THE SEVENTEENTH
KATHISMA
PSALM CXVIII. 118 (119)
Alleluia.
First Stasis
Blessed are the
blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Blessed are they that search out His testimonies; with their
whole heart shall they seek after Him.
For they that work iniquity have not walked in His ways.
Thou hast enjoined Thy commandments, that we should keep
them most diligently.
Would that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes.
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I look on all Thy commandments.
I will confess Thee with uprightness of heart, when I have
learned the judgments of Thy righteousness.
I will keep Thy statutes; do not utterly forsake me.
Wherewithal shall a young man correct his way? By keeping
Thy words.
With my whole heart have I sought after Thee, cast me not
away from Thy commandments.
In my heart have I hid Thy sayings that I might not sin
against Thee.
Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy statutes.
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth.
In the way of Thy testimonies have I found delight,as much
as in all riches.
is On Thy commandments will I ponder, and I willunderstand
Thy ways.
On Thy statutes will I meditate; I will not forgetThy words.
Give reward unto Thy servant, quicken me and I willkeep Thy
words.
O unveil mine eyes, and I shall perceive wondrousthings out
of Thy law.
I am a sojourner on the earth, hide not from meThy
commandments.
My soul hath longed to desire Thy judgments at alltimes.
Thou hast rebuked the proud; cursed are they thatdecline
from Thy commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt, for afterThy
testimonies have I sought.
For princes sat and they spake against me, but Thyservant
pondered on Thy statutes.
For Thy testimonies are my meditation, and Thv statutesare
my counsellors.
My soul hath cleaved unto the earth; quicken meaccording to
Thy word.
My ways have I declared, and Thou hast heard me;teach me Thy
statutes.
Make me to understand the way of Thy statutes, andI will
ponder on Thy wondrous works.
My soul hath slumbered from despondency, strengthenme with
Thy words.
Remove from me the way of unrighteousness, and withThy law
have mercy on me.
I have chosen the way of truth, and Thy judgmentshave I not
forgotten.
I have cleaved to Thy testimonies, 0 Lord; put menot to
shame.
The way of Thy commandments have I run, when Thoudidst
enlarge my heart.
Set before me for a law, 0 Lord, the way of Thystatutes, and
I will seek after it continually.
Give me understanding, and I will search out Thylaw, and I
will keep it with my whole heart.
Guide me in the path of Thy commandments, for Ihave desired
it.
Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies and not
untocovetousness.
Turn away mine eyes that I may not see vanity, quickenThou
me in Thy way.
Establish for Thy servant Thine oracle unto fearof Thee.
Remove my reproach which I have feared, for Thyjudgments are
good.
Behold, I have longed after Thy commandments; inThy
righteousness quicken me.
Let Thy mercy come also upon me, O Lord, even Thysalvation
according to Thy word.
So shall I give an answer to them that reproachme, for I
have hoped in Thy words.
And take not utterly out of my mouth the word oftruth, for
in Thy judgments have I hoped.
So shall I keep Thy law continually, for ever, andunto the
ages of ages.
And I walked in spaciousness, for after Thy commandmentshave
I sought.
And I spake of Thy testimonies before kings, andI was not ashamed.
And I meditated on Thy commandments which I havegreatly
loved.
And I lifted up my hands to Thy commandments whichI have
loved, and I pondered on Thy statutes.
Remember Thy words to Thy servant, wherein Thouhast made me
to hope.
This hath comforted me in my humiliation, for Thineoracle
hath quickened me.
The proud have transgressed exceedingly, but fromThy law
have I not declined.
I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Lord, and wascomforted.
Despondency took hold upon me because of the sinnerswho
forsake Thy law.
Thy statutes were my songs in the place of my sojourning.
I remembered Thy name in the night, 0 Lord, andI kept Thy
law.
This hath happened unto me because I sought afterThy
statutes.
Thou art my portion, O Lord; I said that I wouldkeep Thy
law.
I entreated Thy countenance with my whole heart:Have mercy
on me according to Thy word.
I have thought on Thy ways, and I have turned myfeet back to
Thy testimonies.
I made ready, and I was not troubled, that I mightkeep Thy
commandments.
The cords of sinners have entangled me, but Thylaw have I
not forgotten.
At midnight I arose to give thanks unto Thee forthe
judgments of Thy righteousness.
I am a partaker with all them that fear Thee, andwith them
that keep Thy commandments.
The earth, 0 Lord, is full of Thy mercy; teach meThy
statutes.
Thou hast dealt graciously with Thy servant, 0
Lord,according to Thy word.
Goodness and discipline and knowledge teach Thoume, for in
Thy commandments have I believed.
Before I was humbled, I transgressed; thereforehy saying
have I kept.
Thou art good, O Lord, and in Thy goodness teachme Thy
statutes.
Multiplied against me hath been the unrighteousnessof the
proud; but as for me, with my whole heart will I search out Thycommandments.
Curdled like milk is their heart; but as for me,in Thy law
have I meditated.
It is good for me that Thou hast humbled me, thatI might
learn Thy statutes.
The law of Thy mouth is better to me than thousandsof gold
and silver.
Glory. Both now. Alleluia.
Thy hands have made
me and fashioned me; Tgive meunderstanding and I will learn Thy commandments.
They that fear Thee shall see me and be glad, foron Thy
words have I set my hope.
I have known, O Lord, that Thy judgments are
righteousness,and with truth hast Thou humbled me.
Let now Thy mercy be my comfort, according to Thysaying unto
Thy servant.
Let Thy compassions come upon me and I shall live,for Thy
law is my meditation.
Let the proud be put to shame, for unjustly havethey
transgressed against me; but as for me, I will ponder on Thy commandments.
Let those that fear Thee return unto me, and thosethat know
Thy testimonies.
Let my heart be blameless in Thy statutes, thatI may not be
put to shame.
My soul fainteth for Thy salvation; on Thy wordshave I set
my hope.
Mine eyes are grown dim with waiting for Thine oracle;they
say: When wilt Thou comfort me?
For I am become like a wine-skin in the frost; yetThy
statutes have I not forgotten.
How many are the days of Thy servant? When wiltThou execute
judgment for me on them that persecute me?
Transgressors have told me fables, but they arenot like Thy
law, O Lord.
All Thy commandments are truth. Without a causehave men
persecuted me; do Thou help me.
They well nigh made an end of me on the earth; butas for me,
I forsook not Thy commandments.
According to Thy mercy quicken me, and I will keepthe
testimonies of Thy mouth.
For ever, O Lord, Thy word abideth in heaven.
Unto generation and generation is Thy truth; Thouhast laid
the foundation of the earth, and it abideth.
By Thine ordinance doth the day abide, for all thingsare Thy
servants.
If Thy law had not been my meditation, then shouldI have
perished in my humiliation.
I will never forget Thy statutes, for in them hastThou
quickened me.
I am Thine, save me;
for after Thy statutes haveI sought.
Sinners have waited for me to destroy me; but Thytestimonies
have I understood.
Of all perfection have I seen the outcome; exceedingspacious
is Thy commandment.
O bow I have loved Thy law, 0 Lord! the whole daylong it is
my meditation.
Above mine enemies hast Thou made me wise in Thycommandment,
for it is mine for ever.
Above all that teach me have I gained understanding,for Thy
testimonies are my meditation. im Above mine elders have I
receivedunderstanding, for after Thy commandments have I sought.
From every way that is evil have I restrained myfeet that I
might keep Thy words.
From Thy judgments have I not declined, for Thouhast set a
law for me.
How sweet to my palate are Thy sayings! more sweetthan honey
to my mouth.
From Thy commandments have I gained understanding;therefore
have I hated every way of unrighteousness.
Thy law is a lamp unto my feet and a light untomy paths.
I have sworn and resolved that I will keep the judgmentsof
Thy righteousness.
I was humbled exceedingly; 0 Lord, quicken me accordingto
Thy word.
The free-will offerings of my mouth be Thou nowpleased to
receive, 0 Lord, and teach me Thy judgments.
My soul is in Thy hands continually, and Thy lawhave I not
forgotten.
Sinners have set a snare for me, yet from Thy
commandmenthave I not strayed.
I have inherited Thy testimonies for ever, for theyare the
rejoicing of my heart.
I have inclined my heart to perform Thy statutesfor ever for
a recompense.
Transgressors have I hated, but Thy law have I loved.
My helper and my protector art Thou; on Thy wordshave I set
my hope.
Depart from me, ye evil-doers, and I will searchout the
commandments of my God.
Uphold me according to Thy saying and quicken me,and turn me
not away in shame from mine expectation.
Help me, and I shall be saved; and I will meditateon Thy
statutes continually-
Thou hast set at nought all that depart from Thystatutes,
for unrighteous is their inward thought.
I have reckoned as transgressors all the sinnersof the
earth, therefore have I loved Thy testimonies.
Nail down my flesh with the fear of Thee, for ofThy
judgments am I afraid.
I have wrought judgment and righteousness; 0 giveme not up
to them that wrong me.
Receive Thy servant unto good, let not the proudfalsely
accuse me.
Mine eyes have failed with waiting for Thy salvation,and for
the word of Thy righteousness.
Deal with Thy servant according to Thy mercy, andteach me
Thy statutes.
I am Thy servant; give me understanding, and I shallknow Thy
testimonies.
It is time for the Lord to act; for they have dispersedThy
law.
Therefore have I loved Thy commandments more thangold and
topaz.
Therefore I directed myself according to all
Thycommandments; every way that is unrighteous have I hated.
Wonderful are Thy testimonies; therefore hath mysoul
searched them out.
The unfolding of Thy words will give light and
understandingunto babes.
I opened my mouth and drew in my breath, for I longedfor Thy
commandments.
Glory. Both now. Alleluia.
Third
Stasis
Look upon me and
have mercy on me, according to 17thejudgment of them that love Thy name.
My steps do Thou direct according to Thy saying,and let no
iniquity have dominion over me.
Deliver me from the false accusation of men, andI will keep
Thy commandments.
Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, and teachme Thy
statutes.
Mine eyes have poured forth streams of waters, becauseI kept
not Thy law.
Righteous art Thou, 0 Lord, and upright are Thyjudgments.
Thou hast ordained as Thy testimonies exceedingrighteousness
and truth.
My zeal for Thee hath made me to pine away, becausemine
enemies have forgotten Thy words.
Thine oracle is tried with fire to the uttermost,and Thy
servant hath loved it.
I am young and accounted as nothing, yet Thy statuteshave I
not forgotten.
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,and Thy
law is truth.
Tribulations and necessities have found me, Thycommandments
are my meditation.
Thy testimonies are righteousness for ever; giveme
understanding and I shall live.
I have cried with my whole heart; hear me, 0 Lord,and I will
seek after Thy statutes.
I have cried unto Thee; save me, and I will keepThy
testimonies.
I arose in the dead of night and I cried; on Thywords have I
set my hope.
Mine eyes woke before the morning that I might meditateon
Thy sayings.
Hear my voice, O Lord, according to Thy mercy; accordingto
Thy judgment, quicken me.
They have drawn nigh that lawlessly persecute me,but from
Thy law are they far removed.
Near art Thou, O Lord, and all Thy ways are truth.
From the beginning I have known from Thy testimoniesthat
Thou hast founded them for ever.
Behold my humiliation and rescue me, for Thy lawhave I not
forgotten.
Judge my cause and redeem me; for Thy word's sakequicken me.
Far from sinners is salvation, for they have notsought after
Thy statutes.
Thy compassions are many, 0 Lord; according to Thyjudgment
quicken me.
Many are they that persecute me and afflict me;from Thy
testimonies have I not declined.
I beheld men acting foolishly and I pined away,because they
kept not Thy sayings.
Behold, how I have loved Thy commandments; 0 Lord,in Thy
mercy, quicken me.
The beginning of Thy words is truth, and all thejudgments of
Thy righteousness endure for ever.
Princes have persecuted me without a cause, andbecause of
Thy words my heart hath been afraid.
I will rejoice in Thy sayings as one that findethgreat
spoil.
Unrighteousness have I hated and abhorred, but Thy law have
I loved.
Seven times a day have I praised Thee for the judgmentsof
Thy righteousness.
Much peace have they that love Thy law, and forthem there is
no stumbling-block.
I awaited Thy salvation, 0 Lord, and Thy commandmentshave I
loved.
My soul hath kept Thy testimonies and hath lovedthem exceedingly.
I have kept Thy commandments and Thy testimonies, for all my
ways are before Thee, 0 Lord.
Let my supplication draw nigh before Thee, O Lord;according
to Thine oracle give me understanding.
Let my petition come before Thee, O Lord; accordingto Thine
oracle deliver me.
My lips shall pour forth a hymn when Thou hast taught me Thy
statutes.
My tongue shall speak of Thy sayings, for all Thy commandments
are righteousness.
Let Thy hand be for saving me, for I have chosen Thy
commandments.
I have longed for Thy salvation, 0 Lord, and Thy law is my
meditation.
My soul shall live and shall praise Thee, and Thy judgments
will help me.
I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; O seek Thy
servant, for I have not forgotten Thy commandments.
Glory. Both now. Alleluia.