Thursday Compline

The Gethsemane of life

If Compline is generally a serious Hour, given to deep reflection, Thursday Compline is much more serious, in memory of the death agony of our blessed Lord.  Our prayer attempts to feel something of the abandonment and anguish of our Saviour.  It is the evening prayer for the Gethsemane hours in our life.  The two Psalms presuppose a time of serious crisis and strive after confidence and submission to God.  Abide with us, O Lord, fast falls the eventide, and the day is now far spent―that is the spirit of Compline.

Psalm 69.  Deus, in adjutorium

Prayer in need

There are three objects to consider in this night-prayer Psalm:  1) the enemy of my soul, whom I solemnly renounce;  2) all my friends―in every danger I cling fast to the communion of the Church's saints;  3) I myself―in utter helplessness.

Deus, in adjutórium meum inténde : * Dómine ad adjuvándum me festina.

O God, make speed to save me; * O Lord, make haste to help me.

 Mine enemies

2  Confundántur et revereántur, * qui quærunt ánimam meam.
3  Avertántur retrórsum, et erubéscant, * qui volunt mihi mala.
4  Avertántur statim erubescéntes, * qui dicunt mihi : Euge, euge.

2  Let them be ashamed and confounded * that seek after my soul.
3  Let them be turned backward and put to confusion * that wish me evil.
4  Let them be soon brought to shame, * that cry over me, There! there!

 My friends

5  Exsúltent et læténtur in te omnes qui quærunt te, * et dicant semper : Magnificétur Dóminus : qui díligunt salutáre tuum.

5  But let all those that seek thee be joyful and glad in thee: * and let all such as delight in thy salvation say alway, The Lord be praised.

 Myself

6  Ego vero egénus, et pauper sum : * Deus, ádjuva me.
7  Adjútor meus, et liberátor meus es tu : * Dómine, ne moréris.

6  As for me, I am poor and in misery: * help me, O God.
7  Thou art my helper, and my redeemer: * O Lord, make no delay.

Psalm 70

In agony

This Psalm is the prayer of an old man, or of the Jewish people, broken by exile, crying out in their affliction.  We pray this Psalm for ourselves, when our hearts are heavy and the world bears down upon us with oppressive weight.  The Psalm will bring us to new courage, new trust in God.

Plea for help

In te, Dómine, sperávi, non confúndar in ætérnum : * in justítia tua líbera me, et éripe me.
2  Inclína ad me aurem tuam, * et salva me.
3  Esto mihi in Deum protectórem, et in locum munítum : * ut salvum me fácias.
4  Quóniam firmaméntum meum, * et refúgium meum es tu.

In thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion, * but rid me and deliver me in thy righteousness
2  Incline thine ear unto me, and save me.
3  Be thou my God, my defender and my stronghold, * that thou mayest save me.
4  For thou art my house of defence, * and my refuge.

Youthful cry of trust

5  Deus meus, éripe me de manu peccatóris, * de manu contra legem agéntis et iníqui :
6  Quóniam tu es patiéntia mea, Dómine : * Dómine, spes mea a juventúte mea.
7  In te confirmátus sum ex útero : * de ventre matris meæ tu es protéctor meus.
8  In te cantátio mea semper : * tamquam prodigium factus sum multis : et tu adjútor fortis.

5  Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the ungodly, * out of the hand of the transgressor of the law and the wicked man.
6  For thou, O Lord, art my patience: * thou art my hope, Lord, even from my youth.
7  Through thee have I been holden up ever since I was born: * thou hast defended me out of my mother's womb.
8  My praise shall be alway of thee : * I am become as a wonder unto many : but thou art a strong helper.

Refuge in old age

9  Repleátur os meum laude, ut cántem glóriam tuam : * tota die magnitúdinem tuam.
10  Ne projícias me in témpore senectútis : * cum defécerit virtus mea, ne derelínquas me.
11 Quia dixérunt inimíci mei mihi : * et qui custodiébant ánimam meam, consílium fecérunt in unum.
12  Dicéntes : Deus derelíquit eum, persequímini, et comprehéndite eum : * quia non est qui erípiat.
13  Deus ne elongeris a me : * Deus meus, in auxílium meum réspice.

9  O let my mouth be filled with thy praise, that I may sing of thy glory * and of thy greatness all the day long.
10  Cast me not away in the time of age; * forsake me not when my strength faileth me.
11  For mine enemies speak against me; * and they that lay wait for my soul take their counsel together.
12  Saying, God hath forsaken him, persecute him, and take him, * for there is none to deliver him.
13  Go not far from me, O God; * my God, haste thee to help me.

Psalm 70.ii.  Confundantur

Plea for protection from enemies

14  Confundántur, et defíciant detrahéntes ánimæ meæ : * operiántur confusióne, et pudóre qui quærunt mala mihi.
15  Ego autem semper sperábo : * et adjíciam super omnem laudem tuam.
16  Os meum annuntiábit justítiam tuam : * tota die salutáre tuum.
17  Quóniam non cognóvi litteráturam, introíbo in poténtias Dómini : * Dómine, memorábor justítiæ tuæ solíus.

14  Let them be confounded and perish that are against my soul; * let them be covered with shame and dishonour that seek to do me evil.
15  As for me, I will ever abide in hope, * and will praise thee more and more.
16  My mouth shall speak of thy righteousness : * and of thy salvation all the day long.
17  I have not known learning, and thus will I go forth in the strength of the Lord : * O Lord, I will be mindful of thy justice alone.

Confident of being heard

18  Deus, docuísti me a juventúte mea : * et usque nunc pronuntiábo mirabília tua.
19  Et usque in senéctam et sénium : * Deus, ne derelínquas me,
20  Donec annúntiem bráchium tuum * generatióni omni, quæ ventúra est :
21  Poténtiam tuam, et justítiam tuam, Deus, usque in altíssima, quæ fecísti magnália : *  Deus, quis símilis tibi?
22 Quantas ostendísti mihi tribulatiónes multas et malas : et convérsus vivificásti me : * et de abyssis terræ íterum reduxísti me:

18  Thou hast taught me, O God, from my youth : * and until now will I tell of thy wondrous works.
19  And unto old age and grey hairs : O God, forsake me not,
20  Until I have shewed thy strength * unto all generations that are yet for to come.
21  Thy power and thy righteousness, O God, even to the highest great things thou hast done : * O God, who is like unto thee?
22  O what great troubles and adversities hast thou shewed me! and yet didst thou turn and refresh me; * yea, and broughtest me from the deep of the earth again.

Finale

23  Multiplicásti magnificéntiam tuam : * et convérsus consolátus es me.
24  Nam et ego confitébor tibi in vasis psalmi veritátem tuam : * Deus, psallam tibi in cíthara, Sanctus Israël.
25  Exsultábunt lábia mea cum cantávero tibi : * et ánima mea, quam redemísti.
26  Sed et lingua mea tota die meditábitur justítiam tuam : * cum confúsi et revériti fúerint, qui quærunt mala mihi.

23  Thou hast multiplied thy magnificence, * and turning to me thou hast comforted me.
24  Therefore will I confess unto thee thy truth upon instruments of psaltery: * O God, unto thee will I sing upon the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.
25  My lips will be glad when I sing unto thee; * and so will my soul whom thou hast delivered.
26  My tongue also shall meditate on thy righteousness all the day long; * for they are confounded and brought unto shame that seek to do me evil.