shall hear me when I cry unto him. Be ye angry, and sin not; for what ye speak in your hearts, show compunction upon your beds. Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. Many say, who will shew us any good? The light of Thy countenance, 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, together, will I lay me down and sleep. For thou Lord, alone hast made me dwell in hope.

Psalm 5

Ponder 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 thou shalt hear my voice. In the morning I will stand before thee, and thou shalt see me, for a God that willeth not iniquity, thou art. The wicked shall not come nigh thee, neither shall transgressors abide before thine eyes. Thou hatest all them that work iniquity; thou shalt destroy all them that speak leasing. The Lord abhorreth the man of blood and deceit. As for me, I will come into thine house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness; because of mine enemies make my way plain before thee. For there is no truth in their mouths: their hearts are vain. Their throat is an open sepulchre, they deceive with their tongues; judge them, O God. Let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee, O Lord. And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice; they shall ever be gladdened, and thou shalt dwell in them. They that love thy name shall be joyful in thee. For thou shalt bless the righteous. O Lord, as with a shield of thy good pleasure hast thou crowned us.

Psalm 6

O Lord, rebuke me not in thine indignation: nether chasten me in thy wrath. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord heal me for my bones are troubled. My soul also is sore vexed, 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 no remembrance of thee; and who will give thee thanks in the pit? I am wearied with my groaning; every night do I make my bed to swim, I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is troubled for grief; it is waxed old because of 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 will receive my prayer. Let all mine enemies be confounded & sore vexed; let them turn back and be put to shame suddenly.

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 put my trust; save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me. Lest he snatch away my soul like a lion, while there is none to deliver nor to save. O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands; if I have repaid them that repaid me evil, let me fall empty before mine enemies. Let 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 to the bounds of thine enemies. And stand up, O Lord my God, in the commandment which thou hast ordained, and a congregation of people shall compass thee about. And for that return thou 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 make straight the righteous, O God who triest the hearts and reins. My righteous help cometh of God, who saveth them that are true of heart. God is a righteous judge, both strong and longsuffering, and bringeth not forth his wrath every day. If he turneth not, he shall sharpen his weapon; he shall bend his bow, and hath made it ready. And for him he hath prepared the instruments of death; his arrows he hath made burning. Behold, he travaileth with unrighteousness; he hath conceived pain, and brought forth iniquity. He hath graven and digged up a pit, and shall fall into that which he hath made. His travail shall return upon his own head, and his unrighteousness shall fall on his own 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 in all the world. For thy majesty is lifted above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, because of thine enemies, for to still the enemy and the avenger. For I shall see the heavens, the works of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained. What is man, that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels; with glory and honor hast thou crowned him, and thou hast set him over the works of thy hands. All things hast thou subjected under his feet, all sheep and oxen, yea and the beasts of the field. The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, that pass through the paths of the sea. O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name in all the world.

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

Church Slavonic #