S. Ephræm Syri Confessoris et Ecclesiæ Doctoris

Ant. Lord, you delivered to me * five talents: behold, I have gained five more.

Psalm 97

97:1 Sing to the Lord a new song: * for he has performed wonders.
97:1 His right hand has accomplished salvation for him: * with his holy arm.
97:2 The Lord has made known his salvation: * he has revealed his justice in the sight of the nations.
97:3 He has remembered his mercy, * and his truth toward the house of Israel.
97:3 All the ends of the earth have seen * the salvation of our God.
Sing joyfully to God, all the earth: * sing and exult, and sing psalms.
Sing psalms to the Lord with stringed instruments, with strings and the voice of a psalmist: * with subtle wind instruments and the voice of woodwinds.
Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king: * let the sea be moved and all its fullness, the whole world and all who dwell in it.
The rivers will clap their hands, the mountains will exult together, before the presence of the Lord: * for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the whole world with justice, * and the peoples with fairness.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Lord, you delivered to me five talents: behold, I have gained five more.

Ant. Well done, good servant, * faithful in a little: enter into the joy of your Lord.

Psalm 89

89:1 O Lord, you have been our refuge * from generation to generation.
89:2 Before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world were formed: * from age to age you are, O God.
89:3 Do not turn man back to humiliation: * and you said: Be converted, O children of men.
89:4 For a thousand years in your sight, * are as yesterday, which is past,
89:5 And a watch of the night, * which was held for nothing: so their years shall be.
89:6 In the morning, he may pass away like grass; in the morning, he may flower and pass away: * in the evening, he will fall, and harden, and become dry.
89:7 For, at your wrath, we have withered away, * and we have been disturbed by your fury.
89:8 You have placed our iniquities in your sight: * our age in the illumination of your countenance.
89:9 For all our days have faded away: * and at your wrath, we have fainted.
89:9 Our years will be considered to be like a spider's web: * the days of our years in them, seventy years.
89:10 But in the powerful, eighty years: * and more of these are with hardship and sorrow.
89:10 For meekness has come upon us: * and we shall be chastened.
89:11 Who knows the power of your wrath: * and, before fear, can number your wrath?
89:12 So make your right hand thus known: * and men learned in heart, in wisdom.
89:13 Return, O Lord, how long? * And may you be persuaded on behalf of your servants.
89:14 We were filled in the morning with your mercy: * and we exulted and delighted all our days.
89:15 We have rejoiced because of the days in which you humbled us: * because of the years in which we saw evils.
89:16 Look down upon your servants and upon their works: * and direct their sons.
89:17 And may the splendor of the Lord our God be upon us, and direct the works of our hands over us: * and direct the work of our hands.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Well done, good servant, faithful in a little: enter into the joy of your Lord.

Ant. The faithful and prudent servant, * whom the Lord has set over his household.

Psalm 35

35:2 The unjust one has said within himself that he would commit offenses: * there is no fear of God before his eyes.
35:3 For he has acted deceitfully in his sight: * such that his iniquity will be found to be hatred.
35:4 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: * he is unwilling to understand, so that he may act well.
35:5 He has been considering iniquity on his bed: * he has set himself on every way that is not good; moreover, he has not hated evil.
35:6 Lord, your mercy is in heaven: * and your truth is even to the clouds.
35:7 Your justice is like the mountains of God: * your judgments are a great abyss.
35:7 Men and beasts, you will save, O Lord: * how you have multiplied your mercy, O God.
35:8 And so the sons of men * will hope under the cover of your wings.
35:9 They will be inebriated with the fruitfulness of your house: * and you will give them to drink from the torrent of your enjoyment.
35:10 For with you is the fountain of life: * and within your light, we will see the light.
35:11 Extend your mercy before those who know you, * and your justice to these, who are upright in heart.
35:12 May arrogant feet not approach me: * and may the hand of the sinner not disturb me.
35:13 In that place, those who work iniquity have fallen: * they have been expelled; they were not able to stand.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. The faithful and prudent servant, whom the Lord has set over his household.

Ant. Blessed is that servant * whom, when his Lord shall come and knock at the door, he shall find watching.

Canticle of Jeremiah

Ier 31:10-18

31:10 Listen to the word of the Lord, O nations, * and announce it amid the islands that are far away,
31:11 And say: Whoever has scattered Israel will gather him, * and he will guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.
31:12 For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, * and has freed him from the hand of one more powerful.
31:13 And they will come and give praise on Mount Zion, * and they will flow together to the good things of the Lord,
31:14 Over grain, and wine, and oil, * and the offspring of flocks and herds:
31:15 And their soul will be like an irrigated garden, * and they will hunger no more.
31:16 Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, * the young men and old together:
31:17 And I will turn their mourning into gladness, * and I will console them and gladden them after their sorrow.
31:18 And I will inebriate the soul of the priests with fatness, * and my people will be filled with my good things.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Blessed is that servant whom, when his Lord shall come and knock at the door, he shall find watching.

Ant. Good * and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.

Psalm 146

146:1 Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good: * to our God be joyful and fitting praise.
146:2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem: * he will gather together the dispersed of Israel.
146:3 Who heals the broken in heart: * and binds up their sorrows.
146:4 Who tells the number of the multitude of stars: * and calls them all by their names.
146:5 Great is our Lord, and great is his power: * and of his wisdom there is no number.
146:6 The Lord raises up the meek: * but brings the sinners down to the earth.
146:7 Sing praise to the Lord with thanksgiving: * sing psalms to our God upon the harp.
146:8a Who covers the heaven with clouds: * and prepares rain for the earth.
146:8b Who makes grass to grow upon the mountains: * and herbs for the service of men.
146:9 Who gives to the beasts their food: * and to the young ravens that call upon him.
146:10 He shall not delight in the strength of the horse: * nor take pleasure in the legs of a man.
146:11 The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him: * and in those who hope in his mercy.

℣ Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Spirit.

℟ As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

Ant. Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.