The Seven Penitential Psalms

Proper to be said on Fasting days, and other Penitential Times Anthem. Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents, and take not revenge on our sins.

Psalm vi. Domine ne in furore ORD, rebuke me not in thy fury, nor chastise me in thy wrath. Have mercy on me, O Lord, because I am weak:: heal me, O Lord, because all my bones are troubled. And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but thou, O Lord, how long?: Turn, O Lord, and deliver my soul, save me for thy mercies’ sake. For there is not in death that is mindful of thee: and who shall confess to thee in hell? I have laboured in my sighing; every night I will wash my bed, I will water my couch with my tears. My eye is troubled for fury: I have grown old among all my enemies. Depart from me all ye that work iniquity: because the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

The Lord hath heard my petition; the Lord hath received my prayer.

Let all my enemies be ashamed and very much troubled: let them be converted and ashamed very speedily.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

Psalm xxxi. Beati quorum LESSED are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man, to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin, neither is there guile in his spirit. Because I held my peace, my bones have grown old; whilst I cried all the day. Because day and night thy hand is made heavy upon me; I am converted in my anguish, whilst the thorn is fixed. I have made my sin known to thee; and my injustice I have not hid. I said, I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord, and thou hast forgiven the impiety of my sin. For this shall every holy one pray to thee in seasonable time. Yet in the deluge of many waters they shall not approach him. Thou art my refuge from tribulation, which hath surrounded me: my joy, deliver me from them that encompass me. I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this way in which thou shalt go, I will fasten mine eyes upon thee.

Do not become as the horse and mule, that have no understanding.

In bit and bridle bind fast their jaws, who do not approach to thee.

Many are the scourges of a sinner, but mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the Lord. Be joyful in the Lord, and rejoice ye just, and glory all ye right of heart. Glory, &c.

Psalm xxxvii. Domine ne in furore ORD, rebuke me not in thy fury, nor chastise me in thy wrath.

For thy arrows are fastened in me, and thy hand hath been strong upon me. There is no health in my flesh, because of thy wrath; there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins. For my iniquities are gone over my head; and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me. My scars are putrified and corrupted, because of my foolishness. I am become miserable, and I am bowed down even to the end: I went sorrowful all the day. Because my loins are filled with illusions; and there is no health in my flesh. I am afflicted and humbled exceedingly I roared out from the groaning of my heart.

O Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hidden from thee.

My heart is troubled, my strength hath left me; and the light of my eyes itself is not with me.

My friends and my neighbours have drawn near, and stood against me.

And they that were near me, stood afar off; and they that sought my soul, used violence. And they that sought evils to me, spoke vain things; and studied deceits all the day.

But I as one deaf did not hear; and as one dumb, that openeth not his mouth.

And I became as a man that heareth not; and that hath not reproofs in his mouth. Because in thee, O Lord, I have hoped, thou shalt hear me, O Lord my God.

For I have said, lest at any time my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they have spoke great things against me.

Because I am prepared for scourges; and my sorrow is always in my sight.

For I will declare my iniquity; and I will think for my sin.

But my enemies live, and are strengthened over me; and they are multiplied, that hate me unjustly.

And they that return evils for good, detracted me, because I followed goodness.

Forsake me not, O Lord my God, depart not from me.

Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation. Glory, ©.

Psalm 1. Miserere HAE mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy.

And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.

Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Because I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.

To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee, that thou may’st be justified in thy words, and may’st overcome when thou art judged.

For behold I was conceiv’d in iniquities; and in sins hath my mother conceived me. For behold thou hast loved truth; the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.; Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.

To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness and the bones that are humbled shall rejoice.

Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create a clean heart in me, O God; and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and confirm me with a perfect spirit.

I will teach thy ways to the unjust; and the wicked shall be converted to thee.

Deliver me from blood, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall extol thy justice.

Thou, O Lord, wilt open my lips; and my mouth shall declare thy praise.

Because, if thou would’st have had sacrifice, verily I had given it; with burnt-offerings thou wilt not be delighted.

A sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit; a contrite and humble heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good-will with Sion, that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.

Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations, and whole burnt-offerings; then shall they lay calves upon thy altars. Glory, ae:

Psalm ci. Domine exaudi LORD, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to thee. Turn not away thy face from me; in what day soever I am in tribulation, incline thine ear to me.

In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me speedily.

For my days are vanished as smoak; and my bones are wither’d as a thing that is burnt.

I am smitten as grass, and my heart is wither’d; because I have forgotten to eat my bread. Thro’ the voice of my groaning, my bone hath cleaved to my skin.

I am become like the pelican of the wilderness; I am become as a night-crow in the house.

I have watch’d, and am become as a sparrow solitary on the house-top.

All the day long my enemies upbraided me, and they that prais’d me did swear against me. Because I did eat ashes as bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.

From the face of thy wrath and thy indignation, because lifting me up thou hast thrown me down.

My days have declined as a shadow;; and I am wither’d as grass.

But thou, O Lord, remainest for ever; and thy memorial from generation to generation. Thou rising up shalt have mercy on Sion; for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time cometh.

Because the stones thereof have pleased thy servants, and they shall have pity on the earth thereof. .

And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord, and the kings of the earth thy glory.

For the Lord hath built Sion; and he shall be seen in his glory.

He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble; and he hath not despised their petition.

Let these things be written unto another generation; and the people that shall be created, shall praise the Lord.

Because he hath look’d forth from his high sanctuary; the Lord from heaven hath look’d upon the earth.

That he might hear the groanings of them that are in fetters; that he might unbind the children of them that are slain.

That they may shew forth the name of the Lord in Sion, and his praise in Jerusalem.

In the assembling of the people together in one, and kings to serve the Lord.

He answer’d him in the way of his strength:

Declare unto me the fewness of my days.

Call me not back in the midst of my days: thy years are unto generation and generation.

In the beginning, O Lord, thou foundedst the earth; and the heavens are the works of thy hands.

They shall perish, but thou remainest; and they shall all grow old as a garment.

And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art always the self-same, and thy years shall not fail.

The children of thy servants shall inhabit; L and their seed shall be directed for ever.

Psalm cxxix. De profundis ROM the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord, Lord hear my voice.

Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my petition. If thou wilt observe iniquities, O Lord, Lord, who shall sustain it. For with thee there is propitiation; and for thy law I have expected thee, O Lord. My soul hath expected in his word;; my soul hath hoped in the Lord. From the morning-watch even untill night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with him plentiful redemption. And he shall redeem Jsrae/ from all his iniquities. Glory, &c.

Psalm cxlii. Domine exaudi LORD, hear my prayer, with thine ears receive my petition in thy truth; hear me in thy justice. i: And enter not into judgment with thy servant for no man living shall be justified in thy sight. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul, he hath humbled my life in the earth. He hath set me in the dark places, as those who have been dead of old and my spirit is in anguish upon me, my heart is troubled within me.

I was mindful of the ancient days, I have meditated on all thy works, on the deeds of thy hands did I meditate.

I have spread forth my hands to thee; my soul is as earth without water unto thee. Hear me quickly, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted.

Turn not away thy face from me, and I shall be like to them that go down into the pit. Make me to hear thy mercy in the morning, because I have hoped in thee.

Make the way known to me, wherein I may walk;; because I have lifted up my soul to thee.

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee I have fled; teach me to do thy will, because thou art my God.

Thy good spirit will conduct me into the right land: for thy name’s sake, O Lord, thou wilt enliven me in thy equity.

Thou wilt bring forth my soul out of tribulation; and in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies.

And thou wilt destroy all that afflict my soul; because I am thy servant. Glory, c.

Anthem. Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our parents: and take not revenge on our sins,