Psalms 126:1-150:6

DouayRheims(i) 1 A gradual canticle. When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted. 2 Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy. Then shall they say among the Gentiles: The Lord hath done great things for them. 3 The Lord hath done great things for us: we are become joyful. 4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as a stream in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. (126:7) But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves. 127 1 A gradual canticle of Solomon. Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. 2 It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When he shall give sleep to his beloved, 3 Behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb. 4 As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken. 5 Blessed is the man that hath filled the desire with them; he shall not be confounded when he shall speak to his enemies in the gate. 128 1 A gradual canticle. Blessed are all they that fear the Lord: that walk in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands: blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife as a fruitful vine, on the sides of thy house. Thy children as olive plants, round about thy table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord. 5 May the Lord bless thee out of Sion: and mayst thou see the good things of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 And mayst thou see thy children's children, peace upon Israel. 129 1 A gradual canticle. Often have they fought against me from my youth, let Israel now say. 2 Often have they fought against me from my youth: but they could not prevail over me. 3 The wicked have wrought upon my back: they have lengthened their iniquity. 4 The Lord who is just will cut the necks of sinners: 5 Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Sion. 6 Let them be as grass upon the tops of houses: which withereth before it be plucked up: 7 Who with the mower filleth not his hand: nor he that gathereth sheaves his bosom. 8 And they that passed by have not said: The blessing of the Lord be upon you: we have blessed you in the name of the Lord. 130 1 A gradual canticle. Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. 3 If thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it. 4 For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law, I have waited for thee, O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word: 5 My soul hath hoped in the Lord. 6 From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. 7 Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities. 131 1 A gradual canticle of David. Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me. 2 If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul. 3 Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever. 132 1 A gradual canticle. O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness. 2 How he swore to the Lord, he vowed a vow to the God of Jacob: 3 If I shall enter into the tabernacle of my house: if I shall go up into the bed wherein I lie: 4 If I shall give sleep to my eyes, or slumber to my eyelids, 5 Or rest to my temples: until I find out a place for the Lord, a tabernacle for the God of Jacob. 6 Behold we have heard of it in Ephrata: we have found it in the fields of the wood. 7 We will go into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where his feet stood. 8 Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified. 9 Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice. 10 For thy servant David's sake, turn not away the face of thy anointed. 11 The Lord hath sworn truth to David, and he will not make it void: of the fruit of thy womb I will set upon thy throne. 12 If thy children will keep my covenant, and these my testimonies which I shall teach them: Their children also for evermore shall sit upon thy throne. 13 For the Lord hath chosen Sion: he hath chosen it for his dwelling. 14 This is my rest for ever and ever: here will I dwell, for I have chosen it. 15 Blessing I will bless her widow: I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall rejoice with exceeding great joy. 17 There will I bring forth a horn to David: I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. 18 His enemies I will clothe with confusion: but upon him shall my sanctification flourish. 133 1 A gradual canticle of David. Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity: 2 Like the precious ointment on the head, that ran down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, Which ran down to the skirt of his garment: 3 As the dew of Hermon, which descendeth upon mount Sion. For there the Lord hath commanded blessing, and life for evermore. 134 1 A gradual canticle. Behold now bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. 2 In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless ye the Lord. 3 May the Lord out of Sion bless thee, he that made heaven and earth. 135 1 Alleluia. Praise ye the name of the Lord: O you his servants, praise the Lord: 2 You that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise ye the Lord, for the Lord is good: sing ye to his name, for it is sweet. 4 For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself: Israel for his own possession. 5 For I have known that the Lord is great, and our God is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever the Lord pleased he hath done, in heaven, in earth, in the sea, and in all the deeps. 7 He bringeth up clouds from the end of the earth: he hath made lightnings for the rain. He bringeth forth winds out of his stores: 8 He slew the firstborn of Egypt from man even unto beast. 9 He sent forth signs and wonders in the midst of thee, O Egypt: upon Pharao, and upon all his servants. 10 He smote many nations, and slew mighty kings: 11 Sehon king of the Amorrhites, and Og king of Basan, and all the kingdoms of Chanaan. 12 And gave their land for an inheritance, for an inheritance to his people Israel. 13 Thy name, O Lord, is for ever: thy memorial, O Lord, unto all generations. 14 For the Lord will judge his people, and will be entreated in favour of his servants. 15 The idols of the Gentiles are silver and gold, the works of men's hands. 16 They have a mouth, but they speak not: they have eyes, but they see not. 17 They have ears, but they hear not: neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Let them that make them be like to them: and every one that trusteth in them. 19 Bless the Lord, O house of Israel: bless the Lord, O house of Aaron. 20 Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: you that fear the Lord, bless the Lord. 21 Blessed be the Lord out of Sion, who dwelleth in Jerusalem. 136 1 Alleluia. Praise the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2 Praise ye the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. 3 Praise ye the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 4 Who alone doth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. 5 Who made the heavens in understanding: for his mercy endureth for ever. 6 Who established the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. 7 Who 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 rule the night: for his mercy endureth for ever. 10 Who smote Egypt with their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever. 11 Who brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever. 12 With a mighty hand and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. 13 Who divided the Red Sea into 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 Pharao and his host in the Red Sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. 16 Who led his people through the desert: for his mercy endureth for ever. 17 Who smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. 18 And slew strong kings: for his mercy endureth for ever. 19 Sehon king of the Amorrhites: for his mercy endureth for ever. 20 And Og king of Basan: for his mercy endureth for ever. 21 And he gave their land for an inheritance: for his mercy endureth for ever. 22 For an inheritance to his servant Israel: for his mercy endureth for ever. 23 For he was mindful of us in our affliction: for his mercy endureth for ever. 24 And he redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. 25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. 26 Give glory to the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. (136:27) Give glory to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. 137 1 Upon the rivers of Babylon, there we sat and wept: when we remembered Sion: 2 On the willows in the midst thereof we hung up our instruments. 3 For there they that led us into captivity required of us the words of songs. And they that carried us away, said: Sing ye to us a hymn of the songs of Sion. 4 How shall we sing the song of the Lord in a strange land? 5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand be forgotten. 6 Let my tongue cleave to my jaws, if I do not remember thee: If I make not Jerusalem the beginning of my joy. 7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom, in the day of Jerusalem: Who say: Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof. 8 O daughter of Babylon, miserable: blessed shall he be who shall repay thee thy payment which thou hast paid us. 9 Blessed be he that shall take and dash thy little ones against the rock. 138 1 For David himself. I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: for thou hast heard the words of my mouth. I will sing praise to thee in the sight of the angels: 2 I will worship towards thy holy temple, and I will give glory to thy name. For thy mercy, and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy holy name above all. 3 In what day soever I shall call upon thee, hear me: thou shalt multiply strength in my soul. 4 May all the kings of the earth give glory to thee: for they have heard all the words of thy mouth. 5 And let them sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For the Lord is high, and looketh on the low: and the high he knoweth afar off. 7 If I shall walk in the midst of tribulation, thou wilt quicken me: and thou hast stretched forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies: and thy right hand hath saved me. 8 The Lord will repay for me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: O despise not the works of thy hands. 139 1 Unto the end, a psalm of David. Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me: 2 Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up. 3 Thou hast understood my thoughts afar off: my path and my line thou hast searched out. 4 And thou hast foreseen all my ways: for there is no speech in my tongue. 5 Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me. 6 Thy knowledge is become wonderful to me: it is high, and I cannot reach to it. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy face? 8 If I ascend into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, thou art present. 9 If I take my wings early in the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea: 10 Even there also shall thy hand lead me: and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 And I said: Perhaps darkness shall cover me: and night shall be my light in my pleasures. 12 But darkness shall not be dark to thee, and night shall be light all the day: the darkness thereof, and the light thereof are alike to thee. 13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast protected me from my mother's womb. 14 I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well. 15 My bone is not hidden from thee, which thou hast made in secret: and my substance in the lower parts of the earth. 16 Thy eyes did see my imperfect being, and in thy book all shall be written: days shall be formed, and no one in them. 17 But to me thy friends, O God, are made exceedingly honourable: their principality is exceedingly strengthened. 18 I will number them, and they shall be multiplied above the sand, I rose up and am still with thee. 19 If thou wilt kill the wicked, O God: ye men of blood, depart from me: 20 Because you say in thought: They shall receive thy cities in vain. 21 Have I not hated them, O Lord, that hated thee: and pined away because of thy enemies? 22 I have hated them with a perfect hatred: and they are become enemies to me. 23 Prove me, O God, and know my heart: examine me, and know my paths. 24 And see if there be in me the way of iniquity: and lead me in the eternal way. 140 1 Unto the end, a psalm of David. (140:2) Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man: rescue me from the unjust man. 2 (140:3) Who have devised iniquities in their hearts: all the day long they designed battles. 3 (140:4) They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: the venom of asps is under their lips. 4 (140:5) Keep me, O Lord, from the hand of the wicked: and from unjust men deliver me. Who have proposed to supplant my steps: 5 (140:6) The proud have hidden a net for me. And they have stretched out cords for a snare: they have laid for me a stumblingblock by the wayside. 6 (140:7) I said to the Lord: Thou art my God: hear, O Lord, the voice of my supplication. 7 (140:8) O Lord, Lord, the strength of my salvation: thou hast overshadowed my head in the day of battle. 8 (140:9) Give me not up, O Lord, from my desire to the wicked: they have plotted against me; do not thou forsake me, lest they should triumph. 9 (140:10) The head of them compassing me about: the labour of their lips shall overwhelm them. 10 (140:11) Burning coals shall fall upon them; thou wilt cast them down into the fire: in miseries they shall not be able to stand. 11 (140:12) A man full of tongue shall not be established in the earth: evil shall catch the unjust man unto destruction. 12 (140:13) I know that the Lord will do justice to the needy, and will revenge the poor. 13 (140:14) But as for the just, they shall give glory to thy name: and the upright shall dwell with thy countenance. 141 1 I have cried to thee, O Lord, hear me: hearken to my voice, when I cry to thee. 2 Let my prayer be directed as incense in thy sight; the lifting up of my hands, as evening sacrifice. 3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth: and a door round about my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to evil words; to make excuses in sins. With men that work iniquity: and I will not communicate with the choicest of them. 5 The just man shall correct me in mercy, and shall reprove me: but let not the oil of the sinner fatten my head. For my prayer shall still be against the things with which they are well pleased: 6 Their judges falling upon the rock have been swallowed up. They shall hear my words, for they have prevailed: 7 As when the thickness of the earth is broken up upon the ground: Our bones are scattered by the side of hell. 8 But to thee, O Lord, Lord, are my eyes: in thee have I put my trust, take not away my soul. 9 Keep me from the snare, which they have laid for me, and from the stumblingblocks of them that work iniquity. 10 The wicked shall fall in his net: I am alone until I pass. 142 1 Of understanding for David, A prayer when he was in the cave. [1 Samuel 24] (142:2) I cried to the Lord with my voice: with my voice I made supplication to the Lord. 2 (142:3) In his sight I pour out my prayer, and before him I declare my trouble: 3 (142:4) When my spirit failed me, then thou knewest my paths. In this way wherein I walked, they have hidden a snare for me. 4 (142:5) I looked on my right hand, and beheld, and there was no one that would know me. Flight hath failed me: and there is no one that hath regard to my soul. 5 (142:6) I cried to thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my hope, my portion in the land of the living. 6 (142:7) Attend to my supplication: for I am brought very low. Deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 7 (142:8) Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the just wait for me, until thou reward me. 143 1 A psalm of David, when his son Absalom pursued him. [2 Samuel 17] Hear, O Lord, my prayer: give ear to my supplication in thy truth: hear me in thy justice. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight no man living shall be justified. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath brought down my life to the earth. He hath made me to dwell in darkness as those that have been dead of old: 4 And my spirit is in anguish within me: my heart within me is troubled. 5 I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands. 6 I stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul is as earth without water unto thee. 7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not away thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning; for in thee have I hoped. Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk: for I have lifted up my soul to thee. 9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, to thee have I fled: 10 Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God. Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land: 11 For thy name's sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble: 12 And in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. And thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant. 144 1 Blessed be the Lord my God, who teacheth my hands to fight, and my fingers to war. 2 My mercy, and my refuge: my support, and my deliverer: My protector, and I have hoped in him: who subdueth my people under me. 3 Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him? or the son of man, that thou makest account of him? 4 Man is like to vanity: his days pass away like a shadow. 5 Lord, bow down thy heavens and descend: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Send forth lightning, and thou shalt scatter them: shoot out thy arrows, and thou shalt trouble them. 7 Put forth thy hand from on high, take me out, and deliver me from many waters: from the hand of strange children: 8 Whose mouth hath spoken vanity: and their right hand is the right hand of iniquity. 9 To thee, O God, I will sing a new canticle: on the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings I will sing praises to thee. 10 Who givest salvation to kings: who hast redeemed thy servant David from the malicious sword: 11 Deliver me, And rescue me out of the hand of strange children; whose mouth hath spoken vanity: and their right hand is the right hand of iniquity: 12 Whose sons are as new plants in their youth: Their daughters decked out, adorned round about after the similitude of a temple: 13 Their storehouses full, flowing out of this into that. Their sheep fruitful in young, abounding in their goings forth: 14 Their oxen fat. There is no breach of wall, nor passage, nor crying out in their streets. 15 They have called the people happy, that hath these things: but happy is that people whose God is the Lord. 145 1 Praise, for David himself. I will extol thee, O God my king: and I will bless thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless thee: and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his greatness there is no end. 4 Generation and generation shall praise thy works: and they shall declare thy power. 5 They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness: and shall tell thy wondrous works. 6 And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and shall declare thy greatness. 7 They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness: and shall rejoice in thy justice. 8 The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy. 9 The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10 Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee: and let thy saints bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of thy power: 12 To make thy might known to the sons of men: and the glory of the magnificence of thy kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is a kingdom of all ages: and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words: and holy in all his works. 14 The Lord lifteth up all that fall: and setteth up all that are cast down. 15 The eyes of all hope in thee, O Lord: and thou givest them meat in due season. 16 Thou openest thy hand, and fillest with blessing every living creature. 17 The Lord is just in all his ways: and holy in all his works. 18 The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him: to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will do the will of them that fear him: and he will hear their prayer, and save them. 20 The Lord keepeth all them that love him; but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless his holy name forever; yea, for ever and ever. 146 1 Alleluia, of Aggeus and Zacharias. (146:2) Praise the Lord, O my soul, 2 In my life I will praise the Lord: I will sing to my God as long as I shall be. (146:3) Put not your trust in princes: 3 In the children of men, in whom there is no salvation. 4 His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return into his earth: in that day all their thoughts shall perish. 5 Blessed is he who hath the God of Jacob for his helper, whose hope is in the Lord his God: 6 Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are in them. 7 Who keepeth truth for ever: who executeth judgment for them that suffer wrong: who giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth them that are fettered: 8 The Lord enlighteneth the blind. The Lord lifteth up them that are cast down: the Lord loveth the just. 9 The Lord keepeth the strangers, he will support the fatherless and the widow: and the ways of sinners he will destroy. 10 The Lord shall reign for ever: thy God, O Sion, unto generation and generation. 147 1 Alleluia. Praise ye the Lord, because psalm is good: to our God be joyful and comely praise. 2 The Lord buildeth up Jerusalem: he will gather together the dispersed of Israel. 3 Who healeth the broken of heart, and bindeth up their bruises. 4 Who telleth the number of the stars: and calleth them all by their names. 5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power: and of his wisdom there is no number. 6 The Lord lifteth up the meek, and bringeth the wicked down even to the ground. 7 Sing ye to the Lord with praise: sing to our God upon the harp. 8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth. Who maketh grass to grow on the mountains, and herbs for the service of men. 9 Who giveth to beasts their food: and to the young ravens that call upon him. 10 He shall not delight in the strength of the horse: nor take pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him: and in them that hope in his mercy. 12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion. 13 Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within thee. 14 Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the fat of corn. 15 Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth swiftly. 16 Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes. 17 He sendeth his crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the face of his cold? 18 He shall send out his word, and shall melt them: his wind shall blow, and the waters shall run. 19 Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel. 20 He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made manifest to them. Alleluia. 148 1 Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise ye him in the high places. 2 Praise ye him, all his angels, praise ye him, all his hosts. 3 Praise ye him, O sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars and light. 4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens: and let all the waters that are above the heavens 5 Praise the name of the Lord. For he spoke, and they were made: he commanded, and they were created. 6 He hath established them for ever, and for ages of ages: he hath made a decree, and it shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all ye deeps: 8 Fire, hail, snow, ice, stormy winds, which fulfil his word: 9 Mountains and all hills, fruitful trees and all cedars: 10 Beasts and all cattle: serpents and feathered fowls: 11 Kings of the earth and all people: princes and all judges of the earth: 12 Young men and maidens: let the old with the younger, praise the name of the Lord: 13 For his name alone is exalted. 14 The praise of him is above heaven and earth: and he hath exalted the horn of his people. A hymn to all his saints to the children of Israel, a people approaching to him. Alleluia. 149 1 Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of the saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their king. 3 Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery. 4 For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the meek unto salvation. 5 The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their beds. 6 The high praises of God shall be in their mouth: and two-edged swords in their hands: 7 To execute vengeance upon the nations, chastisements among the people: 8 To bind their kings with fetters, and their nobles with manacles of iron. 9 To execute upon them the judgment that is written: this glory is to all his saints. Alleluia. 150 1 Praise ye the Lord in his holy places: praise ye him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise ye him for his mighty acts: praise ye him according to the multitude of his greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of trumpet: praise him with psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with timbrel and choir: praise him with strings and organs. 5 Praise him on high sounding cymbals: praise him on cymbals of joy: 6 Let every spirit praise the Lord. Alleluia.