Thursday Vespers

The first part of Vespers is in the Ordinary

COMMENTARY

Ant.    Ecce quam bonum * † et quam jucúndum habitáre fratres in unum. ††

Ant.    Behold, how good * † and joyful a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity. ††

Psalmus 132.  Ecce quam bonum!

Ecce quam bonum, † et quam jucúndum * habitáre fratres in unum.
2  †† Sicut unguéntum in cápite, * quod descéndit in barbam, barbam Aaron.
3  Quod descéndit in oram vestiménti ejus: * sicut ros Hermon, qui descéndit in montem Sion.
4  Quóniam illic mandávit Dóminus benedictiónem, * et vitam usque in sæculum.

Behold, how good † and joyful a thing it is, * for brethren to dwell together in unity.
2  †† It is like the precious oil upon the head, * that ran down upon the beard, even upon the beard of Aaron.
3  That went down to the skirts of his clothing : * like as the dew of Hermon, which fell upon mount Sion.
4  For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, * and life for evermore.

Ant.    Ecce quam bonum et quam jucúndum habitáre fratres in unum.

Ant.    Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity.

Ant.    Confitémini Dómino * † quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

Ant.    O give thanks unto the Lord * † for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalmus 135. i.  Confitemini

Confitémini Dómino, † quóniam bonus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
2  Confitémini Deo deórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
3  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
4  Qui facit mirabília magna solus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
5  Qui fecit cælos in intelléctu: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
6  Qui firmávit terram super aquas: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
7  Qui fecit luminária magna: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
8  Solem in potestátem diéi : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
9  Lunam et stellas in potestátem noctis: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

Psalm 135. i.  Confitemini

O give thanks unto the Lord, † for he is gracious: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
2  O give thanks unto the God of all gods: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
3  O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
4  Who only doeth great wonders: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
5  Who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
6  Who laid out the earth above the waters: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
7  Who hath made the great lights: * for his mercy endureth for ever:
8  The sun to rule the day: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
9  The moon and the stars to govern the night: * for his mercy endureth for ever.

Ant.    Confitémini Dómino quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

Ant.    O give thanks unto the Lord  for his mercy endureth for ever.

Ant.    Confitémini Dómino * quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri.

Ant.    O give thanks unto the Lord:  * for he was mindful of us in our affliction.

Psalmus 135. ii.  Qui percussit Ægyptum

10  Qui percússit Ægyptum cum primogénitis eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
11  Qui edúxit Israël de médio eórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
12  In manu poténti, et bráchio excélso : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
13  Qui divísit Mare Rubrum in divisiónes: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
14  Et edúxit Israël per médium ejus: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
15  Et excussit Pharaónem, et virtútem ejus in Mari Rubro: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
16  Qui tradúxit pópulum suum per desértum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
17  Qui percússit reges magnos: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
18  Et occídit reges fortes : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
19  Sehon, regem Amorrhæórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
20  Et Og, regem Basan: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
21  Et dedit terram eórum hereditátem : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
22  Hereditátem Israël, servo suo : * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
23  Quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
24  Et redémit nos ab inimícis nostris: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
25  Qui dat escam omni carni: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
26  Confitémini Deo cæli: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.
27  Confitémini Dómino dominórum: * quóniam in ætérnum misericórdia ejus.

Psalm 135. ii.  Qui percussit Ægyptum

10  Who smote Egypt, with their firstborn: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
11  And brought out Israel from among them: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
12  With a mighty hand and stretched-out arm: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
13  Who divided the Red Sea in two parts: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
14  And brought out Israel through the midst thereof : * for his mercy endureth for ever.
15  And overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
16  Who led his people through the wilderness: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
17  Who smote great kings: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
18  Yea, and slew mighty kings: * for his mercy endureth for ever:
19  Sihon, king of the Amorites: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
20  And Og, the king of Bashan: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
21  And gave away their land for an heritage: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
22  Even for an heritage unto Israel his servant: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
23  For he was mindful of us in our affliction : * for his mercy endureth for ever;
24  And hath delivered us from our enemies: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
25  Who giveth food to all flesh: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
26  O give thanks unto the God of heaven: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
27  O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: * for his mercy endureth for ever.

Ant.    Confitémini Dómino quia in humilitáte nostra memor fuit nostri.

Ant.    O give thanks unto the Lord:  for he was mindful of us in our affliction.

Ant.    Adhæreat lingua mea * fáucibus meis, si non memínero tui, Jerúsalem.

Ant.    Let my tongue cleave * to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember thee, O Jerusalem.

Psalmus 136.  Super flumina

Super flúmina Babylónis, illic sédimus et flévimus: * cum recordarémur Sion:
2  In salícibus in médio ejus, * suspéndimus órgana nostra.
3  Quia illic interrogavérunt nos, qui captívos duxérunt nos, * verba cantiónum.
4  Et qui abduxérunt nos: * Hymnum cantáte nobis de cánticis Sion.
5  Quómodo cantábimus cánticum Dómini * in terra aliéna?
6  Si oblítus fúero tui, Jerúsalem, * oblivióni detur déxtera mea.
7  Adhæreat lingua mea fáucibus meis, * si non memínero tui.
8  Si non proposúero Jerúsalem, * in princípio lætítiæ meæ.
9  Memor esto, Dómine, filiórum Edom, * in die Jerúsalem.
10  Qui dicunt: Exinaníte, exinaníte * usque ad fundaméntum in ea.
11  Fília Babylónis mísera: * beátus, qui retríbuet tibi retributiónem tuam, quam retribuísti nobis.
12  Beátus qui tenébit, * et allídet párvulos tuos ad petram.

Psalm 136.  Super flumina

By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, * when we remembered thee, O Sion.
2  Upon the willow trees that are therein, * we hanged up our harps.
3  For they that led us away captive, * required of us then a song.
4  And they that carried us away, said : * Sing us one of the songs of Sion.
5  How shall we sing the song of the Lord * in a strange land?
6  If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, * let my right hand be forgotten.
7  Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, * if I do not remember thee.
8  Yea, if I make not Jerusalem, * the beginning of my joy.
9  Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, * in the day of Jerusalem.
10  Who say, Rase it, rase it, * even to the ground.
11  O daughter of Babylon, wasted with misery; * yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
12  Blessed shall he be that shall take * and dash thy little ones against the stones.

Ant.    Adhæreat lingua mea fáucibus meis, si non memínero tui, Jerúsalem.

Ant.    Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I do not remember thee, O Jerusalem.

Ant.    Confitébor * † nómini tuo, Dómine, super misericórdia et veritáte tua.

Ant.   I will give thanks * † unto thy Name, O Lord, because of thy loving-kindness and truth.

Psalmus 137.  Confitebor tibi

Confitébor † tibi, Dómine, in toto corde meo: * quóniam audísti verba oris mei.
2  In conspéctu Angelórum psallam tibi: * adorábo ad templum sanctum tuum, et confitébor nómini tuo.
3  Super misericórdia tua, et veritáte tua: * quóniam magnificásti super omne, nomen sanctum tuum.
4  In quacúmque die invocávero te, exáudi me: * multiplicábis in ánima mea virtútem.
5  Confiteántur tibi, Dómine, omnes reges terræ: * quia audiérunt ómnia verba oris tui.
6  Et cantent in viis Dómini: * quóniam magna est glória Dómini.
7  Quóniam excélsus Dóminus, et humília réspicit: * et alta a longe cognóscit.
8  Si ambulávero in médio tribulatiónis, vivificábis me: * et super iram inimicórum meórum extendísti manum tuam, et salvum me fecit déxtera tua.
9  Dóminus retríbuet pro me: * Dómine, misericórdia tua in sæculum: ópera mánuum tuárum ne despícias.

Psalm 137.  Confitebor tibi

I will give thanks † unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; * for thou hast heard the words of my mouth.
2  Even before the Angels will I sing praise unto thee, * I will worship toward thy holy temple, and I will give glory unto thy Name.
3  Because of thy loving-kindness and truth; * for thou hast magnified thy holy Name above all things.
4  In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear thou me; * thou shalt endue my soul with much strength.
5  May all the kings of the earth give glory unto thee, O Lord; * for they have heard all the words of thy mouth.
6  Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord, * for great is the glory of the Lord.
7  For the Lord is high, yet looketh he upon the lowly; * and the high he knoweth them afar off.
8  Though I walk in the midst of tribulation, yet shalt thou quicken me; * and thou hast stretched forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand hath saved me.
9  The Lord shall render for me; * yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.

Ant.    Confitébor nómini tuo, Dómine, super misericórdia et veritáte tua.

Ant.   I will praise thy Name, O Lord, because of thy loving-kindness and truth.

On Thursdays after the Octave of the Epiphany, on the two Pre-Lenten Thursdays, and on those after Pentecost, except those that fall in a privileged Octave, is said:

Benedíctus Deus, et Pater Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, Pater misericordiárum, et Deus totíus consolatiónis, qui consolátur nos in omni tribulatióne nostra.
R.  Deo grátias.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulations.
R.  Thanks be to God.

Magnæ Deus poténtiæ,
Qui fértili natos aqua
Partim relínquis gúrgiti,
Partim levas in aëra.

Demérsa lymphis ímprimens,
Subvécta cælis érigens :
Ut stirpe ab una pródita,
Divérsa répleant loca :

Largíre cunctis sérvulis,
Quos mundat unda Sánguinis,
Nescíre lapsus críminum,
Nec ferre mortis tædium.

Ut culpa nullum déprimat :
Nullum éfferat jactántia :
Elísa mens ne cóncidat :
Eláta mens ne córruat.

* Præsta, Pater piíssime,
Patríque compar Unice,
Cum Spíritu Paráclito
Regnans per omne sæculum.  Amen.

Almighty God, whose will supreme
Made ocean's flood with life to teem;
Part in the firmament to fly
And part in ocean depths to lie.

Appointing fishes in the sea,
And fowls in open air to be;
That each, by origin the same,
Its separate dwelling place might claim.

Grant that thy servants, by the tide
Of Blood and Water purified,
No guilty fall from thee may know,
Nor death eternal undergo.

Let none despair through sin's distress,
Be none puffed up with boastfulness;
That contrite hearts be not dismay'd,
Nor haughty souls in ruin laid.

Ordinary Doxology:
Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who with the Holy Ghost and thee
Doth live and reign eternally.

Ad Magníficat Antiphona:  Fecit Deus * poténtiam in bráchio suo : dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui.

Antiphon on the Magnificat:  God hath shewed strength * with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

COMMEMORATIONS, if there be any

CLOSING VERSICLES AND THAT WHICH FOLLOWETH