Psalm 50

Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy and the multitude of Thy mercies, blot out my iniquity; wash me completely from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For my iniquity I know, and my sin is always before me. To Thee, O Thou alone, I have sinned, and have done evil before Thee, that Thou mayest be justified in Thy words, and that Thou mayest be victorious, if they enter into judgment with Thee. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sins my mother bore me. For behold, Thou hast loved the truth, Thou hast revealed to me the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow; thou shalt let me hear joy and gladness, and the bones of humiliation shall rejoice. Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew the Right Spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and strengthen me by the Sovereign Spirit. I will teach the wicked Thy ways, and the wicked shall turn to Thee. Deliver me from blood, O God, God of my salvation: my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired a sacrifice, I would have given it, for Thou shalt not delight in burnt offerings. Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit, God will not despise a contrite and humble heart. O Lord, grant good to Zion in Thy favor, and let the walls of Jerusalem be raised, then Thou shalt receive with favor the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and burnt offerings, then they shall lay calves upon Thy altar.

Kathisma 17. Psalm 118 Statia 1

Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that search into his testimonies, and with all their hearts they shall seek him. For those who do not do iniquity have walked in His ways. Thou hast commanded Thy commandments to be kept firm. Oh, that my ways would be directed to keep Thy commandments! Then I would not be ashamed, looking at all Thy commandments. I will glorify Thee in righteousness of heart, when I learn the judgments of Thy righteousness. I will keep Thy commandments; Don't leave me to the end. In what shall the young man correct his way? In the preservation of Thy words. With all my heart I have sought Thee: Cast me not away from Thy commandments. In my heart I have hid Thy sayings, that I may not sin against Thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord, teach me thy commandments. With my mouth I have declared all the judgments of Thy mouth. In the way of Thy testimonies I have delighted, as in all riches. Concerning Thy commandments I will reason, and I will understand Thy ways. I will heed Thy commandments, I will not forget Thy words. Repay Thy servant, revive me, and I will keep Thy words. Open my eyes, and I will understand the wonders of Thy law. I am a sojourner on earth: hide not thy commandments from me. My soul desires to pursue Thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud; cursed are those who deviate from Thy commandments. Take away from me reproach and contempt, for I have sought thy testimonies. For behold, the princes sat down and slandered me, and Thy servant reasoned about Thy commandments. For Thy testimonies are my work, and my counsellors are Thy commandments. My soul has clung to the earth; revive me according to Thy word. I have declared my ways, and Thou hast heard me; teach me thy commandments. Let me understand the way of Thy commandments, and I will reason on Thy wonders. My soul has slumbered through negligence: strengthen me in Thy words. Remove the way of iniquity from me, and have mercy on me by Thy law. I have chosen the way of truth, and I have not forgotten Thy judgments. I have cleaved to Thy testimonies; Lord, do not shame me! I have run the way of Thy commandments when Thou hast enlarged my heart. Lay down for me, O Lord, the way of Thy commandments by law, and I will seek it continually. Give me understanding, and I will search Thy law, and I will keep it with all my heart. Direct me to the path of Thy commandments, for I have desired it. Incline my heart to Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes, that I may not see vanity; in Thy way revive me. Set Thy word unto Thy servant to Thy fear. Take away my reproach, which I fear, for Thy judgments are good. Behold, I have desired Thy commandments, revive me in Thy righteousness. And may Thy mercy come upon me, O Lord, Thy salvation according to Thy word. And I will answer them that reproach me: for I trust in thy words. And take not the words of truth out of my mouth to the end, for in Thy judgments I have trusted. And I will keep thy law always, for ever and ever. And I walked in the open space, for I had sought Thy commandments, and spoke of Thy testimony before kings, and was not ashamed, and exercised Thy commandments, which I loved deeply, and lifted up my hands to Thy commandments, which I loved, and reasoned on Thy commandments. Remember Thy words to Thy servant, whereby Thou hast given me hope. This comforted me in my humiliation, because Thy word quickened me. The proud have transgressed the law to the extreme, but I have not deviated from Thy law. I have remembered Thy judgments from eternity, O Lord, and have been comforted. Sorrow has seized me from sinners who forsake Thy law. Thy commandments were like songs to me in the place of my pilgrimage. I have remembered thy name by night, O Lord, and have kept thy law. This has happened to me, for I have sought Thy commandments. Thou art my inheritance, O Lord; I said, I will try to keep Thy law. I have prayed before Thy face with all my heart; have mercy on me according to Thy word. I have considered Thy ways, and have turned my feet to Thy testimonies. I prepared myself, and was not troubled, to keep Thy commandments. The cords of sinners have encircled me, and I have not forgotten Thy law. At midnight I arose to praise Thee for Thy righteous judgments. I am a companion with all those who fear Thee and keep Thy commandments. The earth is full of Thy mercy, O Lord: teach me Thy commandments. Thou hast dealt graciously with Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word. Teach me kindness, and good manners, and knowledge, for I have believed Thy commandments. Before I humbled myself, I sinned, therefore I kept Your word. Thou art good, O Lord, and in Thy goodness teach me Thy commandments. The iniquity of the proud has abounded against me, but I will search Thy commandments with all my heart. Their hearts have thickened like milk, but I have deepened into Thy law. It is good for me that Thou hast humbled me, that I may learn Thy commandments. The law of Thy mouth is good to me, more than a thousand gold and silver.

Glory, and now: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. (3) Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:

Article 2

Thy hands have created me and made me; Teach me, and I will learn Thy commandments. Those who fear you will see me and rejoice, for I have trusted in your words. I have known, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteousness, and in truth Thou hast humbled me. May Thy mercy be a comfort to me, according to Thy word to Thy servant. May Thy compassion come to me, and I will live, for Thy law is my occupation. Let the proud be ashamed, for they have done iniquity unrighteously against me, but I will reason about Thy commandments. Let them that fear thee, and know thy testimonies, turn unto me. Let my heart be blameless in Thy commandments, that I may not be ashamed. My soul faints for Thy salvation, and in Thy word I trust. My eyes are faint in Thy word; I say, "When wilt thou comfort me?" For I have become like fur in the cold, and have not forgotten thy commandments. How many days are Thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment upon me against them that persecute me? The transgressors have told me reasoning, but not as Thy law, O Lord. All Thy commandments are truth; they have persecuted me unjustly, help me. They almost finished me off on earth, but I did not forsake Thy commandments. By thy mercy revive me, and I will keep the testimony of thy mouth. Forever, O Lord, Thy word abideth in heaven. Thy truth is unto generations and generations: Thou hast founded the earth, and it endures. By Thy command the day endures, for all things serve Thee. For if Thy law had not been my occupation, then I would have perished in my humiliation. I will never forget Thy commandments, for by them Thou hast quickened me.

The middle of the kathisma

I am thine, save me, for I have sought thy commandments. Sinners began to wait for me to destroy me, but I understood Thy testimony. I have seen the limit of every accomplishment – Thy commandment is very broad. How I have loved Thy law, O Lord, it is my occupation all day long. Thou hast made me wise more than my enemies by Thy commandment, for it is mine for ever. I have come to understand me better than all those who teach me, for Thy testimonies are my occupation. I have come to understand better than the elders, for I have sought Thy commandments. I have kept my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Thy words. I have not shunned Thy judgments, for Thou hast given me the law. How sweet are thy words to my throat, better than honey to my lips. From Thy commandments I have gained understanding, therefore I have hated every way of iniquity. Thy law is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my paths. I have sworn and decreed to keep the courts of Thy righteousness. I have been humbled to the extreme, O Lord, revive me according to Thy word. Accept the voluntary sacrifices of my mouth with favor, O Lord, and teach me Thy judgments. My soul is constantly in Thy hands, and I have not forgotten Thy law. Sinners have laid a snare for me, but I have not deviated from Thy commandments. I have inherited thy testimonies for ever, for they are the joy of my heart. I have inclined my heart to do thy commandments for ever, for the sake of recompense. I have hated transgressors, but I have loved Thy law. My helper and my intercessor is Thou, in Thy words I have trusted. Depart from me, you who do evil, and I will search the commandments of my God. Sustain me according to Thy word, and I will live, and do not shame me in waiting for me. Help me, and I will be saved, and I will always heed Thy commandments. Thou hast counted as nothing all those who depart from Thy commandments, for their thoughts are unrighteous. I have considered all the sinners of the earth to be transgressors, therefore I have loved Thy testimonies. Nail my flesh with fear of Thee, for I have feared of Thy judgments. I have done justice and righteousness, deliver me not to those who despitefully use me. Receive Thy servant for good, lest the proud slander me. My eyes are faint for the sake of Thy salvation and the word of Thy righteousness. Do with Thy servant according to Thy mercy and teach me Thy commandments. I am Thy servant, give me understanding, and I will know Thy testimonies. It is time for the Lord to act: they have broken Thy law, therefore I have loved Thy commandments more than gold and topaz; therefore I have been directed to all Thy commandments: I have hated every way of iniquity. Wondrous are Thy testimonies, therefore my soul has begun to examine them. The manifestation of Thy words enlightens and admonishes infants. I have opened my mouth, and have drawn the Spirit into me, for I have coveted Thy commandments.

Glory, and now: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God. (3) Lord, have mercy. (3) Glory, and now:

Article 3

Look upon me and have mercy on me according to the judgment of those who love Thy name. Direct my steps according to Thy word, and let no iniquity take possession of me. Deliver me from the slander of men, and I will keep Thy commandments. Show the light of Thy face to Thy servant, and teach me Thy commandments. Fountains of water have poured out my eyes, for I have not kept Thy law. Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and Thy judgments are just. Thou hast commanded righteousness, thy testimonies, and truth, firmly. My zeal for Thee has worn me out, for my enemies have forgotten Thy words. Thy word is fully purified by fire, and Thy servant has loved it. I am very young and contemptible, and I have not forgotten Thy commandments. Thy righteousness is righteousness for ever, and thy law is truth. Sorrows and troubles overtook me; Thy commandments are my occupation. Thy testimony is righteousness for ever; enlighten me, and I will live. I have cried with all my heart, Hear me, O Lord, I will seek thy commandments. I have cried unto thee, save me, and I will keep thy testimonies. I hastened at an inopportune hour and cried out: "I have trusted in Thy words." My eyes were opened until dawn, to delve into Thy words. Hear my voice, O Lord, according to Thy mercy, revive me according to Thy judgment. Those who persecute me lawlessly have drawn nigh, but they have departed from Thy law. Thou art near, O Lord, and all Thy ways are truth. From the beginning I knew from Thy testimony that Thou hast founded them for ever. Behold my humiliation, and deliver me, for I have not forgotten thy law. Judge my case, and deliver me: according to Thy word, revive me. Salvation is far from sinners, for they have not sought Thy commandments. Great is Thy compassion, O Lord: according to Thy judgment revive me. Many who cast me out and oppress me, I have not deviated from Thy testimonies. I saw the foolish, and fainted, for they have not kept your words. Behold that I have loved Thy commandments, O Lord, and by Thy mercy revive me. The beginning of Thy words is truth, and for ever all the judgments of Thy righteousness. The princes persecuted me innocently, but at Thy words my heart was afraid. I will rejoice in Thy words, as one who finds much spoil. I have hated unrighteousness, and abhorred it, but I have loved thy law. Seven times a day I have praised Thee for the judgments of Thy righteousness. Great peace is to them that love Thy law, and there is no stumbling block to them. I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord, and I have loved Thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies, and loved them earnestly. I have kept Thy commandments and Thy testimonies: for all my ways are before Thee, O Lord. Let my prayer draw near before Thy face, O Lord, – according to Thy word, enlighten me. Let my petition go up before Thy face, O Lord, – deliver me according to Thy word. My lips shall pour out a song, when Thou hast taught me Thy commandments. My tongue shall speak thy words: for all thy commandments are righteousness. Thy hand be for my salvation, for I have chosen Thy commandments. I have desired Thy salvation, O Lord, and Thy law is my occupation. My soul shall live and praise Thee, and Thy judgments shall help me. I am lost like a lost sheep; seek thy servant, for I have not forgotten thy commandments.

Glory, and now:

Creed