Friday Compline

Abide with us, O Lord, fast falls the eventide

Compline is generally a serious Hour―tonight it is more so since it is the burial of Christ.  Psalm 76 is one of the most sorrowful in the whole Psalter; it cannot manage to rise above the note of near despair, and it comes to a close without a hint of inner calm.  Psalm 85 continues the same mood; it turns from the consideration of our own human misery and cries up to God for mercy, confidence, hope.  It begs to be heard.

Background from the history of salvation:  This Compline recalls the sentiments of the disciples on Good Friday night; these sentiments we ourselves have often known: despair and a ray of hope.

Intention:  This Hour is to be said for ourselves and for all Christians in the sad hours when "eventide falleth" into their souls, the evening of despair, the dark evening of life.

Psalm 76

The ways of God

God seems to have abandoned his people.  Reflections on the past, made glorious by all the wonderful deeds of God, can still fill the psalmist with wonder; but at the same time they can make the terrible contrast with the present day more dismal and more difficult to bear.  He reaches a sad conclusion: God has abandoned his people.  And with this tortured sentiment of near despair the Psalm comes to a close.  For us present-day Christians, it is a prayer for the Calvary hours in the life of the Church, and in our own life.

Psalm 76.i.  Voce mea

 Unceasing prayer

Voce mea ad Dóminum clamávi : * voce mea ad Deum, et inténdit mihi.
2  In die tribulatiónis meæ Deum exquisívi, mánibus meis nocte contra eum : * et non sum decéptus.
3  Rénuit consolári ánima mea, * memor fui Dei, et delectátus sum, et exercitátus sum : et defécit spíritus meus.
4  Anticipavérunt vigílias óculi mei : *  turbátus sum, et non sum locútus.

I have cried unto God with my voice; * even unto God with my voice, and he hath heard me.
2  In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord, I stretched forth my hands unto him in the night season : * and I was not deceived.
3  My soul refused comfort, * I was mindful of God, and exercised and took pleasure therein : and my spirit grew faint.
4  Mine eyes remained open before the night watch : * I was thrown into confusion, and spoke not.

 The present crisis

5  Cogitávi dies antíquos : * et annos ætérnos in mente hábui.
6  Et meditátus sum nocte cum corde meo, * exercitábar, et scopébam spíritum meum.
7  Numquid in ætérnum projíciet Deus : * aut non appónet ut complacítior sit adhuc?
8  Aut in finem misericórdiam suam abscíndet, * a generatióne in generatiónem?
9  Aut obliviscétur miseréri Deus : * aut continébit in ira sua misericórdias suas?
10  Et dixi : Nunc cœpi : * hæc mutátio déxteræ Excélsi.

5  I have considered the days of old, * and I had in my mind the years that are past.
6  And I communed in the night with mine own heart, * I exercised and sought out my spirit.
7  Will the Lord absent himself for ever? * or will he never be more favourable again?
8  Is his mercy clean gone for ever? * for ever and for evermore?
9  Or will God forget to shew mercy? * and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?
10  And I said, Now have I begun : * this is the change of the right hand of the Most Highest.

 Spectacle of the past

11  Memor fui óperum Dómini : * quia memor ero ab inítio mirabílium tuórum.
12  Et meditábor in ómnibus opéribus tuis : * et in adinventiónibus tuis exercébor.

11  I remembered the works of the Lord, * for I will call to mind thy wonders of old time.
12  I will think also of all thy works, * and my talking shall be of thy doings.

Psalm 76.ii. Deus, in sancto

God's holiness and power

13  Deus, in sancto via tua : quis Deus magnus sicut Deus noster? * tu es Deus qui facis mirabília.
14   Notam fecísti in pópulis virtútem tuam : * Redemísti in bráchio tuo pópulum tuum fílios Jacob et Joseph.

13  Thy way, O God, is holy : who is so great a God as our God? * thou art the God that doest wonders.
14  Thou hast declared thy power among the peoples : * with thine arm hast thou delivered thy people, even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

Passage through the Red Sea

15  Vidérunt te aquæ,  Deus, vidérunt te aquæ : * et timuérunt et turbátæ sunt abyssi.
16  Multitúdo sónitus aquárum : * vocem dedérunt nubes.
17  Etenim sagíttæ tuæ tránseunt : * vox tonítrui tui in rota.
18   Illuxérunt coruscatiónes tuæ orbi terræ : *  commóta est, et contrémuit terra.
19  In mari via tua, et sémitæ tuæ in aquis multis : * et vestígia tua non cognoscentur.
20  Deduxísti sicut oves pópulum tuum, *  in manu Móysi et Aaron.

15  The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, * and they were afraid, and the depths also were troubled.
16  Great was the noise of the waters : * the clouds gave forth their voice.
17  For thine arrows went abroad, * the voice of thy thunder was heard round about.
18  The lightnings shone upon the world ; * the earth was moved, and shook withal.
19  Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters, * and thy footsteps shall not be known.
20  Thou leddest thy people like sheep, * by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 85.  Inclina, Domine

A plea in greatest need

This Psalm is particularly fervent in tone; we are conscious of our human misery; we are in great crisis; we have the deepest trust in God.

Petition

Inclína, Dómine, aurem tuam, et exáudi me : * quóniam inops, et pauper sum ego.
2  Custódi ánimam meam, quóniam sanctus sum : * salvum fac servum tuum, Deus meus, sperántem in te.
3  Miserére mei, Dómine, quóniam ad te clamávi tota die : * lætífica ánimam servi tui, quóniam ad te, Dómine, ánimam meam levávi.
4  Quóniam tu, Dómine, suávis et mitis : * et multæ misericórdiæ ómnibus invocántibus te.
5  Auribus pércipe, Dómine, oratiónem meam : * et inténde voci deprecatiónis meæ.
6  In die tribulatiónis meæ clamávi ad te : * quia exaudísti me.

Bow down thine ear, O Lord, and hear me; * for I am poor, and in misery.
2  Preserve thou my soul, for I am holy: * my God, save thy servant that putteth his trust in thee.
3  Be merciful unto me, O Lord, for I have cried unto thee all the day * comfort the soul of thy servant, for unto thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul.
4  For thou, O Lord, art gracious and meek, * and of great mercy unto all them that call upon thee.
5  Give ear, Lord, unto my prayer, * and ponder the voice of my petition.
6  In the time of my trouble I have called upon thee; * for thou didst hear me.

God's greatness and power

7  Non est símilis tui in diis, Dómine : * et non est secúndum ópera tua.
8  Omnes gentes quascúmque fecísti, vénient, et adorábunt coram te, Dómine : * et glorificábunt nomen tuum.
9  Quóniam magnus es tu, et fáciens mirabília : * tu es Deus solus.

7  Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; * there is not one that can do as thou doest.
8  All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship thee, O Lord; * and shall glorify thy Name.
9  For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: * thou art God alone.

Prayer and rewarded trust

10  Deduc me, Dómine, in via tua, et ingrédiar in veritáte tua : * lætétur cor meum ut tímeat nomen tuum.
11  Confitébor tibi, Dómine, Deus meus, in toto corde meo, * et glorificábo nomen tuum in ætérnum.
12  Quia misericórdia tua magna est super me : * et eruísti ánimam meam ex inférno inferióri.

10  Lead me, O Lord, in thy way, and I will walk in thy truth: * O let my heart rejoice, that it may fear thy Name.
11  I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart; * and will glorify thy Name for evermore.
12  For great is thy mercy toward me; * and thou hast delivered my soul from the nethermost hell.

Prayer and lament

13  Deus iníqui insurrexérunt super me, et synagóga poténtium quæsiérunt ánimam meam : * et non proposuérunt te in conspéctu suo.
14  Et tu, Dómine, Deus miserátor et miséricors, * pátiens, et multæ misericórdiæ, et verax.
15  Réspice in me, et miserére mei, * da impérium tuum púero tuo : et salvum fac fílium ancíllæ tuæ.

13  O God, the wicked are risen up against me, and the congregations of the mighty have sought after my soul, * and they have not set thee before their eyes.
14  But thou, O Lord God, art full of compassion and mercy, * long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.
15  O turn thee then unto me, and have mercy upon me; * give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

Finale