The Hours (1 of 2)

The First Hour

O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Thrice.)

Psalm V

Ponder my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. O hearken thou unto the voice of my calling, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I make my prayer. My voice shalt thou hear betimes, O Lord; early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. For thou art the God that hast no pleasure in wickedness; neither shall any evil dwell with thee. Such as be foolish shall not stand in thy sight; for thou hatest all them that work vanity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies:

Lord will abhor both the blood-thirsty and deceitful man. But as for me, I will come into thine house, even upon the multitude of thy mercy; and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness, because of mine enemies; make thy way plain before my face. For there is no faithfulness in his mouth; their inward parts are very wickedness. Their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. Destroy thou them, O God; let them perish through their own imaginations; cast them out in the multitude of their ungodliness; for they have rebelled against thee. And let all them that put their trust in thee rejoice: they shall ever be giving of thanks, because thou defendest them; they that love thy Name shall be joyful in thee; for thou, Lord, wilt give thy blessing unto the righteous, and with thy favourable kindness wilt thou defend him, as with a shield.

Psalm Xc

Lord, thou hast been our refuge, from one generation to another. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, thou art God from everlasting, and world without end. Thou turnest man to destruction; again thou sayest, Come again, ye children of men. For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday; seeing that is past as a watch in the night. As soon as thou scatterest them they are even as a sleep; and fade away suddenly like the grass. In the morning it is green, and groweth up; but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. For we consume away in thy displeasure, and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation. Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee; and our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. For when thou art angry all our days are gone: we bring See Appendix B, III.

our years to an end, as it were a tale that is told. The days of our age are threescore years and ten; and though men be so strong that they come to fourscore years, yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow; so soon passeth it away, and we are gone. But who regardeth the power of thy wrath? for even thereafter as a man feareth, sois thy displeasure. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Turn thee again, O Lord, at the last, and be gracious unto thy servants. O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon: so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life. Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us; and for the years wherein we have suffered adversity. Show thy servants thy work, and their children thy glory. And the glorious Majesty of the Lord our God be upon us: prosper thou the work of our hands upon us; O prosper thou our handy-work.

Psalm Ci

My song shall be of mercy and judgment; unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. O let me have understanding in the way of godliness! Wher wilt thou come unto me? I will walk in my house with a perfect heart. I will take no wicked thing in hand; I hate the sins of unfaithfulness there shall no such cleave unto me. A froward heart shall depart from me; I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I destroy. Whoso hath also a proud look and high stomach, I will not suffer him. Mine eyes look upon such as are faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me. Whoso leadeth a godly life, he shall be my servant. There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house; he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the land; that I may root out all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O God. (Thrice.); three Lord, have mercy..

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Then the Hymn (Tropdr) for the Day, in the proper Tone, is read. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

HYMN TO THE BIRTH-GIVER OF Gop Bogoróditchen.

What shall we call thee, O thou who art full of grace? Heaven, for from thee shone forth the Sun of Righteousness; Paradise, for thou hast budded forth the Flower of Immortality; Virgin, for thou hast remained undefiled: Pure Mother, for thou hast held in thy holy embrace thy Son, who is God of all. Beseech thou him that he will save our souls.

For the Hymns in the Eight Tones, see Appendix A. But if it be during Great Fast (Lent), we say the Hymn (Tropdr) in Tone VI. Then: O hearken thou betimes unto the voice of my i my King and my God.

Verse (Stikh) 1: Ponder my words, O Lord: consider my meditation.

Verse 2: For unto thee will I make my prayer.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. And again the Hymn to the Birth-giver of God: What shall we call thee: Order my steps in thy word, and so shall no wickedness have dominion over me. O deliver me from the wrongful dealings of men, and so shall I keep thy commandments. Show the light of thy countenance upon thy servant, and teach me thy statutes. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise, O Lord, that I may sing of thy glory and honour all the day long. O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon (Thrice.)

to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from the Evil One:

Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Tf it be not the Great Fast (Lent), the Collect-Hymn (Kondak) of the Tone, or of the Saint for the Day, or of the approaching Feast, is then read. But if it be the Great Fast, or if there be no special Collect-Hymn, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, the following HYMN TO THE BIRTH-GIVER OF God Bogoróditchen shall be read: With heart and lips let us continually magnify the glorious Mother of God, more holy than the Angels, confessing her to be the true Birth-giver of God, who did, in very truth, bring forth God incarnate, and who unceasingly doth intercede for our souls. But on Wednesday and Friday the following shall be read:

Speedily prevent, ere he lead us into captivity, the enemy which For Collect-Hymns for the Twelve Great Feasts, see the Special Services.

The First Hour

blasphemeth thee and constraineth us, O Christ our God: Overcome by thy Cross those who war against us, that they may know what power hath the faith of Orthodox believers; through the intercessions of the Birth-giver of God, O thou who alone lovest mankind.

On Saturday the following shall be said Unto thee, O Lord, the Author of Creation, the universe doth offer the God-bearing martyrs as the first-fruits of nature. By whose supplications, through the Birth-giver of God, do thou preserve in peace profound thy Church, which is thine estate, O most merciful One.

Lord, have mercy. (Forty times.) Thou who, at all times, and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth, art worshipped and glorified, O Christ our God, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy and compassion; who lovest the just and showest mercy to those who are hardened in sin; who callest all men to repentance through the promise of good things to come: Do thou, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to thy commandments. Sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set aright our minds; and deliver us from all calamity, wrath and distress. Compass us round about with thy holy Angels; that, guided and guarded by their host, we may attain unto the unity of the faith, and unto the comprehension of thine ineffable glory. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

In the Name of the Lord bless, Father.

Priest. God be bountiful unto us, and bless us, and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us. And if it be the Great Fast. we make three great reverences to the earth, reciting the prescribed Prayer oF St. EPHRAIM THE SYRIAN.

O Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of slothfulness, of discouragement, of lust of power, of vain babbling. (Reverence.)

But vouchsafe unto thy servant the spirit of continence, of meek- Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother. For biessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (Reverence. Then twelve lesser reverences, saying at cock: O God, cleanse thou me, a sinner. Then the whole Prayer is repeated; with one great reverence in conclusion.) O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from the Evil One:

Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Reader. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (7welve times.)

And this Prayer:

O Christ, the true Light, which illumineth and sanctifieth every man who cometh into the world! Let the light of thy countenance be showed upon us, that in it we may behold the light ineffable; and guide our footsteps aright, to the keeping of thy commandments; through the intercessions of thine all-pure Mother, and of all the Saints. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Bless. Priest, Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon us.

HYMN TO THE BIRTH-GIVER OF Gop Bogoróditchen.

We, thy servants, in that we have been delivered from calamities, do offer unto thee, O Birth-giver of God, who as victorious Chieftain warrest for us, songs of triumph and thanksgiving: Do thou also, in that thou hast might invincible, free us from all assaults, that we may cry unto thee: Hail, O Bride unwedded

Priest. Glory to thee, O Lord, our hope; glory to thee.

Choir. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Bless.

Benediction

Priest. May Christ, our true God, through the prayers of his all pure Mother; of the holy, glorious and all-laudable Apostles (and of the Saint to whom the church is dedicated; and of the Saint for the day); of the holy ancestors of God, Joachim and Anna; and of all the Saints, have mercy upon us, and save us: for he is gracious and he alone loveth mankind.

Choir. Lord, have mercy.

(Thrice.)

After the Priest hath bestowed the blessing, we say Amen. Glory to thee, our God; glory to thee.

O heavenly King, the Comforter, Spirit of Truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come and take up thine abode in us, and cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, O Good One. O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. (Lhrice, and three reverences.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from the Evil One:

Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Reader. Amen.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Thrice.) vrevevences. )

Psalm Xvii

Hear the right, O Lord, consider my complaint, and hearken unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; and let thine eyes look upon the thing that is equal. See Appendix B, III.

Thou hast proved and visited mine heart in the night-season; thou hast tried me, and shalt find no wickedness in me; for I am utterly purare done against the words of thy lips, I have kept me from the ways of the destroyer. O hold thou up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. I have called upon thee, O God, for thou shalt hear me: incline thine ear to me, and hearken unto my words. Show thy marvellous loving-kindness, thou that art the Saviour of them which put their trust in thee, from such as resist thy right hand. Keep me as the apple of an eye; hide me under the shadow of thy wings, from the ungodly, that trouble me; mine enemies compass me round about, to take away my soul. They are inclosed in their own fat, and their mouth speaketh proud things. They lie waiting in our way on every side, turning their eyes down to the ground; like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a lion's whelp lurking in secret soul from the ungodly, which is a sword of thine; from the men of thy hand, O Lord, from the men, I say, and from the evil world; which have their portion in this life, whose bellies thou fillest with thy hid treasure. They have children at their desire, and leave the rest of their substance for their babes. But as for me, I will behold thy presence in righteousness; and when I awake up after thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it.

Psalm Xxv

Unto thee, O Lord, will I lift up my soul; my God, I have put my trust in thee: O let me not be confounded, neither let mine enemies triumph over me. For all they that hope in thee shall not be ashamed; but such as transgress without a cause shall be put to confusion. Show me thy ways, O Lord, and teach me thy paths. Lead me forth in thy truth, and learn me: for thou art the God of my salvation; in thee hath been my hope all the day long. Call to remembrance, O Lord, thy tender mercies, and thy loving-kindnesses, which have been ever of old. O remember not the sins and offences of my youth; but according to thy mercy think thou upon me, O Lord, for thy goodness. Gracious and righteous is the Lord; therefore will he teach sinners in the way. Them that are meek shall he guide in judgment; and such as are gentle, them shall he learn his way. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, unto such as keep his covenant, and his testimonies. For thy Name's sake, O Lord, be merciful unto my sin; for it is great. What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease, and his seed shall inherit the land. The secret of the Lord is among them that fear him and he will show them his covenant. Mine eyes are ever looking unto the Lord; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate, and in misery. The sorrows of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my troubles. Look upon my adversity and misery, and forgive me all my sin. Consider mine enemies, how many they are; and they bear a tyrannous hate against me. O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be confounded, for I have put my trust in thee. Let perfectness and righteous dealing wait upon me; for my hope hath been in thee. Deliver Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Psalm Li

Have mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness; according to the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me throughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin': hath my mother conceived me. But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts, and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and put out all my misdeeds. Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. O give me the comfort of thy help again, and stablish me with thy free Spirit. Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou that art the God of my health; and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness. Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord, and my mouth shall show thy praise. For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee; but thou delightest not in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise, O be favourable and gracious unto Sion; build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt-offerings and oblations; then shall they offer young bullocks upon thine altar.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to thee, O Lord. (Thrice.) Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Then the Hymn for the Day (Tropár):* Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

For Hymns in the Eight Tones, see Appendix A; for the Great Feasts, see the Special Services.

Hymn TO THE Birth-giver OF Gop Bogoróditchen.

O Birth-giver of God, thou art the true Vine who didst bud forth the Fruit of Life: Implore thou him, we beseech thee, O Lady, together with the Apostles and all the Saints, that he will have mercy on our souls. But if it be the Great Fast (Lent), then this Hymn (Tropár), in Tone VI, is said:

Lord, who at the Third Hour didst send down upon thine Apostles thy Holy Spirit: Take not the same from us, O Good One, but renew it in us who make our supplications unto thee.

Verse (St7zkh) 1: Make me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Verse 2: Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy 'Quay Holy Spirit from me.

And to these we add:

Lord, who at the Third Hour: and the rest of the Hymn again, to the end, making one reverence for each.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. And again the HYMN TO THE BIRTH-GIVER OF GOD Bogoróditchen: O Birth-giver of God, thou art the true Vine. Praised be God, praised be God daily, even the God who helpeth us and poureth his benefits upon us. He is our God, even the God of our salvation.

O Holy God, Holy Mighty, . . . O all-holy Trinity, Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.) Then (as at the beginning of the Hour):

Glory . . . now, and ever. . . . Our Father, who art in heaven Then the Collect-Hymn (Kondák) of the Day, or of the Saint.

but of it be a Fast, we say the following Hymns (Tropart), in Tone VII.: Blessed art thou, O Christ our God, who hast revealed fishers most wise, sending down upon them the Holy Spirit, and thereby catching the universe as in a net. O Christ our God, who lovest mankind, glory to thee.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Grant speedy and steadfast consolation unto thy servants, O Jesus, when our spirit is cast down within us. Depart not from our souls in affliction; be not far from our thoughts in time of trouble; but always defend us. Draw near unto us, draw near unto us, thou who art omnipresent! As thou art ever with thine Apostles, so, also, O Bountiful One, unite thyself unto those who long for thee; that with one accord we may sing praises unto thee, and laud thy most holy Spirit. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Special Services.' The Hope and Chieftain, and Wall Impregnable of Christians art thou, and the Haven unvexed by storms, O pure Birth-giver of God; but in that thou dost save the world by thine unceasing intercessions, call thou us also to remembrance, O Virgin, all-lauded. Lord, have mercy. (forty times.) Thou who, at all times, and at every hour, both in heaven and on earth art worshipped and glorified, O: Christ our God, long-suffering, plenteous in mercy and compassion; who lovest the just and showest mercy to those who are hardened in sin; who callest all men to salvation through the promise of good things to come: Do thou, the same Lord, receive also our supplications at this present time, and direct our lives according to thy commandments; sanctify our souls; purify our bodies; set aright our minds; and deliver us from all calamity, wrath and distress. Compass us round about with thy holy Angels; that, guided and guarded by their host, we may attain unto the unity of the faith, and unto the comprehension of thine ineffable glory. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without defilement barest God the Word, true Birth-giver of God, we magnify thee.

In the Name of the Lord bless, Father.

Priest. Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy upon us. And if it be the Great Fast (Lent), we make three great reverences, reciting the prescribed

Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life, grant not unto me a spirit of slothfulness, of discouragement, of lust of power, of vain babbling. (Reverence.)

But vouchsafe unto thy servant the spirit of continence, of meekness, of patience, and of love. (Reverence.) Yea, O Lord and King, grant that I may perceive my own transgressions, and judge not my brother. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (Reverence. Then twelve lesser reverences, saying at each: O God, cleanse thou me, a sinner. Then the whole Prayer is repeated; with one great reverence in conclusion.) And when we have finished the reverences, we say this

O Lord God, Father almighty, O Lord the Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and O Holy Spirit, one Godhead, one Power, have mercy upon me, a sinner. And by the judgments which thou hast established, save me, thine unworthy servant. For blessed art thou unto ages of ages. Amen.

O come, let us worship God our King. O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God. O come, let us worship and fall down before the Very Christ, our King and our God. (Thrice.)

Psalm Liv

Save me, O God, for thy Name's sake, and avenge me in thy strength. Hear my prayer, O God, and hearken unto the words of my mouth. For strangers are risen up against me; and tyrants, which have not God before their eyes, seek after my soul. Behold, God is my helper the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: destroy thou them in thy truth. An offering of a free heart will I give thee, and praise thy Name, O Lord; because it is so comfortable. For he hath delivered me out of all my trouble, and mine eye hath seen his desire upon mine enemies.

Psalm Ly

Hear my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my petition. Take heed unto me, and hear me, how I mourn in my prayer, and am vexed. The enemy crieth so, and the ungodly cometh on so fast; for they are minded to do me some mischief, so maliciously are they set against me. My heart is disquieted within me, and the fear of death is fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and an horrible dread hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I flee away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I get me away far off, and remain in the wilderness. I would make haste to escape, because of the stormy wind and tempest. Destroy their tongues, O Lord, and divide them, for I have spied unrighteousness and strife in the city. Day and night they go about within the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. Wickedness is therein; deceit and guile go not out of their streets. For it is not an open enemy that hath done me this dishonour; for then I could have borne it: neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me; for then peradventure I would have hid myself from him: but it was even thou, my companion, my guide, and mine own familiar friend. We took sweet counsel together, and walked in the house of God as friends. Let death come hastily upon them, and let them go down quick into hell; for wickedness is in their dwellings, See Appendix B, III.

The Sixth Hour 49

and among them. As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. In the evening, and morning, and at noon-day will I pray, and that instantly; and he shall hear my voice. It is he that hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me; for there were many with me. Yea, even God, that endureth forever, shall hear me, and bring them down; for they will not turn, nor fear God. He laid his hands upon such as be at peace with him, and he brake his covenant. The words of his mouth were softer than butter, having war in his heart; his words were smoother than oil, and yet be they very swords. O cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall nourish thee, and shall not suffer the righteous to fall forever. And as for them, thou, O God, shalt bring them into the pit of destruction. The blood-thirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days: nevertheless, my trust shall be in thee, O Lord.

Psalm Xci

Whoso dwelleth under the defence of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold; “my God, in him will I trust. For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the hunter, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers; his faithfulness and truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for any terror by night, nor for the arrow that flieth by day; for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon-day. A thousand the reward of the ungodly. For thou, Lord, art my hope; thou hast set thine house of defence very high. There shall no evil happen unto thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee in their hands, that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt go upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him up, because he hath known my Name He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; yea, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honour. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alelluia, alleluia, alleluia; glory to thee, O Lord. (Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. And the Hymn for the Day (Trepdr).

For Hymns in the Eight Tones, see Appendix A; for the Great Feasts, see the Special But if it be the Great Fast (Lent), we recite the following Hymn, in Tone L711. O thou who, on the sixth day and Hour didst nail to the Cross the sin which Adam, through presumption, committed in Paradise Tear asunder also the handwriting of our iniquities, O Christ our God, and save us.

Verse (Sizzk) 1: Hear my prayer, O God, and hide not thyself from my petition.

Verse 2: As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

HYMN TO THE BIRTH-GIVER OF God Bogoróditchen.

Seeing that we have no boldness, because of the multitude of our sins, do thou, O Virgin Birth-giver of God, fervently entreat him who was born of thee: for the prayer of a Mother availeth much to the good will of the Lord. Despise not the supplications of sinners, O all pure One; for merciful and mighty to save is he who graciously deigned to suffer for us.

With thy bounties speedily prevent us, O Lord, for we have grievously sinned help us, O God our Saviour, for the glory of thy Name. O Lord, deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy Name's sake. O Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal One, have mercy upon us. Thrice.)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen. O all-holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, wash away our sins. O Master, pardon our transgressions. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for thy Name's sake. Lord, have mercy. Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from the Evil One:

Priest. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Then the Collect-Hymn (Kondak) of the Day or of the Tone.

But if it be the Great Fast, we say these Hymns (Tropart), in Tone Il.: Thou hast wrought salvation in the midst of the earth, O Christ our God. Thou didst stretch out thine all-pure hands upon the Cross; thou hast gathered together all the nations, who cry aloud unto thee: Glory to thee, O Lord.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. For Collect-Hymns in the Eight Tones, see Appendix A; for the Great Feasts, see the Special Services.