East Syrian Daily Offices (Maclean translation)
East Syrian Daily Offices (Maclean translation)
continued
The Farcings of the Psalms
Psalm 1. Blessed is he who hath borne thy yoke, and hath meditated in thy law, O Lord, by day and by night. 2. Like a horse without understanding, the arrogant men raged, and crucified Christ. 3. When I spake of thy truth, O our Lord, the wicked rose against me; deliver me from their attack. 4. There is none like the Lord, in whom I have trusted; who rescueth me from the snares and wiles of the evil ones. 5. Thou hast corrected me, O Lord, that thou mightest make me wise; reject not my request. 6. Have compassion on my weakness, O thou who didst fashion me, and correct me in thy love. 7. Blessed be God, who directeth and comforteth his servants. 8. O Son, whom the children praised in Jerusalem with their hosannas, save thy worshippers by (thy) request. 9. We will confess thee for that thou hast turned us back from error to the knowledge of thee; may thine adversaries be judged.
10. Because the ungodly have laid wait for the righteous with their wiles, and have blasphemed thy Name, let them be judged without mercy. 11. The sinners have dealt craftily with me; in thee, O Lord, have I trusted. 12. Deceit hath increased and love waxed cold; O Christ, neglect (us) not. 13. Be propitiated by me and save me, O Lord, for I will confess thee. 14. Rescue thy Church from evil ones, O Lord of created things. 15. With purity of thoughts, O our Lord, make me to stand before thine altar. 16. Glorious is (our) confident hope in thee, who didst fashion us; in thee my weakness rejoiceth. 17. O my Lord and my God, have mercy on me, for I am persecuted unjustly. 18. Heaven and earth and all that is in them, those who are above and those who are below, kneel and worship and glorify 1 God their Creator.
19. Adorable is God who is from everlasting, who created reasonable beings to understand his other works and to know his praise. 20. In God we will place our confident hope, for he can save the humble from 2 the arrogance and pride of them that trust in themselves. 21. The Lord causeth the distresses of his servants to pass away, and maketh them glad with the salvation of the greatness of his power, and bringeth low the proud. 22. O my God, my God, let me not fall into the hands of men who have not esteemed thee. 23. We will cast our care on the Lord, who tendeth them of his household. 24. Let us be diligent in (our) duty, for he saveth us, the Almighty. 25. To thee, O my Lord, I lift up mine eyes, for thou art my true hope. 26. O Judge, the greatest of judges, cast not down my head in thy judgment.
27. Cast me not out before thy face, O Searcher of secret things. 28. To thee our souls cry, Come to help us and save us. 29. O thou who art good, and whose mercies are overflowing, to thee praise is due. 30. We will confess thy Name, for thou hast saved us, and hast destroyed them that wrathfully hate us. 31. As a dead man they forget me in my trouble, (but) the Lord comforted me. 32. Our Maker is the friend of men; let us propitiate him, that he may have compassion upon us. 33. Praise becometh the just, and confession befitteth them. 34. Blessed is the Lord, who gave victory to his athletes in their contests. 35. They who boil over in zeal for thee are persecuted; O Christ, neglect (them) not. 36. Thou art good and just and wise, O mighty Lord. 37. Suddenly shineth forth justice and burneth up the ungodly.
38. Let our correction be seasoned with thy mercies, O Compassionate one. 39. The ungodly have afflicted me, O our Lord; in thee is my true hope. 40. There is no number to thy benefits (given) to us, O Compassionate one. 41. Blessed is he on whom Mercy hath had compassion in the judgment of thy justice. 42. To thee, O God, I pray for compassion; by thy mercies I will turn (to thee). 43. Judge me, O Lord, with my adversaries, and let thy help accompany me. 44. O Creator, who didst rescue our first fathers by thy strength, save thy worshippers when (they) make request (to thee). 45. Glory to thee, O our Saviour, who didst honour thy Church which thou didst choose, and didst adorn her with all beauties. 46. O God, our invincible helper, destroy the proud, and make us glad with thy salvation. 47. Blessed is he who bowed down and gave us his body for food; and by his blood wiped out the trespasses of his flock.
48. Exult and rejoice, O race of Adam, and be exalted, in Jesus, who rose, and by his death conquered death. 49. Hear ye now, O rulers of the people; with fear serve God, the Lord of all. 50. Blessed is he who by the sacrifice of his beloved made all sacrifices to end and cease. 51. With the hyssop of thy mercies may our defilements be cleansed, O Compassionate one. 52. Blessed is he who exalteth the humble and bringeth low the proud. 53. Save thy Church, O thou who knowest all. 54. Thou art my true hope. 55. To thee, O my God, is committed my judgment. 56. Cast me not, O Lord, into the wile of the crafty. 57. From the tumult of men protect me, O my Lord and my God. 58. God keepeth the just and rejecteth the wicked. 59. The ungodly have oppressed and afflicted me; deliver me, O my Lord and my God.
60. Save thy worshippers, O Christ, as thou didst promise. 61. In every place art thou, O God; receive our petition. 62. To God am I in subjection, for he is my true hope. 63. In thy mercies, which are better than life, have pity on me, O Compassionate one. 64. From the wickedness of the crafty protect me, O my Lord and my God. 65. It is not our hands that make our ways prosperous, O Christ our Saviour; for thou art the orderer of our works by thy power and wisdom. 66. Glory to thee, our Creator, who gavest us rest by night and didst keep us, and in the morning didst wake us, that in the light we might see thy wonders. 67. O Christ, who gavest talents of spiritual silver to thy servants, grant help to thy worshippers, who have received thy gift. 68. The time hath come that idols be rooted out, and the one God be worshipped, the Lord of all.
69. O Christ, have pity on me. 70. Help me, O my Lord and my God. 71. Come, my brethren, let us take refuge in prayer, which is a strong weapon; and by it we will conquer Satan, our enemy, who hateth our nature. 72. Long ages ago the Lord promised to Abram and David the birth of Christ, who should shine forth from Mary. Or, The lovingkindness of God hath been poured forth from on high on all, by the coming of Christ, the Saviour of all creatures. 73. Thy spirit is longsuffering, O our Lord, and thy punishment is sharp. 74. O Lord of all, who didst reveal all, cast not out thy worshippers. 75. Let us honour the feast of thy baptism, O Christ our Saviour. 76. Exalted art thou for ever, O King of all kings. 77. O Lord of all, who didst reveal all, keep thou thy worshippers.
78. The sons of Israel, a perverse people. 79. Because we have sinned, the oppressors have subdued us, and have polluted thy holy place; O Compassionate one, have pity on us. 80. Thou didst keep in their generations our fathers, who were approved before thee; O thou who seest all, save thy Church. 81. Blessed is the Lord, who aideth his saints who keep his words, and destroyeth quickly them that hate him. 82. O judges, judge justly, and be ye far from iniquity. Or, on feasts and memorials. The watchful Intelligence called me as from sleep, and wakened me: Arise, thou that art sunk in sleep, and cast off the weight of thy sloth. 83. There is none like thee among things that are made, O God Almighty. 84. How glorious and excellent is the house of thy holiness, O God, who hallowest all. 85. Send, O our Lord, help and salvation to thy worshippers by the great power of the cross.
Or, He who would picture the sun erreth greatly, for he hath not the mind to comprehend its glorious things. He who would be an inheritor of the kingdom on high, let him free his soul from the slavery of this world. 86. O Christ, the friend of the penitent, open the door to our prayer, and receive our request. 87. Adorable is God the Creator, who careth for all generations. Or, We are (made) poor and weak by our deeds; there are not among us just or righteous men to propitiate thee. We know not either how to pray or how to glorify (thee), and we fear to speak words that are not worthy of thee. Therefore the Lord built him a house upon earth, that whoso would see the Lord should come to his house. 88. Thou art merciful who didst fashion us; in thy loving-kindness have pity on us.
89. The good things which God had promised to Abram and to David, in our days he fulfilled by deeds in Christ; glory to him. Or, May that lovingkindness and that gift which descended and dwelt on the disciples overshadow, O my Lord, and dwell upon thy worshippers for ever. 90. O thou who carest for us, O Almighty, have compassion on our sinfulness. Or, O Lovingkindness, full of all mercy; O Humility, which liftedst up the weakness of the earthly. 91. Thou art my confident hope, O Christ; let me never be confounded. 92. O Mighty and All-powerful one, keep thou thy worshippers. 93. We worship thy being, which is without beginning, O thou who art glorious on high; keep thy Church and rescue her. 94. Thou who knowest all and art all-powerful, who judgest all and art our Lord, save thy servants who call to thee. 95. From error and trespasses and death hath our Lord saved us in his compassion; let us worship him and glorify him.
96. Glorious is thy coming, O Christ the Saviour of all; for thou hast made us worthy with the spiritual ones to glorify thee. Canon for Christmas. For this salvation, which hath (come) to us this day, by Jesus, the son of our race, who was born [or baptized] this day. 97. O Church, sing glory to the Lord who renewed thee, and exalted thy weakness by his ascension, and made thee to rejoice. Canon for Christmas, etc. Exult, O people, who are saved; and give glory, and keep not silence, in the birth [or baptism] of the Saviour, who hath made glad the heights and the depths. 98. Blessed is he who bowed down and was baptized by John in Jordan, and by his baptism gave pardon to all. Canon for Christmas, etc. Give glory, O sons of the Church, O sons of the faithful Church, to him who was born of the Virgin [or, baptized by the son of the barren woman] for the salvation of the world.—At the end of the Psalm. What is this, that the nations have left their gods, and swear in the name of a man who is not as thou sayest? What is this, that the nations have cast away their images, and have believed and confessed the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?
99. There is no power like thine, O our Saviour, who didst fill the apostles in the upper chamber with the Holy Ghost. Canon for Christmas, etc. Glory and hallelujah, worship and hallelujah in the birth [or baptism] of Christ. 100. The righteous clothe themselves with glory, and above in the clouds fly to meet our Lord when he cometh. Canon for Christmas, etc. Let us confess and glorify the Child who was born unto us [or baptized for us], and the Son who was given unto us. 101. The Lord in whom I have trusted, by his mercies rescueth me from the evil ones who have hated me. Canon for Christmas, etc. Let us praise and glorify the bright Light of righteousness which hath burst forth from the house of David.—At the end of the Psalm, Come, my beloved, let us sing glory in the day of the memorial of famous N [or on the festival of N], and shout and cry with the hallelujah of the watchful ones, who have come down in companies and celebrated it with processions.
102. Have compassion on our error, O unchangeable Being. Or, O Compassionate one, hear our request and our prayers. 103. Blessed is the compassionate Lord, whose lovingkindness overfloweth. Or, Give peace and tranquillity to the earth as thou art wont. 104. Adorable is the Creator, for ever and ever. Or, Glory becometh thy great Name at all times. At verse 19. We worship thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 105. Let us confess the Lord for his benefits to us, and ask of him that he supply that which we lack, for his love overfloweth for ever. Or, Yea, confess the hidden Being who is without beginning. At verse 23. For in Egypt he wrought wonders, and saved his people. At verse 37. Away from Egypt he wrought wonders, and saved his Church. 106. O Lord, pardon the sins of thy servants who have sinned, and offended, and provoked thy Name with their deeds; in thy lovingkindness have compassion on them.
107. Blessed is our Saviour. 108. O my God, I will confess thee. 109. Save us, O Lord, from the ungodly among the people, and from the peoples who with one accord have gathered themselves together against us to destroy us unjustly. 110. We confess thee, O our Lord Jesus, who in thy manhood art of David and of Abraham, and in thy being from thy Father. 111. Let all the upright confess with us the Being who created us, and the Almighty who governeth all in his wisdom and justice and goodness. 112. Blessed are they who tread without fear the way of Christ, and walk in his holy laws and keep his commandments. 113. Glorious is the Being who by his servants called the nations to know his wonderful things, so that by his power they conquered in the world, and who investeth them in heaven with glory.
114. In the middle of the night I have risen up to confess thee, O our Lord, for thy judgments; and I wonder at the deeds of thy wisdom and confess thy Name. 115, 116. The Lord of our death and our life is God alone. 117. O nation and nations, one Church, glorify Christ. 118. There is none strong and full of mercies like the Lord, my refuge. 119. Alap. Help thou my weakness, O Christ, to fulfil thy will. Beith. In thy love, O our Lord, thou hast established me, and by thy gospel hast given wisdom to my childishness. Gamal. Thy doctrine, O our Saviour, is sought out and honoured above all things and good. Dalath. The haters of the truth hath trodden me down; O Lord of all, help thou me. He. All error is vanity; O Christ, guide me in thy truth. Wau. May the right have victory, O Lord, in thy servants before all kings.
Zain. This time is like a dream; comfort me, O our Lord, with thy hope. Kheith. I look alway to thy love; O Christ, save me from oppression. Teith. Better than all honour I have loved thy word; O Lord, comfort me. Yudh. More than all thou, O Lord, knowest what helpeth us. Kap. O Just one, O Lord to whom all is revealed, save the afflicted who cry to thee. Lamadh. They that fear the Lord, who passeth not away, are in no danger from mortals. Mim. O Lord, who didst raise the meek and didst strike down the proud, glory to thee. Nun. Thy word is light and life and truth, O our Saviour. Simkath. Confirm me in thy hope, O our Lord, that I may stand firm in thy teaching. 'E. Help thy Church, O our Saviour; cast not away her who hath loved thee. Pe. Save, O our Lord, them that call on thy Name, who groan because thy truth is despised.
Sadhi. Be pleased with me, O Lord, and save me, that they who err may know thy glory. Qop. May the voice of thy praise not cease, O God, in the mouth of thy servants. Resh. Thy fear is above all things; O Lord, judge me. Shin. Thy glory, O our Lord, is better than all, and hath alway helped me when I was persecuted. Tau. Receive our petition, O our Lord, and fill our mouth with praise. 120. The ungodly have driven me far away; O thou who art boundless, comfort me. 121. I looked for thee, who art more watchful than all; alway keep my weakness. 122. Make us glad, O our Lord, with thy salvation, and with the joy of thy Churches. 123. O Compassionate one, receive my petition, and may they that despise me be laughed to scorn. 124. Blessed is our Maker, who rescueth his worshippers from the evil ones.
125. Created things, whose confident trust is in the Lord, can in no wise be moved. 126. In thy hope have I gone, O our Lord, and have fled to thee; help thou me. 127. Beneath the wings of thy kindness protect me, O my Lord and my God. 128. Pour forth thy gift, O our Lord, in thy lovingkindness on thy servants. 129. Hear, O our Lord, the voice of our petition, and keep us from the Evil one. 130. O thou who art good and just and compassionate, in thy lovingkindness have mercy on us. 131. Raise me, O my Lord, from the dust, that I may glorify thee and confess thy Name. 132. O Christ, keep the priesthood, and make thy peace to dwell in the Churches. 133. A bridechamber and blessing which passeth not away, hath our Lord promised to his saints. 134. At all seasons it becometh the saints to glorify thee, O our Saviour.
135. The people glorified thee when they went forth, for thou didst give victory by their hands. 136. Let us confess our God, who in the multitude of his lovingkindnesses hath saved his servants from the evil ones and oppressors who hate (us) without cause, and from the hand of the ungodly. 137. Because that Jerusalem sinned, and received not the prophets and apostles who came to her, she became a reproach among the people. 138. We venerate thine honourable cross, O our Lord Jesus, for by it thou didst save our nature. 139. O thou who knowest all before thou createst all, save us, O Almighty. 140. From the will and attack of the evil ones protect me, O my Lord and my God. 141. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who rejectest not the request of thy worshippers. 142. Thou art the help of the desolate, O Almighty. 143. I am oppressed by them that hate the truth; O God, save thy servant.
144. Blessed is the Lord, who maketh the evil ones to sink, and giveth victory to them of his household. 145. We will confess thee, O our Maker, for thou hast guided us with the light of day, and hast brought us to the evening that thou mayest give us rest by night, and that thou mayest preserve us. 146. Let the heavenly ones and the earthly ones confess thee, O everlasting Being, who in thy great mercy didst condescend and didst put on our manhood. 147. When thou didst create this light, O our Maker, the angels marvelled at it; and when each day it shineth forth, both they and we will glorify thee. 147, verse 12. Blessed is he who, in the place of Mount Zion, formed Jerusalem above. 148. The heaven of heavens glorify thee, for thou didst bring them into being. 149. The nations sang praises to the God who saved them.
150. The Son of God hath sanctified you and bidden you to his kingdom. Exodus xv. 1-22. Blessed is the Creator Being, who by all (his) wonders delivered his servants, and by his Christ saved his Church. Or, Gloriously will I glorify thee. Isaiah xlii. 10-14 and xlv. 8. Glory to the Lord, who by his strength destroyed the proud and saved his servants in his mercies, for he created all and formed all. Or, Being who art from everlasting. Deuteronomy xxxii. 1-21a. Incline, O Lord, to my prayer, and neglect not my request. Canon for Christmas. Sing praises, sing praises, sing praises, O Watchful ones, at the birth [or baptism] of Christ the King. Deuteronomy xxxii. 21a-44. Blessed is he who hath lifted up a hard people and hath revealed to them things to come.
Prayers on Various Occasions
1 When there is a scarcity of rain. In thy goodness spread thy lovingkindness on our wickedness. Repeat. And pour forth thy mercies, O Merciful one, on us who are exiled from thee, and make thy compassion, O Compassionate one, to flow forth on our unrighteousness, and overshadow our confusion with thy pitiful wings; have compassion in thy pitiful pity on our sinfulness; and enrich our poverty with thy gift, O good Giver; and answer our afflicted state in times of affliction; and satisfy our hunger from thy table, O thou who feedest the worlds; and sprinkle the dew of thy kindness on our fields; and inebriate our ploughed fields and our lands with the rain of thy good pleasure; and bring our souls out of the prison house of distresses, and fill our hearts with thy true hope and strong trust, for thou dost care for our life, and suppliest all things that may help us in thy lovingkindness and mercies, Lord of all, etc.
2 Another. Have pity, O my Lord, and mercy on our evil generation, for its sighs have waxed strong, and its good things have become small; and let the right hand of thy Majesty rest over the world and its inhabitants; and let them that dwell therein abide in quietness beneath the shadow of thy wings; and let wars cease and contentions come to an end; and let variances be brought to nought and chastisements be withheld, and may peace be assured and tranquillity reign in every place continually, that thereby we may propitiate thy Godhead, and be approved by the good pleasure of thy Majesty, and abstaining from evil things confess and worship and glorify thy glorious Trinity, at all times, Lord of all, etc. Prayer for the crops. Glory to thee, who dost plant all trees that they may bear pleasant fruits for the joy of thy servants; bless, O my Lord, these crops of thy servants, and may the fruits which propitiate thy Majesty be increased twofold therefrom, and may we lift up to thee glory for the things which thou suppliest, for ever. Amen.
3 Prayer for the sick. O thou who givest life to all in thy compassion, and raisest all in thy good pleasure, and drivest away all pains and sicknesses in thy mercy; heal, O my Lord, this thy servant in thy compassion, and raise him up from his sickness in the abundance of thy lovingkindness, that he may confess thee for thy salvation (shown) to him, now and at all times, Lord of all, etc. Prayer for one tempted by a devil. O Healer of all pains, and Assuager of all plagues, heal, O my Lord, this thy servant, of the plague of the Enemy; and as thy lovingkindness drave out Legion from him who dwelt among the graves, and didst cast him into the sea and overthrow him, and didst give ease to thy servant, so, O my Lord, also from this thy servant let thy power drive him away, and thy good pleasure root him out; and may (thy servant) be to thee a dwelling-place, and may he be signed with the living sign of thy cross, and bear thy pleasant yoke, and be joined to thy flock, O our compassionate Maker, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for ever. Amen.
4 Prayer for infants. May he who blessed the childhood of Isaak, so that there welled forth from him the promise of life in this world, and they saw within him the sign of salvation, bless thee and exalt thy parents, and make them glad with thy growth and the welling forth of thy wisdom; and may the right hand and lovingkindness of the Highest keep thee now and at all times, Lord of all, etc. Prayer over wine. O heavenly Beverage, flowing from the blessed Grape, bless, O my Lord, this wine, and mingle with it the compassion of thy lovingkindness, that it may make glad the heart of them that drink it, and cause the mind of them that give to drink of it to rejoice; that when they rejoice at the taste of the wine of thy grapes, they may confess and glorify thee for thy lovingkindnesses towards them, now and at all times, Lord of all, etc.
5 Prayer over the oil of healing. O true Healer, whose word is full of all salves and helps and healing medicines, do thou, O my Lord, make thy lovingkindness to dwell in this oil, that it may help and cure all our sicknesses, and relieve our afflictions, and give ease in our distresses, and remedy our pains, and cleanse our wounds, and take away our fevers; and may it be found (effectual) for all salves and helps by the salve which thou hast given us in it, and may we lift up to thy Trinity, which is full of all good things, praise and honour and confession, now and at all times, Lord of all, etc. Prayer for a reader. May God, the Lord of all, in his loving-kindness and mercies, bless the reader, that he may give wisdom to the hearers by his holy teaching, for ever. Amen. Prayer for the faithful. May our Lord Jesus Christ bless this assembly of the faithful in his lovingkindness and mercies for ever. Amen.
6 Prayer for a house. May the Trinity, by whom the houses of the just and righteous fathers were blessed and hallowed, keep this house and protect them that dwell in it from all harm, hidden and open. Amen. Prayer when a man kisses the cross. May the power which is hidden in the cross make me to gain power and courage for the war with the demon, the enemy, by the mercies of our good God. Amen. Prayer when a man kisses the book of the Gospel. May the power which is hidden in the Gospel, full of life and grace, fill my mind with wisdom, that I may know the meaning of the word. Amen. Prayer when a man kisses the tomb of the saints. May our Lord and our God make us partakers of thy virtue, O our holy father, and may we be worthy of mercies and compassion by thy prayers. Amen.
7 Prayer when a man goes on a journey. O God of Abraham, and of Isaak, and of Jacob, God of the just fathers and the prophets, God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I make request to thee and entreat thy greatness, at this time when I set forward on this journey, that thy help may accompany me, and that thy lovingkindness may help me, for thou keepest my soul with my body from all adversities, and rescuest me from all harm. As thou wast with Joseph in the land of Egypt, and with Daniel in the lions' den, and with the company of Ananias in the fiery furnace, and with Jeremiah in the miry pit, so also be with me, O Compassionate one, lightening the burden of this my journey, and overthrowing the enemies and evil ones before me, and be thou my Sustainer and Saviour, that the cause for which I set forth may receive a good fulfilment; and pour forth on me all good things. At my request to thee, O Compassionate one, grant me to meet with kindness (in) the land whither I go, and cause me to return, O my Lord, with my mouth filled with gratitude, and my tongue with praise, that I may return to my dwelling and my house with joy and gladness, to lift up praise and honour and confession and worship to thy living and holy Name, now and at all times, Lord of all, etc.
8 Prayer when a man enters a boat or ship. In the confident hope of thy mercy, O Lord, we pray and make request of thy overflowing mercies, make the sea peaceful before all who make a voyage in this ship of thy worshippers, and open the full and overflowing treasure of thy helps in their voyage; and may they go in peace and return in tranquillity, their hearts rejoicing, and their minds glad in the prosperity which they gain from thy rich treasure, O Lord, full of mercies; and be thou to them, O Lord, a guide and a way, and an overseer by day and by night, and vouchsafe that they in soul and body may be perfect, and deliver them from the harm of the enemy in thy lovingkindness and mercies, that they may lift up to thee praise and honour and confession and worship, now and at all times, Lord of all, etc.
9 Prayer of a man for himself. Lord, thou knowest how I should call to thee; I am only a brute beast, and know nothing. Thou hast brought me to this age of life; save me for thy mercies sake; I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid. O Lord, give me life in thy good pleasure. Amen. Another. O Lord, as thou knowest and willest and pleasest, grant to me even those things which help my poverty and weakness and infirmity; for mercies and compassion and lovingkindness are thine for ever. Amen. Prayer when a priest washes his hands at the time of the Creed. May God, the Lord of all, wash the filth of our trespasses and sins with the hyssop of his compassion, and cleanse the defilements of our iniquities with the overflowing sea of his mercy for ever. Amen. When he wipes his hands. May the Lord wipe away the contamination of our sins in his lovingkindness and mercies for ever. Amen.
10 Prayer in fevers. In thy Name, O good Father, and in the Name of the Only-begotten, our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Name of the Spirit of holiness, living and holy, I drive out the fever from thy servant N, son of M; and I destroy thee, O shivering fever, by that Power who called to Simon Peter's wife's mother, who was held of a fever, so that she stood up and was made whole, and began to minister to our Lord. Now also, O Lord the mighty God, make firm the knees of this thy servant N, son of M, and may he rise up and be made whole of this sickness by the power of the God of Gods and Lord of Lords; and by thy help heal this thy servant, and make him whole, by the prayer of St. Mary the blessed, the mother of the Light, and by the prayer of all the saints of our Lord, now and at all times, Lord of all, etc.
11 Grace before meat. Stretch forth, O our Lord and our God, the right hand of thy mercy from the height of thy holiness, and bless and hallow this food of thy worshippers, in the name of thy glorious Trinity; and enrich it with the benefits and blessings which come from thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for ever. Our Father, etc. (without farcings). Grace after meat. A thousand thousand and ten thousand times ten thousand thanksgivings to God the Lord of all. May this food be multiplied and increased, and remain stedfast and never fail, by the prayers of the twelve apostles, and the just and righteous fathers who were and are approved by their Lord in every generation. May this table be as the table of our father Abraham, and not fail or fall short of heavenly blessings in every age while this world remaineth; may the houses of the faithful be blessed, and their offerings be accepted, may their departed be quickened, may their trespasses and sins be pardoned, and may they be worthy of the good things of the kingdom, O thou who art glorious, and feedest all in thy lovingkindness and mercies, now and at all times, Lord of all, etc. Our Father, etc.
12 Or this. O thou who didst satisfy thousands in the desert, so that they ate from a few loaves, bless, O my Lord, this table, that it may be full and rich; that the poor may eat and be satisfied, and that the orphans may be supplied from it, and all classes be supported by it, and have joy from its good things; as the table of chosen Abram, and David the king and prophet, and Solomon and Hezekiah, and Constantine the victorious. So, O my Lord, may this table of thy servant be blessed and enriched with good things, by the overflowing mercies of thy lovingkindness. Bless, O our Lord, the husbandmen (who sowed the corn) for it; bless, O my Lord, them that prepared it; bless, O my Lord, them that eat of it; bless the house and them that dwell in it. Make, O my Lord, thy blessing to overshadow the house and abide in it; and may they that dwell in it ever be kept from evil things. Bless beasts and men; bless vineyards and orchards; bless crops and fruits, and all of us together, now and at all times, and for ever and ever. Our Father, etc.
13 Prayer for hallowing unclean water. This only. Thee, O mighty, holy, and glorious God, we confess and worship, and with the boldness which thou hast given us we ask of thy kindness to stretch forth the right hand of thy mercy, and bless and hallow this water; and to make thy help to abide in it; that wherever it is placed or poured out, or floweth forth or is thrown, it may cast thence all defilement and uncleanness from a dead man, and from things strangled; and that all who drink of it, or who use it, may gain from it cleanliness and comeliness and purity of soul and body; and may it give, by thy pure gift, help and salvation to souls which desire and rejoice in the holiness and order of the household of thy Majesty; and for all thy helps and graces towards us we will lift up to thee praise and honour and confession and worship, now and at all times, and for ever and ever. Amen. He makes the sign of the cross on the water.
14 Prayer said over a bride when she enters the church after forty days. O compassionate and merciful Christ, our God, whose lovingkindness is poured forth on all, pour forth thy loving-kindness and help on this bride, and sanctify her by thy mercies, and make her worthy to love the good and hate the evil, and to do deeds that are approved by thee; and may fruits of gladness come from her bosom, and grow up in the faith of thy holy Church; and may she walk before her bridegroom according to thy good pleasure, and look to him with her eyes as is right, and hear with her ears his commands and confess them; and may her mouth speak fitly about him; and with her heart may she truly love him, and with her hands do his will; and may her feet walk circumspectly in holiness. And may bride and bridegroom and groom's man and bride's maid be kept from all harm by the prayers of her who bare thee, the second heaven, St. Mary the blessed, and of all thy saints, now and at all times, and for ever and ever. Amen. He makes the sign of the cross on her head.
15 Blessing said over a boy and his mother, forty days after his birth, when the mother brings him into Church. O Lord the mighty God, the Creator of heaven and of earth, and of all that is in them, who gave the law to the first fathers, and didst command therein that every male when forty days old should come to thy holy temple, and make an offering to the priest, and that he should pray over him, and that he should be purified, and didst fulfil this command, even thou, O my Lord, by the entrance of thy beloved Son into the temple when forty days old, when the aged Simeon took him in his arms, and confessed, and asked of him a release from his life; now also, O Lord God, bless and sanctify this child N, who hath come to thy holy Church, which is the dwelling-place of holiness, to ask of thee to grant him that the milk which he draweth in may be increased, and that he may be kept from the Evil one and his hosts, and may grow in holiness and the true faith all the days of his life. Amen.
16 For the boy's mother. And mayest thou, the mother of the boy, be moved in the hidden man which is in the heart, to good works, and may there come forth from thy loins sons and daughters who may propitiate God by their goodly deeds; and mayest thou have joy in the blessings of the Lord; and thou and thy son, may ye be kept from all harm by the prayers of the Virgin clothed in light, the second heaven, St. Mary, who bare Christ our God, and by the prayer of all the saints, now and at all times, and for ever and ever. Amen. He makes the sign of the cross over their heads. 17 Prayer for a woman who asks for the prayers of the Church. O our Lord Jesus Christ, the secret Son of the hidden Father, who didst make thy mercies to bow down to our weak and feeble race, and didst come down from heaven to earth, and didst take man's body from the Virgin Mary, the daughter of David, and didst fulfil the law of Moses thy servant, when on the eighth day thou madest an offering of circumcision; and by a bodily growth didst offer purification for purification as it is written; for thou art the acceptable offering, and sweet odour, and by thee thy Father is reconciled to our weak and feeble race; do thou, O Lord, the mighty God, now give pardon and forgiveness and purification to this thy handmaid N, who hath presented herself this day in thy holy temple, and hath come to (me) thy weak and sinful servant, and asketh blessings and prayers, and gifts of grace from heaven, given though the priesthood from thy mercy, O Creator of us all. Yea, when (we) make request to thee, O Lord Almighty, return answer, O Lord, in thy mercies to this thy handmaid at this time, and send on her the grace of the Holy Ghost; that she may be sanctified and cleansed from all uncleanness of flesh and spirit, and be adorned with purity and holiness, that she may please thy will and keep thy commandments, now and at all times, and for ever and ever. Amen.
18 Prayer over new cloths and vessels offered to the Altar. O Lord God of our fathers, who in the first ages didst mystically typify beforehand the mysteries of the faithful Church by the hands of the head of the high priest, Moses the prophet, when thou didst command him with holy oil to sanctify the tabernacle and all its cloths and vessels, that they might be set apart in grace and holiness, because thou art holy; we also, O merciful Lord, Friend of man, make request to thee and beseech thee, according to thy promise to thy holy apostles, to send thy grace which worketh all blessings, and purify and sanctify this cloth, and bless it, that it may be for priestly use as becometh the ministration thereby of thy divine and pardoning mysteries; and anoint it with thyself, who art the oil of complete perfection; and may we be to thee pure and holy temples in which thy Godhead dwelleth, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
19 Or this. O Lord the God of hosts, Almighty, holy, and glorious, who art eternally holy, and dwellest in light that man cannot attain unto, whose glory and holiness hath filled all things, and who hast not left thyself without those who shall glorify thee, and hast created the companies on high to glorify and to sing Holy to thy Majesty, not that thou needest praise, but that they who glorify thee may be magnified in thee, and hast created the worlds in thy loving-kindness, and hast raised up high priests to thy honour, and hast set firm a tabernacle for thy dwelling-place, and hast decked it with glorious cloths and vessels, and censers and chalices, and candlesticks and cups, and whatever else is (used) in the Mosaic service which thou hast commanded; now also, O Lord, we thy servants, saved by the cross of thine Only-begotten, beseech thy mercies to hallow these cloths and vessels on which our hands have been laid, and which have been offered for the service of thy altar, to be for the honour of thy habitation, and the praise of thy holy Name, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. And receive, O my Lord, as an oblation the will of these persons who have offered them, and of whosoever have been partakers with them, for thou art a Sea who pourest forth blessings in thy lovingkindness and mercies, and to thee is due confession from the mouth of all speaking beings whom thou hast created, now and at all times, and for ever and ever. Yea, and Amen. He makes the sign of the cross on the cloths and vessels.