Tuesday Prime

Lead me by thy hand

Prime is a preparation for the day's conflict.  Psalm 24 is above all a heartfelt prayer that should prepare us for the coming day.  Conscious of my own weakness, I clasp the hand of God with child-like confidence and pray that he will lead me safely through the dangers of this day of salvation.  This Psalm is especially appropriate in the Advent liturgy.

Psalm 24

Lead me by thy hand

Psalm 24. i.  Ad te Domine

Ad te, Dómine, levávi ánimam meam: * Deus meus, in te confído, non erubéscam.
2  Neque irrídeant me inimíci mei: *  étenim univérsi, qui sústinent te, non confundéntur.
3  Confundántur omnes iníqua agéntes * supervácue.

UNTO thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul; my God, I have put my trust in thee: * O let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me.
2  For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed; * but such as transgress without a cause shall be put to confusion.

Guidance and justification

4  Vias tuas, Dómine, demónstra mihi * et sémitas tuas édoce me.
5  Dírige me in veritáte tua, et doce me: * quia tu es, Deus, Salvátor meus, et te sustínui tota die.
6  Reminíscere miseratiónum tuárum, Dómine, * et misericordiárum tuárum, quæ a sæculo sunt.
7  Delícta juventútis meæ, * et ignorántias meas ne memíneris.
8  Secúndum misericórdiam tuam meménto mei tu, * propter bonitátem tuam, Dómine.

3  Shew me thy ways, O Lord, * and teach me thy paths.
4  Lead me forth in thy truth, and learn me: * for thou art the God of my salvation; in thee hath been my hope all the day long.
5  Call to remembrance, O Lord, thy tender mercies, * and thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old.
6  O remember not the sins and offences of my youth; * but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy goodness.

Psalm 24. ii.  Dulcis et rectus

Pardon

9  Dulcis et rectus Dóminus: * propter hoc legem dabit delinquéntibus in via.
10  Diriget mansuétos in judício: * docébit mites vias suas.
11  Univérsæ viæ Dómini, misericórdia et véritas, * requiréntibus testaméntum ejus et testimónia ejus.
12  Propter nomen tuum, Dómine, propitiáberis peccáto meo: * multum est enim.

7  Gracious and righteous is the Lord; * therefore, will he teach sinners in the way.
8  Them that are meek shall he guide in judgment; * and such as are gentle, them shall he learn his way.
9  All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, * unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
10  For thy Name's sake, O Lord, * be merciful unto my sin; for it is great.

Confidence

13  Quis est homo qui timet Dóminum? * legem státuit ei in via, quam elégit.
14  Anima ejus in bonis demorábitur: * et semen ejus hereditábit terram.
15  Firmaméntum est Dóminus timéntibus eum: * et testaméntum ipsíus ut manifestétur illis.

11  What man is he that feareth the Lord? * him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.
12  His soul shall dwell at ease, * and his seed shall inherit the land.
13  The secret of the Lord is among them that fear him; * and he will shew them his covenant.

Psalm 24. iii.  Oculi mei

Petition

16  Oculi mei semper ad Dóminum: * quóniam ipse evéllet de láqueo pedes meos.
17  Réspice in me, et miserére mei: * quia únicus et pauper sum ego.
18  Tribulatiónes cordis mei multiplicátæ sunt: * de necessitátibus meis érue me.
19  Vide humilitátem meam, et labórem meum: * et dimítte univérsa delícta mea.
20  Réspice inimícos meos quóniam multiplicáti sunt: * et ódio iníquo odérunt me.
21  Custódi ánimam meam, et érue me: * non erubéscam quóniam sperávi in te.
22  Innocéntes et recti adhæsérunt mihi: * quia sustínui te.

14  Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord; * for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
15  Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; * for I am desolate, and in misery.
16  The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: * O bring thou me out of my troubles.
17  Look upon my adversity and misery, * and forgive me all my sin.
18  Consider mine enemies, how many they are; * and they bear a tyrannous hate against me.
19  O keep my soul, and deliver me: * let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in thee.
20  Let perfectness and righteous dealing wait upon me; * for my hope hath been in thee.

Finale

23  Libera, Deus, Israël: * ex ómnibus tribulatiónibus suis.

21  Deliver Israel, O God, * out of all his troubles.