In the offering of Daily Vespers, the usual
custom is for the Choir to sing the first two verses after which the reader
chants the Psalms t othe point at which there are verses appointed for the day
(cf the numberedverses below). At this point the reader and choir alternate,
the readerreading the Psalm verse, and the Choir singing the apointed sticheron
(verse)until the end. At a Vigil or at Great Vespers on Saturday or on the
eveof a Great feast, the usual custom is for the Choir to sing the first twoverses.
The reader then skips down to and reads the Psalm verse beforethe first
appointed sticheron and then alternates with the choir untilthe end. It is also
customary for the choir (or a second choir) to singthe Psalm verses which are
usually read between the appointed stichera.Also, in many places all of the
appointed Psalms are chanted on Saturdaysand eves of great feasts as well as at
Daily Vespers.
Choir: Lord, I have cried unto Thee, hearken unto me; attendto the
voice of my supplication when I cry unto Thee, hearken unto me,O Lord.
Let my prayer be set forth as incense before Thee, the lifting up of myhands as
an evening sacrifice, hearken unto me, O Lord.
[Choir:*Lord, I call upon Thee, hear me,
hear me, O Lord. Lord,I call upon Thee hear me, receive the voice of my prayer,
when I call uponThee. Hear, me O Lord.
Let my prayer arise in Thy sight as incense, and let the lifting up ofmy hands
be an evening sacrifice. Hear me O Lord.]
Reader: Set, O Lord, a watch before my mouth, and a door of
enclosureround about my lips.
Incline not my heart unto words of evil, to make excuse with excuses insins,
with men that work iniquity; and I will not join with their chosen.
The righteous man will chasten me with mercy and reprove me; as for theoil of
the sinner, let it not anoint my head.
For yet more is my prayer in the presence of their pleasures; swallowedup near
by the rock have their judges been.
They shall hear my words, for they be sweetened; as a clod of earth isbroken
upon the earth, so have their bones been scattered nigh unto hades.
For unto thee, O Lord, O Lord, are mine eyes, in Thee have I hoped; takenot my
soul away.
Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, and from the
stumbling-blocksof them that work iniquity.
The sinners shall fall into their own net; I am alone until I pass by.
With my voice unto
the Lord have I cried, with my voice unto the Lordhave I made supplication.
I will pour out before Him my supplication, mine affliction before Himwill I
declare.
When my spirit was fainting within me, then Thou knewest my paths.
In this way wherein I have walked they hid for me a snare.
I looked upon my right hand, and beheld, and there was none that did knowme.
Flight hath failed me, and there is none that watcheth out for my soul.
I have cried unto Thee, O Lord; I said: Thou art my hope, my portion artThou in
the land of the living.
Attend unto my supplication, for I am brought very low.
Deliver me from them that persecute me, for they are stronger than I.
10 Bring my soul
out of prison, that I may confess Thy name.
(Insert stichera starting here when there are 10 appointed verses)
9. The righteous shall wait patiently for me until Thou shall rewardme.
(verse)
8. Out of the
depths have I cried to thee, O Lord, O Lord, hear my voice.
(when there are 8 appointed verses)
7. Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
(verse)
6. If Thou shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, O Lord, who shall stand?For
with Thee is forgiveness.
(When there are 6 appointed verses)
5. For Thy name's sake have I patiently waited for Thee, O Lord; mysoul
hath waited patiently for Thy word my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
(verse)
4. From the morning watch until night, from the morning watch, letIsrael
hope in the Lord.
(When there are 4 appointed verses)
3. For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous
redemption.And He shall deliver Israel out of all his iniquities.
(verse)
2. Praise the Lord, all ye nations, praise Him, all ye peoples.
(verse)
1. For He hath made His mercy to prevail over us, and the truth ofthe Lord
abideth forever.
(verse)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
(The appropriate doxastichon [Glory verse] is inserted here)
Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
(Theotokion or Dogmatikon appointed for the day)
* A translation of the first two verses
appointed to be sung by the choir which is adapted from the KJV/RSV
translations is provided here in addition to the translation provided. This is
done because it is the text which is used by the majority of English speaking
parishes which offerthis service on a regular ( i.e. weekly and for major
feasts) basis.