: not forsaken the judgment of their God: they ask of me the judgments of justice: they are willing to approach to God. Why have we fasted, and Thou hast not regarded; have we humbled our souls, and Thou hast not taken notice? Behold, in the day of your fast your own will is found and you exact of all your debtors. Behold, you fast for debates and strife; and strike with the fist wickedly. Do not fast as you have done until this day, to make your cry to be heard on high. Is this such a fast as I have chosen, for a man to afflict his soul for a day? is this it, to wind his head about like a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? Wilt thou call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this rather the fast that I have chosen? Loose the bands of wickedness, undo the bundles that oppress, let them that are broken go free, and break asunder every burden. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and bring the needy and the harbourless into thy house when thou shalt see one naked, cover him, and despise not thine own flesh. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health shall speedily arise, and thy justice shall go before thy face, and the glory of the Lord shall gather thee up. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall hear thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am, I, the Lord thy God that [am merciful. (Is. 58.) : At other times. IN N those days the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: Be ye holy, because I the Lord your God am holy. Let every one fear his father, and his mother. Keep my sabbaths. I am the Lord your God. Turn not to idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods. I am the Lord your God. You shall not steal. You shall not lie, neither shall any man deceive his neighbour. Thou shalt not swear falsely by my Name, nor profane the Name of thy God. I am the Lord. Thou shalt not calumniate thy neighbour, nor oppress him by violence. The wages of him that hath been hired by thee shall not abide with thee until the morning. Thou shalt not speak evil of the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind: but thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, because I am the Lord. Thou shalt not do that which is unjust, nor judge unjustly. Respect not the person of the poor, nor honour the countenance of the mighty, but judge thy neighbour according to justice. Thou shalt not be a detractor nor a whisperer among the people. Thou shalt not stand against the blood of thy neighbour. I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart, but reprove him openly, lest thou incur sin through him. Seek not revenge, nor be mindful of the injury of thy citizens. Thou shalt love thy friend as thyself. I am the Lord. (Lev. 19.) HYMN. Tandem peractis. And of Thy finished work hast said Yet while the seventh day is blessed, That mighty power of Thine. Ten thousand voices praise Thy Name One sinner by his sin has marred O Lord, create man's heart anew, Then hymns of praise again shall rise, O for the songs that Thou wilt bless, All praise to God, the Three in One, Who by His Word hath all things made, Then proceed as at page 68. Amen. PENITENTIAL PSALMS. These may be used on the Sundays from Septuagesima to the fourth Sunday in Lent: on Ember-days, on fasting-vigils, and in the office for the Dead; the Miserere and De profundis being omitted when found desirable. When used in the Morning Office begin as at page 18; when otherwise with the following Anthem. Anth. Remember not, O Lord, our offences, nor those of our fathers; neither do Thou take vengeance of our sins. I. Ps. 6. Domine, ne in furore. LORD, rebuke me not in Thine indignation: nor chastise me in Thy wrath. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak: heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but Thou, O Lord, how long? Turn to me, O Lord, and deliver my soul: 0 save me for Thy mercy's sake. For there is no one in death, that is mindful of Thee and who shall confess to Thee in hell? I have laboured in my groanings, every night I will wash my bed: I will water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is troubled through indignation: I have grown old amongst all mine enemies. Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication: the Lord hath received my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed, and be very much troubled let them be turned back, and be ashamed very speedily. Glory &c. II. Ps. 31. Beati quorum. LESSED are they whose iniquities are forgiven and whose sins are covered. BLESSE Blessed is the man to whom the Lord hath not imputed sin and in whose spirit there is no guile. Because I was silent my bones grew old; whilst I cried out all the day long. For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me: I am turned in mine anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened. I have acknowledged my sin to Thee: and mine injustice I have not concealed. I said, I will confess against myself mine injustice to the Lord and Thou hast forgiven the wickedness of my sin. For this shall every one that is holy: pray to Thee in a seasonable time. And yet in a flood of many waters: they shall not come nigh unto Him. Thou art my refuge from the trouble which hath encompassed me: my joy, deliver me from them that surround me. I will give thee understanding, and I will instruct thee in this way, in which thou shalt go: I will fix mine eyes upon thee. 'Do not become like the horse and the mule: who have no understanding. With bit and bridle bind fast their jaws: who come not near unto thee. Many are the scourges of the sinner: but mercy shall encompass him that hopeth in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye just and glory, all ye right of heart. Glory &c. III. Ps. 37. Domine, ne in furore. LORD, rebuke me not in Thine indignation; nor chastise me in Thy wrath. For Thine arrows are fastened in me and Thy hand hath been strong upon me. There is no health in my flesh, because of Thy wrath there is no peace for my bones, because of my sins. : For mine iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me. My sores are putrified and corrupted: because of my foolishness. I am become miserable, and am bowed down even to the end; I walked sorrowful all the day long. |