King David in Penance, miniature from a French book of hours ( The Hague, KB, 74 F 1, fol. 97r), c. 1450.

Septem Psalmi Paenitentiales

The Seven Penitential Psalms

Septem psalmi paenitentiales, cum Litaniis, dicuntur flexis genibus.

The Seven Psalms, are to be said with the Litanies, kneeling.

Ant: Ne reminiscaris.

Ant: Remember not.

Psalmus [6]:
Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me: neque in ira tua corripias me.
Miserere mei Domine, quoniam infirmus sum: sana me Domine, quoniam conturbata sunt ossa mea.
Et anima mea turbata est valde: sed tu Domine usquequo.
Convertere Domine, et eripe animam meam: salvum me fac propter misericordiam tuam.
Quoniam non est in morte, qui memor sit tui: in inferno autem quis confitebitur tibi?
Laboravi in gemitu meo, lavabo per singulas noctes lectum meum: lacrymis meis stratum meum rigabo.
Turbatus est a furore oculus meus: inveteravi inter omnes inimicos meos.
Discedite a me omnes, qui operamini iniquitatem: quoniam exaudivit Dominus vocem fletus mei.
Exaudivit Dominus deprecationem meam: Dominus orationem meam suscepit.
Erubescant, et conturbentur vehementer omnes inimici mei: convertantur, et erubescant valde velociter.

Psalm [6]:
Lord rebuke me not in thy fury: nor chastise me in thy wrath.
Have mercy on me Lord, because I am weak: heal me Lord, because all my bones be troubled.
And my soul is troubled exceedingly: but thou Lord how long?
Turn thee O Lord, and deliver my soul: save me for thy mercy.
Because there is not in death, that is mindful of thee: and in hell who shall confess to thee?
I have laboured in my mourning, I will every night wash my bed: I will water my couch with tears.
Mine eye is troubled for fury: I have waxen old among all mine enemies.
Depart from me all ye, that work iniquity: because our Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.
Our Lord hath heard my petition: our Lord hath received my prayer.
Let all my enemies be ashamed, and very sore troubled: let them be converted, and ashamed very speedily.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Even as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever: and world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalmus [31]:
Beati quorum remissae sunt iniquitates: et quorum tecta sunt peccata.
Beatus vir cui non inputavit Dominus peccatum: nec est in spiritu eius dolus.
Quoniam tacui, inveteraverunt ossa mea: dum clamarem tota die.
Quoniam die, ac nocte gravata est super me manus tua: conversus sum in aerumna mea, dum configitur spina.
Delictum meum cognitum tibi feci: et iniustitiam meam non abscondi.
Dixi, confitebor adversum me iniustitiam meam Domino: et tu remisisti impietatem peccati mei.
Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus: in tempore oportuno.
Verumtamen in diluvio aquarum multarum: ad eum non approximabunt.
Tu es refugium meum a tribulatione, quae circumdedit me: exultatio mea, erue me a circumdantibus me.
Intellectum tibi dabo, et instruam te in via hac, qua gradieris: firmabo super te oculos meos.
Nolite fieri sicut equus et mulus: quibus non est intellectus.
In camo et freno maxillas eorum constringe: qui non approximant ad te.
Multa flagella peccatoris: sperantem autem in Domino misericordia circumdabit.
Laetamini in Domino, et exultate iusti: et gloriamini omnes recti corde.

Psalm [31]:
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven: and whose sins be covered.
Blessed is the man to whom our Lord hath not imputed sin: neither is there guile in his spirit.
Because I held my peace, my bones are waxen old: whilst I cried all the day.
Because day, and night thy hand is made heavy upon me: I am turned in my anguish, whilst the thorn is fastened.
I have made my sin known to thee: and my injustice I have not hid.
I said, I will confess against me my injustice to our Lord: and thou hast forgiven the impiety of my sin.
For this shall every holy one pray to thee: in time convenient.
But yet in the overflow of many waters: they shall not approach to him.
Thou art my refuge from tribulation, which hath compassed me: my joy, deliver me from them that compass me.
I will give thee understanding, and will instruct thee in the way, that thou shalt go: I will fasten mine eyes upon thee.
Do not become as horse and mule: who have no understanding.
In bit and bridle bind fast their jaws that approach not to thee.
Many are the scourges of a sinner: but mercy shall compass him that hopeth in our Lord.
Be joyful in our Lord, and rejoice ye just: and glory all ye right of heart.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Even as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever: and world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalmus [37]:
Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me: neque in ira tua corripias me.
Quoniam sagittae tuae infixae sunt mihi: et confirmasti super me manum tuam.
Non est sanitas in carne mea a facie irae tuae: non est pax ossibus meis a facie peccatorum meorum.
Quoniam iniquitates meae supergressae sunt caput meum: et sicut onus grave gravatae sunt super me.
Putruerunt, et corruptae sunt cicatrices meae: a facie insipientiae meae.
Miser factus sum, et curvatus sum usque in finem: tota die contristatus ingrediebar.
Quoniam lumbi mei impleti sunt illusionibus: et non est sanitas in carne mea.
Afflictus sum, et humiliatus sum nimis: rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei.
Domine ante te omne desiderium meum: et gemitus meus a te non est absconditus.
Cor meum conturbatum est, dereliquit me virtus mea: et lumen oculorum meorum, et ipsum non est mecum.
Amici mei, et proximi mei: adversum me appropinquaverunt, et steterunt.
Et qui iuxta me erant, de longe steterunt: et vim faciebant, qui quaerebant animam meam.
Et qui inquirebant mala mihi, locuti sunt vanitates: et dolos tota die meditabantur.
Ego autem tamquam surdus non audiebam: et sicut mutus non aperiens os suum.
Et factus sum sicut homo non audiens: et non habens in ore suo redargutiones.
Quoniam in te Domine speravi: tu exaudies Domine Deus meus.
Quia dixi, ne quando supergaudeant mihi inimici mei: et dum commoventur pedes mei, super me magna locuti sunt.
Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum: et dolor meus in conspectu meo semper.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam annunciabo: et cogitabo pro peccato meo.
Inimici autem mei vivunt, et confirmati sunt super me: et multiplicati sunt, qui oderunt me inique.
Qui retribuunt mala pro bonis, detrahebant mihi: quoniam sequebar bonitatem.
Non derelinquas me Domine Deus meus: ne discesseris a me.
Intende in adiutorium meum: Domine Deus salutis meae.

Psalm [37]:
Lord rebuke me not in thy fury: nor chastise me in thy wrath.
Because thy arrows are fastened in me: and thou hast confirmed thy hand upon me.
There is no health in my flesh in respect of thy wrath: my bones have no peace in respect of my sins.
Because mine iniquities are gone over my head: and as a heavy burden are become heavy upon me.
My scars are putrified, and corrupted: in respect of my foolishness.
I am become miserable, and am made crooked, even to the end: I went sorrowful all the day.
Because my loins are filled with illusions: and there is no health in my flesh.
I am afflicted, and am humbled exceedingly: I roared for the groaning of my heart.
Lord before thee is all my desire: and my groaning is not hid from thee.
My heart is troubled, my strength hath forsaken me: and the light of mine eyes, and the same is not with me.
My friends, and my neighbours: have approached, and stood against me.
And they that were near me, stood far off: and they did violence, which sought my soul.
And they that sought out evils against me, spake vanities: and devised guiles all the day.
But I as deaf did not hear: and as one dumb not opening his mouth.
And I became as a man not hearing: and not having reprehensions in his mouth.
Because in thee O Lord have I hoped: thou shalt hear me O Lord my God.
For I have said, lest sometimes my enemies rejoice over me: and whilst my feet are moved, they spake great things upon me.
Because I am ready for scourges: and my sorrow is in my sight always.
Because I will declare my iniquity: and I will think for my sin.
But mine enemies live, and are confirmed over me: and they are multiplied that hate me unjustly.
They that repay evil things for good, did backbite me: because I followed goodness.
Forsake me not O Lord my God: depart not from me.
Incline unto my help: O Lord God of my salvation.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Even as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever: and world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalmus [50]:
Miserere mei Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum: dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me.
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper.
Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut iustificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum iudicaris.
Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi.
Asperges me Domine hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Auditui meo dabis gaudium, et laetitiam: et exultabunt ossa humiliata.
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
Cor mundum crea in me Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis.
Ne proicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me.
Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me.
Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur.
Libera me de sanguinibus Deus, Deus salutis meae: et exultabit lingua mea iustitiam tuam.
Domine labia mea aperies: et os meum annunciabit laudem tuam.
Quoniam si voluisses, sacrificium dedissem utique: holocaustis non delectaberis.
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum, et humiliatum Deus non despicies.
Benigne fac Domine in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut aedificentur muri Hierusalem.
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium iustitiae, oblationes, et holocausta: tunc inponent super altare tuum vitulos.

Psalm [50]:
Have mercy on me O God: according to thy great mercy.
And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies: blot out my iniquity.
Wash me more from my iniquity: and cleanse me from my sin.
Because I know my iniquity: and my sin is always against me.
To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayest be justified in thy words, and mayest overcome when thou art judged.
For behold I was conceived in iniquities: and my mother conceived me in sins.
For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.
Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
To my hearing thou shalt give joy, and gladness: and humbled bones shall rejoice.
Turn away thy face from my sins: and blot out all my iniquities.
Create a clean heart in me O God: and renew a right spirit in my bowels.
Cast me not away from thy face: and thy holy spirit take not from me.
Render unto me the joy of thy salvation: and confirm me with a principal spirit.
I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the impious shall be converted unto thee.
Deliver me from bloods O God, the God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.
Thou O Lord wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
Because if thou wouldst have had sacrifice, I had verily given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.
A sacrifice to God is a troubled spirit: a contrite, and humble heart O God, thou wilt not despise.
Deal favourably O Lord, in thy good will with Sion: and let the walls of Jerusalem be built up.
Then shalt thou accept sacrifice of justice, oblations, and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Even as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever: and world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalmus [101]:
Domine exaudi orationem meam: et clamor meus ad te veniat.
Non avertas faciem tuam a me: in quacumque die tribulor, inclina ad me aurem tuam.
In quacumque die invocavero te: velociter exaudi me.
Quia defecerunt sicut fumus, dies mei: et ossa mea sicut gremium aruerunt.
Percussus sum, ut faenum, et aruit cor meum: quia oblitus sum comedere panem meum.
A voce gemitus mei: adhaesit os meum carni meae.
Similis factus sum pelicano solitudinis: factus sum sicut nycticorax in domicilio.
Vigilavi: et factus sum sicut passer solitarius in tecto.
Tota die exprobrabant mihi inimici mei: et qui laudabant me, adversum me iurabant.
Quia cinerem tamquam panem manducabam: et potum meum cum fletu miscebam.
A facie irae et indignationis tuae: quia elevans allisisti me.
Dies mei sicut umbra declinaverunt: et ego sicut faenum arui.
Tu autem Domine in aeternum permanes: et memoriale tuum in generatione, et generationem.
Tu exsurgens Domine misereberis Sion: quia tempus miserendi eius, quia venit tempus.
Quoniam placuerunt servis tuis lapides eius: et terrae eius miserebuntur.
Et timebunt gentes nomen tuum Domine: et omnes reges terrae gloriam tuam.
Quia aedificavit Dominus Sion: et videbitur in gloria sua.
Respexit in orationem humilium: et non sprevit precem eorum.
Scribantur haec in generatione altera: et populus qui creabitur, laudabit Dominum.
Quia prospexit de excelso sancto suo: Dominus de caelo in terram aspexit.
Ut audiret gemitus conpeditorum: ut solveret filios interemptorum.
Ut annuncient in Sion nomen Domini: et laudem eius in Hierusalem.
In conveniendo populos in unum: et reges ut serviant Domino.
Respondit ei in via virtutis suae: paucitatem dierum meorum nuncia mihi.
Ne revoces me in dimidio dierum meorum: in generatione, et generationem anni tui.
Initio tu Domine terram fundasti: et opera manuum tuarum sunt caeli.
Ipsi peribunt, tu autem permanes: et omnes sicut vestimentum veterescent.
Et sicut opertorium mutabis eos, et mutabuntur: tu autem idem ipse es, et anni tui non deficient.
Filii servorum tuorum habitabunt: et semen eorum in saeculum dirigetur.

Psalm [101]:
O Lord hear my prayer: and let my cry come to thee.
Turn not away thy face from me: in what day soever I am in tribulation, incline thine ear to me.
In what day soever I shall call upon thee: hear me speedily.
For my days have vanished as smoke: and my bones are withered as a dry burnt thing.
I am smitten as grass, and my heart is withered: for I forgot to eat my bread.
From the voice of any groaning: my bone hath cleaved to my flesh.
I am become like a pelican of the wilderness: I am become as a night crow in the house.
I have watched: and am become as a sparrow solitary in the housetop.
All the day did mine enemies upbraid me: and they that praised me, swear against me.
For I did eat ashes as bread, and mingled my drink with weeping.
At the face of the wrath of thine indignation: for that lifting me up thou hast thrown me down.
My days have declined as a shadow: and I am withered as grass.
But thou O Lord endurest for ever: and thy memorial in generation and generation.
Thou rising up shalt have mercy on Sion: for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is come.
Because the stones thereof have pleased thy servants: and they shall have pity on the earth thereof.
And the Gentiles shall fear thy name O Lord: and all the kings of the earth thy glory.
For our Lord hath builded Sion: and he shall be seen in his glory.
He hath had respect to the prayer of the humble: and he hath not despised their petition.
Let these things be written in another generation: and the people that shall be created, shall praise our Lord:
Because he hath looked forth from his high holy place: our Lord from heaven hath looked upon the earth.
That he might hear the groanings of the fettered: that he might unbind the children of them that are slain.
That they may show forth the name of our Lord in Sion: and his praise in Jerusalem.
In the assembling of the people together in one: and kings to serve our Lord.
He answered them in the way of his strength: show me the fewness of my days.
Call me not away in the half of my days: thy years are unto generation, and generation.
In the beginning O Lord thou didst found the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands.
They shall perish but thou remainest: and they shall all wax old as a garment.
And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed: but thou art the selfsame, and thy years shall not fail.
The sons of thy servants shall inhabit: and their seed shall be directed for ever.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Even as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever: and world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalmus [129]:
De profundis clamavi ad te Domine: Domine exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes: in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris Domine: Domine quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est: propter legem tuam sustinui te Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbo eius: speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem: speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia: et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel: ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.

Psalm [129]:
From the depths I have cried to thee O Lord: Lord hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive: unto the voice of my petition.
If thou wilt observe iniquities O Lord: Lord who shall endure it?
Because with thee there is pitifulness: and for thy law I have expected thee O Lord.
My soul hath stayed in his word: my soul hath hoped in our Lord.
From the morning watch even until night: let Israel hope in our Lord.
Because with our Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel: from all his iniquities.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Even as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever: and world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Psalmus [142]:
Domine exaudi orationem meam, auribus percipe obsecrationem meam: in veritate tua, exaudi me in tua iustitia.
Et non intres in iudicium cum servo tuo: quia non iustificabitur in conspectu tuo omnis vivens.
Quia persecutus est inimicus animam meam: humiliavit in terra vitam meam.
Collocavit me in obscuris sicut mortuos saeculi: et anxiatus est super me spiritus meus, in me turbatum est cor meum.
Memor fui dierum antiquorum, meditatus sum in omnibus operibus tuis: et in factis manuum tuarum meditabar.
Expandi manus meas ad te: anima mea sicut terra sine aqua tibi.
Velociter exaudi me Domine: defecit spiritus meus.
Non avertas faciem tuam a me: et similis ero descendentibus in lacum.
Auditam fac mihi mane misericordiam tuam: quia in te speravi.
Notam fac mihi viam, in qua ambulem: quia ad te levavi animam meam.
Eripe me de inimicis meis, Domine, ad te confugi: doce me facere voluntatem tuam, quia Deus meus es tu.
Spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terram rectam: propter nomen tuum Domine vivificabis me in aequitate tua.
Educes de tribulatione animam meam: et in misericordia tua disperdes inimicos meos.
Et perdes omnes, qui tribulant animam meam: quoniam ego servus tuus sum.

Psalm [142]:
Lord hear my prayer, with thine ears receive my petition: in thy truth, hear me in thy justice.
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for every one living shall not be justified in thy sight.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul: he hath humbled my life in the earth.
He hath set me in obscure places as the dead of the world: and my spirit is in anguish upon me, within me my heart is troubled.
I was mindful of old days, I have meditated in all thy works: in the deeds of thy hands did I meditate.
I have stretched forth my hands to thee: my soul as earth without water unto thee.
Hear me quickly O Lord: my spirit hath fainted.
Turn not away thy face from me: and I shall be like to them that descend into the lake.
Make me hear thy mercy in the morning: for I have hoped in thee.
Make the way known to me, wherein I may walk: because I have lifted up my soul to thee.
Deliver me from mine enemies, O Lord, to thee I have fled: teach me to do thy will, because thou art my God.
Thy good spirit shall conduct me into the right land: for thy name's sake O Lord thou shalt quicken me in thine equity.
Thou shalt bring my soul out of tribulation: and in thy mercy thou shalt destroy mine enemies.
And thou shalt destroy all, that afflict my soul: because I am thy servant.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. Alleluia.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Even as it was in the beginning, and now, and ever: and world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

Ant: Ne reminiscaris Domine delicta nostra, vel parentem nostrorum: neque vindictam sumas de peccatis nostris.

Ant: Remember, not O Lord our or our parents' offences: neither take vengeance of our sins.

On to the Litanies.
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