Mass readings in Scots: Feast of the Holy Family (Year B)

First reading
Ecclesiasticus 3: 2-6, 12-14 (Permitted Year A reading)

For God haes made the faither honourable tae the bairns:
an seekan the judgment o the mithers, haes confirmit it upon the bairns.
He at luves God, sal be forgien his sins bi prayer,
an sal refrain hissel frae thaim, an sal be haird i the prayer o days.
An he at honours his mither is as ane at gaithers a treisur.
He at honours his faither sal hae joy i his ain bairns,
an i the day o his prayer he sal be haird.
He at honours his faither sal enjoy a lang life:
an he at obeys the faither, sal be a comfort tae his mither.
Son, uphaud the auld age o thy faither,
an dinna fash him i his life;
an gin his wuts fails, hae patience wi him,
an dinna despise him whan thou is i thy strenth:
for the relievin o the faither salna be forgotten.
For guid sal be repaid tae thee for the sin o thy mither.

[Own translation, level 2 (20/12/18) methodology here]


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 127: 1-5 (Permitted Year A reading)

Blissit ar thay that sit in Goddis dreid,
And leif in his commandement alway:
Of thy hand laubour thow sail eit, be not feird,
And fair weill thow sal euerie day.

Thy wyfe salbe as ane frutefulle wyne,
And sail weill ay incres thy hous;
Thy bairnis all sail to vertew inclyne,
As fair Oliue treis that be plenteous.

Quhen euer thow sittis at thy tabill,
Thy bairnis sall stand round about thé;
Sa will the Lord make thé abill,
And fill thy hous with honestie:

Sa sall God him euer blis,
That dreidis him ay in his leifing,
Always sall he be sicker of this,
That is neidful to want na thing.

Fra Syone sall the Lord blis thé ,
That thow may sé to thy greit weill,
How prosperous Jerusalem sall be,
And thow ressauit to eternall heill.

Ane profitabill lyfe sail be geuin thé
And God alway sall be thy freind:
Thy Childeris Childring thou sall se,
And peace in Israell sall thow find.

[Complete Psalm 127, from The Gude and Godlie Ballatis [1567] John Wedderburn et al., Alexander Ferrier (ed.) (1897), p.130 here]

Second reading
Colossians 3: 12-21 (Permitted Year A reading)

Pit ye on, than, as chosen anes o’ God, holie and weel-lo’ed, the tender-affections o’ compassion, graciousness, humbleness o’ mind, canniness, patience: tholin ane-anither, in tenderness forgiean ane-anither, gin aiblins ony ane has a compleent again ony; e’en as the Lord oot o’ love forgae you, sae do ye. But ower and aboon a’ thir things, hae ye love, whilk wull bind thegither a’ things in perfeteness. And lat the peace o’ Christ be Regent in yere hearts; till whilk ye war bidden, as ae body; and be ye thankfu’.

Be the word o’ Christ dwallin in ye richly; in a’ wyss teachin and admonishin o’ yersels, in psalms, in hymns, and godly sangs: liltin i’ yere hearts to God in yere gratitude. And in a’ things, whatsae’er ye be doin, in word or in wark, do a’ in the name o’ the Lord Jesus, giean thanks to yere God and Faither throwe him. Wives, submit yersels to yere husbands, as is fittin in the Lord. Husbands, lo’e yere wives, and be-na set again them. Bairns, be ye biddable to yere parents in a’ things, for this is weel-pleasin i’ the Lord. Faithers, wauken-na up ang’er in yere bairns, least they be disheartened.

[From The New Testament in Braid Scots William Wye Smith (1904) here]


Gospel reading
Luke 2:22-40

And whan the days o’ purification by the law o’ Moses war fulfilled, they took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord; e’en as it is putten-doon i’ the law o’ the Lord, “Ilka male that opes a womb sal be ca’d holie to the Lord.” And to offer an offeran, as it is putten-doon i’ the law o' the Lord, “A pair o’ cushats, or twa young doos.” And mark! thar was a man i’ Jerusalem, whase name was Simeon; and this man was holie and devout, lookin’ for Isra’l’s consolation. And the Holie Spirit was on him. And the Holie Spirit had made kent to him that he soudna see death till he had seen the Anointit o’ the Lord. And he cam i’ the Spirit, intil the Temple; and whan the parents brocht in the bairn Jesus, to do for him what was the custom o’ the Law, he took him in his airms, and praised God, and said,

“Noo, wull thou dismiss thy servant, O Lord! conform to thy word, in peace!
For my een hae seen thy salvation,
whilk thou hast brocht forrit afore the face o’ a’ folk.
A licht for unveilin to the Gentiles,
and a glorie for thy folk o’ Isra’l!”

And Joseph and his mither ferlied at a’ the things that war said anent him. And Simeon bless’t them, and said to Mary his mither, “Lo! this Ane is set for the fa’in and staunin again o’ mony in Isra’l : and for a sign to be misca’d. And a sword sal thring throwe yere ain heart as weel, that the thochts o’ mony hearts may be schawn.”

And thar was ane Anna, a prophetess, Phanuel’s dochter, o’ the tribe o’ Asher; she was o’ an unco age, and bad leev’d wi’ a husband seeven year frae her maidenhood: and she bade a weedow for four-score and four year, wha left-na the Temple; and ser’t wi’ fastins and prayers nicht and day: and she too comin in at that time gied thanks to God; and spak o’ him to a’ wha war waitin for the deliverin o’ Jerusalem.

And whan they had dune a’ things conform to the law o’ the Lord, they gaed awa intil Galilee, to
their ain citie Nazareth. And the bairn grew, and wax’t strang; fu' o’ wisdom; and God’s tender favor was wi’ him.

[From The New Testament in Braid Scots William Wye Smith (1904) here]

Mass readings in Scots: the Nativity of the Lord (Mass at Midnight)

First reading
Isaiah 9: 1-7

The pepile that yede in mirknessis
saw gret licht;
quhen men duelt in the cuntre of schadow of dede,
licht raase up to thame.

The folk ye hae doubled forby
an' gien them a hansel o' joy;
they're fain afore thee,
as wi' hairstin glee,
an' as rievers are blythe at pairtin the ploy.
For the bunemaist girth o' his lade,
an' the brank on his shouldir blade,
an' the rung i' the taksman's nieve
was owre him ay sae stieve;
ye hae flinder'd their three-fauld ban',
as ance i' the day o' Midian.
For a' the gran' graith o' weir,
an' the plaidin wi' bluid lappit fou;
it sal e'en be till flung i' the fire,
an'  for snacks till the bleezan lowe.

For suth a litil child is born to vs,
and a sonn is gevin to vs;
and princehede is made on his schuldir;
and his name salbe callit
Wonndirfull, and Connsaler, God, Strenthie,
a Fader of the warld to-cummand, Prince of pece.
His empire salbe multiplijt,
and na end salbe of his pece;
he sal sitt on the sete of Dauid,
and on the realme of him,
that he conferme it, and mak stark
in dome and richtfulnes, frahynfurth and till into withoutin end.

[From a) The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1905) vol 3, pp. 277-8 here; b) italicised additions from Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here) ]

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 95: 1-3, 11-13

SING untill the Lord ane new sang;
sing untill the Lord, a' the yirth.
Sing untill the Lord, bliss his næme;

shaw furth his salvatione frae daye til daye.
Speik furth his glorie amang the heæthin,
his wunders amang a' kin-kyne.

Let the heævens rejoyce, an' let the yirth be gladsume;
let the se rair, an' the fu'niss thero'.
Let the feeld be joyfu', an' a' that is in't;
than sail the tries o' the wud rejoyce
afore the Lord ; for he cums,
for he cums til juudge the yirth:

he sail juudge the warld wi' richteousniss,
an' his peeple wi' trouth.

[From Psalm 96, The Book of Psalms in Lowland Scots Henry Scott Riddell (1857) here]

Second reading
Titus 2: 11-14

For grace o God hes kythed wi salvâtion for aa men; an it hes taen us in haund, lairnin us tae gíe owre wi gudelessness an warldlie craves, an líve douce, honest, gude-fearin lives i the praisent warld, ey waitin on the fufilment o our blissit howp, the kythin o the Glorie o our gryte God an Sauviour, Christ Jesus, at gíed himsel in our behauf tae redeem us frae aa wickitness an mak o us a fowk o his nain, clean o the fylement o sin, an ey fond tae dae what is richt an guid.

[From The New Testament in Scots (2012), translated by W. L. Lorimer, Canongate Classics, ISBN 978 0 85786 285 3, Amazon UK here, Amazon US here.]

Gospel reading 
Luke 2: 1-14

Noo i’ thae days it cam aboot thar gaed oot a decree frae Cesar Augustus that a’ the inhabiters o’ his dominions soud be enrolled. And this enrollment was made whan Quirinius was Governor in Syria. And a’ war gaun to be enrolled, ilk ane to his ain citie. And Joseph, as weel, gaed up frae Galilee, oot o' the citie o’ Nazareth, intil Judea, intil Dauvid’s citie, whilk is ca’d Bethlehem ; for that he was o’ the hoose and stock o’ Dauvid: to be enrolled, wi’ Mary his betrothed wife, wha was a mither-to-be. And sae it was, that while they war thar, the days war fulfilled for her to bring forth. And she brocht forth her son -her first-born- and row’t him in a barrie-coat, and laid him i’ the manger, for that there was nae room for them i’ the inn. And thar war in the same kintra side herds bidin i’ the fields, and keepin gaird ower their flocks by nicht. And see! an Angel o’ the Lord cam till them, and the glorie o’ the Lord glintit roond aboot them; and they war sair gliff’d. And the Angel said, “Be-na gliff’d; for I bring ye gude tidins o’ muckle joy to the hail warld! For thar is born t’ye this day, in Dauvid’s toun, a Saviour, wha is the Anointit Lord. And here is the token for ye: ye’se fin' the bairn row’t in a barrie-coat, lyin in a manger.” And a' at ance there was wi’ the Angel a thrang o’ Heeven’s host, praisin God, and sayin,

“Glorie to God i' the heighest heights,
and on the yirth peace! Gude wull to men!”

[From The New Testament in Braid Scots William Wye Smith (1904) here]

Merry Christmas!

Mass readings in Scots: Fourth Sunday in Advent (Year B)

First reading

2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8b-11, 16

Nou whan Dauvit wis livin i his houss, an the Laird haed gien him rest frae war on ivery side, the king says tae Nathan the prophet, "See nou, A am livin i a houss o cedar, but the ark o God is housit inside the curtains o a tent." An Nathan says tae the King, "Gae an dae whatever is i yer hert; for the Laird is wi ye."

Nou thon nicht the word o the Laird came tae Nathan, sayin,

"Gae an say tae ma servant Dauvit: 

'The Laird says: Are ye tae be the builder o a houss, a living-place for me? I took ye frae the fields, frae keepin the sheep, sae ye micht be a ruler ower ma fowk, ower ma fowk Israel; an A hae been wi ye wherever ye gang, cuttin aff afore ye aw thae that wes agin ye; an A will make yer name great, like the name o the greatest ones o the yird. An A will make a restin-place for ma fowk Israel, plantin thaim thare, sae they may be livin i the place that is theirs, an niver again be moved; an niver again will they be troublit bi evil men as they were at the first, frae the time whan A put judges ower ma fowk Israel; an A will gie ye peace frae aw that is agin ye. An the Laird says tae ye that he will make ye the heid o a line o kings. 

'An yer family an yer kingdom will keep their place afore me for iver: the seat o yer authority will niver be overturnit.' "

[Own translation, level 1, 18/12/20, methodology here.]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 88: 2-5, 27, 29 (resp. v.2)

The rewths o' the Lord evir mair I maun sing.

The rewths o' the Lord evir mair I maun sing;

frae ae life's end till anither, thy trewth an' in that rightousness o' thine, sal I'se mak kent wi' my mouthe. 

For rewth, quo' I, sal be bigget for ay; 

thy trewth, i' the lifts ye sal set.

The rewths o' the Lord evir mair I maun sing.

I hae snedden a tryst wi' my walit;

I hae sworn until David, my thirl: 

I sal stablish yer out-come for evir;

an' frae ae kith end till anither, that thron o' yer ain I sal big: Selah.

The rewths o' the Lord evir mair I maun sing.

Till mysel he sal cry, my Faither are ye; 

my God, an' my hainin rock.

Evir mair my gude-will, for him I sal hain; 

an' my tryst, wi' himsel it 

sal stan'.

The rewths o' the Lord evir mair I maun sing.

[From Psalm 89, in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading

Romans 16: 25-27

Noo tae him fa can set yer fit on a firm foon, accordin tae my Gospel, accordin tae e preachin o Jesus Christ, himsel, an accordin tae shewin o att secrait at wis hodden fae e beginnin o time, bit fit we can aa noo see, an bi e Scripter so e prophits, accordin tae e commanment o e ivverlestin God, made kent till e hale warl, tae fess them tae faith an tae deein fit they're telt -tae him, the only wise God, be glory throw Jesus Christ for ivver. Amen.

[From The Doric New Testament (2012), rendered in Doric by Gordon M. Hay, published by G. M. Hay, Longside, ISBN 978-0-9573515-0-9, author's website http://www.doricbible.com/, Amazon UK here, Amazon US here.]

Gospel reading
Luke 1:26-38

And i' the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent frae God till a citie o’ Galilee ca’d Nazareth, till a maid betrothed to a man named Joseph, o’ the hoose o’ Dauvid ; and the maid’s name was Mary. And the Angel, comin in till her, says, “Joy be to ye, favored ane ! The Lord is w' ye; blest be ye amang weemen!” But she was unco put-aboot at the sayin, and was comin ower in her mind whatna kind o’ salutation this micht be! And the Angel said, “ Fear-na, Mary ! for ye hae gotten favor wi’ God! And tak tent ! ye sal conceive i’ the womb, and bring forth a son, and sal ca’ his name Jesus. He sal be great, an’ sal be ca’d ‘The Son o’ the Maist Heigh;’ and the Lord sal gie to him the thron o’ his faither Dauvid. And he sal reign ower the hoose o’ Jaucob for aye: and o’ his kingdom sal be nae endin!” But Mary said to the Angel, “Hoo sal this be, sin a husband I ken-na?” And the Angel answerin, says, “The Holie Spirit sal come, and the pooer o’ the Maist Heigh sal descend upon ye; and sae that that is to be born sal be ca’d holie, the Son o’ God! And mark! Elizabeth, yere kinswumman, e’en she has conceived a son in her auld age; and this is the saxth month wi’ her wha was coontit bairnless. For nae word frae God sal want pooer!” And Mary said, “Lo! I am the handmaid o' the Lord. Be it e'en to me, conform to thy word!” And the Angel gaed awa frae her.

[From The New Testament in Braid Scots William Wye Smith (1904) here]

Mass readings in Scots: Third Sunday of Advent (Year B)

First reading:
Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord uponn me;
for that he anoyntit me:
he send me to preche to pure men, to tell out to debonir men;
he send me that I suld leche contrite men in hart,
and preche to captiue men forgeuenes,
and to closit men opnyng;
And to preche a yere to the Lord plesabile.

O syne, I'se be blythe in Jehovah;
my life sal be fain o' my God!
for he cled me wi' cleedin o' saifty,
an' wi' rightousness happit me snod;
e'en 's a bridegrom decores him wi' buckles,
an' a bride wi' her braws sae proud.
For like as the lan' shutes its growthe out,
an' the yaird sends sawin furth;
e'en sae sal the Lord God Almighty gie seed time,
till a' that's fu' right an' fu' kindly,
fornenst ilka natioun on yirth.

[1-2a from The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1905) vol 3 here (p.278); 10-11 from  Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)]

Responsorial Psalm:
Luke 1:46-50, 53-54

My saule magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has glaidit in God my heil.
For he beheld the meeknes of his handmaidin;
for, lo, of this al generatiouns sal say that I am blessit.

For he that is mychti has done to me grete thingis;
and his name is haly.
And his mercy is fra kinred into kinreddis
to men that dredis him.

He has fulfillit hungrie men with gudes;
and he has left richemen void.
He, having mynd of his mercy,
tuke Israel, his childe.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1901) vol 1 here]

Second reading:
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24

Euirmare ioy ye; Without cessing pray ye; Jn althingis do ye thankingis. For this is the will of God in Crist Jesu, in al you. Will ye nocht slokin the spirit; Will ye nocht despise prophecies. Bot preue ye althingis, and hald ye that thing that is gude. Abstene you fra al euile spice. And God himself of pece mak you hali be althingis, that your spirit be kepit haale, and saule, and body, without playnt, in the cumming of our Lord Jesu Crist. God is trew, that callit you, quhilk alsa sal do.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here]

Gospel reading:
John 1: 6-8, 19-28

A man was send fra God,
to quham the name was Johne.
This man com into witnessing,
that he suld bere witnessing of the licht,
that al men suld beleue be him.
He was nocht the licht,
bot that he suld bere witnessing of the licht.

And this [is] the witnessing of Johnne, quhen Jewis send fra Jerusalem preestis and dekners to him, that thai suld ask him, "Quha art thou?" And he knawlechit, and denyit nocht. And he knawlechit, "For I am nocht Crist." And thai askit him, "Quhat than? Art thou Hely?" And he said, "I am nocht." "Art thou a prophet?" And he ansuerd, "Nay." Tharfore thai said to him, "Quha art thou? that we geue ane ansuere to thir that send vs. Quhat sais thou of thi self?" And he said,

"I am a voce of a criar in a desert,
Dresse ye the way of the Lord,
as Esaie, the prophet said."

And thai that war send war of the Phariseis. And thai askit him, and said to him, "Quhat than baptyses thou, gif thou art nocht Crist, nowthir Hely, nouthir a prophet?" Johnne ansuerde to tham, and said, "I baptyse in watir, bot in the middis of you has standin aan that ye knaw nocht; He it is, that sail cum eftir [me], that was made before me, of quham I am nocht worthi to lows the thuang of his scho." Thir thingis war done in Bethany beyond Jordan, quhare Johnne was baptysand.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here]

Mass readings in Scots: Second Sunday in Advent (Year B)

First reading

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

"Hearten ye weel, my folk; hearten ye weel," 

quo' your God.

"Speak heart-healin words till Jerusalem;

e'en gar her hear:

-That her warsle's by; 

that her ill's forgien;

that scho's doubled now, frae the loof o' the Lord,

for a' her wrang-doens!"

Quo' a sugh frae the wust sae braid: "Redd up

the gate o' Jehovah;

straught owre the nieborless muir,

a road for our God ye sal mak it.

Ilk howe maun be heighen'd;

ilka knowe, an' ilk brae maun be laighen'd;

an' the cruik maun come straught,

an' the rough maun come even;

An' the gloir o' the Lord sal win but;

an' a' flesch see siclike, that's livin:

for the mouth o' the Lord, it was, spak it."

Up ti' the craig fu' hie, 

Dochtir wi' tidins till gie until Zioun!

Up wi' yer tongue sae bauld;

Dochtir, the news maun be tauld, till Jerusalem!

Up, an' be nane affley'd;

cry till the towns o' Judah wide,

"Leuk, yer ain God, he's comin!" 

Leuk, it's the Lord himsel; reddin the road wi' might,

an' his arm rax't out atowre him.

Leuk, for the darg's his ain;

an' the worth o' his wark's afore him.

Like the herd, he sal tent his fe:

he sal oxter the lams himsel,

an' his bosom sal fauld them fu' snod in;

an' the yowes that are mithers till be, 

he sal cannily airt on the roddin.

[From Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)  Google books here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 84 (85): 9-14 (resp. v.8)

O  Lord,  lat  us  see  yer  ain  gudeness; 

an'  yer  heal-ha'din,  wair 't  on oursel! 

I  maun  hearken  what  God  the  Lord  will  speak  syne:

for  peace  he sal  speak  till  his  folk,

till  his  sants an'  a';  

bot  till  folly,  they  maunna win  hame. 

Surely  nar's  his  heal-ha'din  till wha  fear  himsel; 

that  gloiry  may bide  in  our  lan'. 

O  Lord,  lat  us  see  yer  ain  gudeness; 

an'  yer  heal-ha'din,  wair 't  on oursel! 

Rewth  an'  trewth  hae  forgather'd  wi'  ither;  

the  right  an'  the lown,  they  hae  kiss'd,  the  twa. 

Trewth  schutes  like  the  blade frae  the  grun';  

an'  the  right,  it  leuks owre  frae  the  lift. 

O  Lord,  lat  us  see  yer  ain  gudeness; 

an'  yer  heal-ha'din,  wair 't  on oursel! 

Syne  the  Lord,  he  sal  gie  us what's gude,

an'  our  lan'  sal  be guid  wi'  her  gift. 

The  right,  it  sal  fuhre  afore him;  

an'  sal  airt  us  the  gate  o'  his feet.

O  Lord,  lat  us  see  yer  ain  gudeness; 

an'  yer  heal-ha'din,  wair 't  on oursel! 

[From Psalm 85 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading

II Peter 3: 8-14

Bit hae myn, my freens, wi e Lord, ae day is lik a thoosan eer an a thoosan eer lik ae day. E Lord's nae slaw aboot keepin his promise, as some fowk wid hae ye think; e fac is he's affa patient wi ye, nae seekin att ony body shuld perish, bit att ye shuld aa come tae repintance. Bit e Day o e Lord will come lik a thief i the nicht. Att day e hivvens will disappear wi a great mineer, the elements will milt wi e heat, e warl an aathin inno't will be brunt tae a cinner.

Since aathin will be deen awa in iss wye, fit kine o fowk maun ye be? Yer lives maun be haily an gien ower tae God, leukin an mangin for e comin o e Day o God, att day fan e hivvens, aa ableeze, will be brunt tae a cinner an e elements miltit wi e heat. Bit we hiv His Promise an can leuk forrit till a new hivven an a new earth, far naethin bit gweed bides,

Sae, ma freens, as ye wyte for att Day, mak sheer ye're at peace wi God, perfec an fautless in his sicht.

[From The Doric New Testament (2012), rendered in Doric by Gordon M. Hay, published by G. M. Hay, Longside, ISBN 978-0-9573515-0-9, author's website http://www.doricbible.com/, Amazon UK here, Amazon US here.]

Gospel reading:
Mark 1: 1-8

The first o’ the Blythe-Message o’ Jesus Christ, God’s Son. E’en as it is putten-doon by Esaiah the prophet,

Lo! I send oot my messenger afore thy face,
wha sal mak ready thy way for thy comin.
The sough o’ ane cryin oot i’ the waste,
Mak ye ready a gate for the Lord!
Mak straucht his fit-roads!

Than raise John, bapteezin i’ the muirland, and preachin repentance-baptism for the pittin-awa o’
sins. And thar gaed oot till him a’ the kintra-side o’ Judea, and a’ thae o’ Jerusalem, and war bapteez’t o’ him i’ the River Jordan, tellin oot their sins. And John was cleedit wi’camels'-hair, and had a leather belt aboot him; and he did eat locusts and rock-hinny. And quo’ he in his preachin, “Ane sterker nor I comes eftir me, the whang o’ whase shoon I am-na fit to lout doon and lowse! I watir-bapteeze ye; but he sal bapteeze ye wi’ Holie Spirit!”

(From The New Testament in Braid Scots William Wye Smith (1904) here)

Mass readings in Scots: First Sunday of Advent (Year B)

First reading 

Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1, 3-8

But a' doubt, ye're our Faither yersel;

for Abr'am kens nought o' us now.

an' Isr'el o' us winna hear tell!

Yersel, Lord, our Faither are ye;

Wha bought us, yer name it sal be;

frae the ferst till the last o' us, sure ay!

Lord, what-fir hae ye waner'd us furth o' yer gates?

our heart, thrawn awa frae yer fear?

Fy, hame again, Lord, for yer thirl-folk's sakes;

the folk on the lan' ye hae here.

Oh, gin the lift ye wad rive; gin ye wad but lout, yersel!

gin the heights a' fornenst yo wad thowe;

Langsyne, whan sic ferlies ye wrought, that nane o' us leukit till see;

it was than ye cam down wi' a flaught, an' the heights war a' skail'd afore thee.

For no sin the warld it begood, hae folk wi' the lug heard tell;

nor yet hae they seen wi' the ee ony God, O God, by yersel, siclike wha couth man till do,

for the wight was ay waitin on Thee.

Ye forgather wi' him that's fain, an' does right;

an' has min' o' yersel, ay i' the gates ye gang:

bot alake, ye 'been angir'd sair!

it's oursels hae dune a' the wrang;

bot yer gates, they bide straught evir mair; an we'll a' be made saif or lang.

Bot we're a' like a fulzied roon;

an' our best, they're but suddled braws:

we gang a' like the leaf that's broun;

an' syne the msichieffs we hae dune, swirl us by, like the win' that blaws.

An' thar' nane that daurs ca' on yer name,

or that steers till tak haud  o' yersel;

for yer face ye hae happit at hame,

an' hae dang us wi' our ain ill.

Bot Lord, ye're our Faither for a'!

Gin we be the clay, ye're our schaiper:

yer ain han's work are we a'.

[From Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)  Google books here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 79 (80): 2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (resp. v.4)

O  weise  us  hame  again,  God; 

gar  yer  face gie  a  glint,  an'  we're saif'd. 

Sheep-herd o'  Israel,  hearken:  

weisin  Joseph  on  like  a flock;  

sittin  atween  the  cherubs, 

O  will  ye  no  glint  furth! 

In face  o'  Ephraim  an'  o'  Benjamin,  an'  eke  o'  Manasseh  himsel'; 

wauken  that  might  o'  yer  ain,  

an' steer  for  heal-ha'din  till  us. 

O  weise  us  hame  again,  God; 

gar  yer  face gie  a  glint,  an'  we're saif'd. 

Hame  again,  O  God  o'  hosts; 

tak  a  leuk  frae  the  lift,  an'  see;  

an' visit  this  vine: 

An'  the  haddin  yer  right  han' has  plantit;  

an' the  growthe  ye made  stieve  for  yersel. 

O  weise  us  hame  again,  God; 

gar  yer  face gie  a  glint,  an'  we're saif'd. 

O  gin  yer  han'  war  atowre, on  the  Man  o' yer  ain  right  han'; 

atowre  on  the  ae  son  o'  Adam,  for  yer  ain  ye  ettled  till  stan'. 

Syne,  frae  thee,  we  suld  ne'er fa'  awa;  

lat  us  live,  an'  we'll cry  on  yer  name. 

O  weise  us  hame  again,  God; 

gar  yer  face gie  a  glint,  an'  we're saif'd. 

[From Psalm 80 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading

I Corinthians 1:3-9

Grace an peace bi wi ye, fae God e Fadder an fae wir Lord Jesus Christ. A'm aye thankin God for ye, for e grace o God gien till ye bi Jesus Christ. Bein at een wi him ye're sae muckle better aff in aathing ye say an in aathing ye ken aboot. E message o Christ is sae weel set inno ye, att ye wint for naethin as ye wyte for wir Lord Jesus Christ tae come amo hiz. He'll keep ye weel till e hinnerein sae there'll be nae faut wi ye in e day o wir Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithfu an it wis bi him ye were fessen intill e life o his sin, Jesus Christ, wir Lord,

[From The Doric New Testament (2012), rendered in Doric by Gordon M. Hay, published by G. M. Hay, Longside, ISBN 978-0-9573515-0-9, author's website http://www.doricbible.com/, Amazon UK here, Amazon US here.]

Gospel reading
Mark 13:33-37

[Jesus said to his disciples:]

 “Tak ye tent! watch and pray! for ye kenna whan the time is. As a man bidin in a far-awa lan’; wha has left his hoose, and gien authoritie to his servants; to ilka ane his wark; and commandit the porter to tak gude tent; tak ye gude tent, thar-for! for ye kenna whan the maister o’ the hoose comes hame; gin it be at e’en, or at midnicht, or at the cock crawin, or at the dawin; least, comin on ye o’ a suddaintie, he find ye sleepin! And what I say to you, I say to a’ -tak tent!”

[From The New Testament in Braid Scots William Wye Smith (1904) here]

Mass readings in Scots: Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King (Final Sunday of the Year) (Year A)

First reading

Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17

The Lord God sais thir thingis: Lo! I my self sall seke my schepe, and I sal visite thame. As a schephird visitis his flok, in the day quhen he is in the myddis of his schepe scaterit, sa I sal visite my schepe, and I sall delyuir thame fra all places in quhilk thai war scaterit in the day of cloud and of mirknes. I sal feed my schepe, and I sal mak thame to ly, sais the Lord God. I sal seke that that perysit, and I sal bring agane that that was castin away; and I sal bind that that was brokin, and I sal mak sad that that was seke, and I sal kepe that that is fat and stark; and I sal feed thame in dome and richtuisnes (sais the Lord almychtj). [For ye be my flok. The Lord God sais thir things: Lo! I deem betwixt beast and beast, and a wether and a buck of goats.]

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1905) vol 3 here. v.17 adapted from Wycliffe translation Ezekiel 34 - WYC Bible - Bible Study Tools (accessed 18/12/20).]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 22: 1-3, 5-6 (resp.v.1)

My Shepherd is the Lord, 

His hand shall a’ my wants supply.

My Shepherd is the Lord, His hand 

shall a’ my wants supply;

In mony a green and pleasant land

He mak’s me doon to lie.

My Shepherd is the Lord, 

His hand shall a’ my wants supply.

Alang the burn, the wimplin’ burn,

That bubbles ow’r the stanes,

He leadeth me roon’ mony a turn;

By richt ways me constrains.

My Shepherd is the Lord, 

His hand shall a’ my wants supply.

Tho’ in the fearsome vale of woe

I walk and see death near,

Thy rod and staff before me go,

And tak’ awa’ my fear.

My Shepherd is the Lord, 

His hand shall a’ my wants supply.

A table weel laid oot for me

My ill-wishers see spreed;

My cup is brimmin’ ow’r; by Thee 

anointed is my heid.

My Shepherd is the Lord, 

His hand shall a’ my wants supply.

Gudeness and mercy a’ my days

Shall surely follow me,

And ow’r my gratefu’ heid always

God’s holy roof shall be.

My Shepherd is the Lord, 

His hand shall a’ my wants supply.

[Response added. Italicised verses omitted in lectionary. From Psalm 23, version John Stevenson (1903), Pat McCarty, Farmer of Antrim, His Rhymes,  from Ulster-Scots Academy blog http://www.ulsterscotsacademy.com/ullans/2/23rd-psalm.php (accessed 18 December 2020).]

Second reading

1 Corinthians 15: 20-26, 28

Bot now Crist raase agane fra deid, the first fruit of deidmen: For deid was be a man, and be a man is agane rising fra deid. And as in Adam almen deis, sa in Crist almen salbe quiknyt. Bot ilkman in his ordour; the first fruit, Crist, eftirwart thai that ar of Crist, that beleuet in the cumming of Crist; Eftirwart ane end, quhen he sal betak the kingdome to Gode and to the fader, quhen he sail avoid al princehede, and powere, and virtue. Bot jt behuvis him to regne till he put al his ennimyis vndir his feet. And at the last, deid the ennimye salbe destroyit; for he has made al thingis subiect vndir his feet. And quhen he sais, Althingis ar subiect to him, without dout outtak him that subiectit al thingis to him. And quhen althingis ar subiect to him, than the sonn him self salbe subiect to him, that made subiect althingis to him, that God be al thingis in al thingis.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here]

Gospel reading
Matthew 25: 31-46

[Jesus spak' until his disciples:] "Whan the Son o’ Man sall come in his glory, an’ a’ the haly angels wi’ him, syne sall he sit upon the throne o’ his glory, an’ afore him sall be gather’t a’ nations: an’ he sall shed them ane frae anither, as a shepherd sheddeth his sheep frae the gaits: an’ he sall set the sheep on his richt han’, but the gaits on the left. Syne sall the King say until thae on his richt han’, 'Come, ye blesset o’ my Father, inherit the kingdom preparet for you frae the fundation o’ the warld. For I was hungry, an’ ye gied me meat; I was drouthy, an’ ye gied me drink; I was a stranger, an’ ye teuk me in; Naket, an’ ye claithet me: I was ill, an’ ye visitet me; I was in prison, an’ ye cam’ until me.' Syne sall the richteous answer him, sayin’, 'Lord, whan saw we thee hungry, an’ fed thee? or drouthy, an’ gied thee drink? Whan saw we thee a stranger, an’ teuk thee in? or naket, an’ claithet thee ? Or whan saw we thee ill, or in prison, an’ cam’ until thee?' An’ the King sall answer an’ say until them, 'Verily I say unto you, inasmeikle as ye hae dune it until ane o’ the laist o’ thae my brithren, ye hae dune it until me.' Syne sall he say alsua until them on his left han’, 'Gae awa frae me, ye curset, intil the everlastin’ fire preparet for the deevil an’ his angels: for I was hungry, an’ ye gied me nae meat; I was drouthy, an’ ye gied me nae drink; I was a stranger, an’ ye didna tak’ me in; naket, an’ ye didna claithe me; ill, an’ in prison, an’ ye didna visit me.'  Syne sall they alsua answer him, sayin’, 'Lord, whan saw we thee hungry, or drouthy, or a stranger, or naket, or ill, or in prison, an’ didna minister until thee?' Syne sall he answer them, sayin’, 'Verily I say unto you, inasmeikle as ye didna do it til ane o’ the laist o’ thae, ye didna do it til me.' An’ thae sall gae awa intil everlastin’ punishment; but the richteous intil life eternal."

[From The Gospel of St. Matthew, Translated Into Lowland Scotch, by George Henderson (1862) here]

Mass readings in Scots: Thirty-third Sunday of the Year (Year A)

First reading
Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31

A douce an' guid wumman--
Wha'll man' to get her for himsel?
For the worth o' her
Is far abune jewels, red-skinklin.
The hairt o' her ain guidman lippens her brawlie,
An' mony's the blessin she brings him;
It's guid that she daes him, an' nae ill ava,
A' the days o' her life.
She's gleg on the sairch baith for woo' an' for lint,
An' aye wi' her hauns is as eident as can be;
She keeps hersel thrang wi' the rock-an'-the-tow,
An' fu' cantie ower the spinnin-wheel.
But, for a' that, she's an open-hairtit body to the puir,
An', e'en to gangrels, she's kent to hae a raxin haun.
Crackin o' ane abune anither is ticklish wark,
An' bonnieness itsel is only for a gliff;
But a wumman wi' the fear o' the Lord
Is ane that canna be dawtit eneuch;
Lat a' her weel-daein, in this thing an' that,
Be putten doon clear to her credit,
An' sae lat the lave ken richtly aboot it,
Lat the lave o' folks ken hoo she ocht to be laudit.

[From The Wyse-Sayin's o' Solomon [The Book of Proverbs] by T Whyte Paterson; Alexander Gardner (Paisley) 1915 here]

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 127 1-5

O blythe may ilk ane be, wi' dread o' the Lord;
wha gangs i' thae gates o' his ain:
Whan ye pree o' the wark o' yer han's;
fu' blythe sal ye be, an' fu' weel sal ye fen' yerlane.

Yer gudewife, like the fraughtit vine,
by the sconce o' yer houss sal stan';
yer weans, round about yer meltith-buird,
sal growe like the olive wands.

E'en sae, sae blythe sal the wight be,
wha lives in the dread o' the Lord.
The Lord sal blythe-bid ye frae Zioun;
an' on a' that 's guid in Jerus'lem,
ye sal leuk ilka day o' yer life.


[From Psalm 128, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading
1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6

Bot, brether, of tymes and momentis ye nede nocht that I write to you. For ye you self wate deligentlie, that the day of the Lord sal cum, as a theef in the nycht. For quhen thai sal say pece is, and sickirnes, than suddane dede sal cum on thame, as dolour to a woman that is with child, and thai sal nocht eschape.

Bot, brether, ye ar nocht in mirknessis, that the ilk day as a theef tak you. For all ye ar the sonnis of licht, and sonnis of day; we ar nocht of nycht, nor yit of mirknessis. Tharfore slepe we nocht as vthir; bot wake we, and be we sobire.


[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here]

Gospel reading
Matthew 25: 14-30

[Jesus spak' this parable until his disciples:]

"For the kingdom o’ heaven is as a man gaein’ intil a far kintra, wha ca’d his ain servan’s, an’ gied until them his guids. An’ until ane he gied five talents, til anither twa, an’ til anither ane; til ilka man accordin’ til his ability; an’ straughtway teuk his journey. Syne he wha had gotten the five talents gaed, an’ coft an’ trocked wi’ that ilk, an’ made ither five talents. An’ likewaise he wha had gotten the twa, he alsua gainet tither twa. But he wha had gotten ane gaed an’ howket in the yird, an’ hidet his lord’s money. After a lang time the lord o’ thae servants cometh an’ counteth wi’ them. An’, behald, he wha had gotten five talents cam’ an’broucht ither five talents, sayin’, 'Lord, thou giedst until me five talents: behald, I hae gainet forbye them five talents mair.' His lord said until him, 'Weel dune, thou guid an’ faithfu’ servan’: thou hast been faithfu’ owre a few things, I will mak’ thee maister owre mony things; gang thou intil the joy o’ thy lord.' He alsua wha had gotten twa talents cam’ an’ said, 'Lord, thou giedst until me twa talents: behald, I hae gainet twa ither talents forbye them.' His lord said until him, 'Weel dune, guid an’ faithfu’ servan’: thou hast been faithfu’ owre a few things, I will mak’ thee maister owre mony things: gang thou intil the joy o’ thy lord.' Syne he wha had gotten the ae talent cam’ an’ said, 'Lord, I kent that thou art a nippit man, shearin’ whare thou hastna sawn, an’ gatherin’ whare thou hastna strinklet: an’ I was afear’t, an’ gaed an’ hidet thy talent in the yird: behald, there thou hast that whilk is thine ain.' His lord answer’t an’ said until him, 'Thou wicket an’ sleuthfu’ servan’, thou kennest that I shear whare I didna saw, an’ gather whare I haena strinklet:thou sudst therefore hae putten my money to the ockerers, an’ syne at my comin’ I sud hae gotten mine ain wi’ int’rest. Tak’ therefore the talent frae him, an’ gie it until him wha hath ten talents. For until ilka ane that hath sall be gien, an’ he sall hae rowth; but frae him wha hathna sall be taen awa e’en that whilk he hath. An’ cast ye the unprofitable servan’ intil outer mirkness: there sall be greetin’ an’ runchin’ o’ teeth.' "

[From The Gospel of St. Matthew, Translated Into Lowland Scotch, by George Henderson (1862) here]

Mass readings in Scots: Thirty-second Sunday of the Year (Year A)

First reading

Wisdom 6: 12-16

Wisdom is glorious, an niver fades awa, 

an is easily seen bi thaim that love her, 

an is found bi thaim that seek her. 

She gangs afore thaim that covet her; she first shaws hersel tae thaim. 

He that awakes early tae seek her, winna labour: 

for he wul find her sittin at his door.

Tae think therefore upon her, is perfit understandin:

an he that watches for her sal quickly be secure. 

For she gangs aboot seekin thaim as are worthy o her, 

an she shaws hersel tae thaim cheerfully i the ways, 

an meets thaim wi aw providence.

[Own translation, level 1 18/12/20. Methodology here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 62: 2-8 (resp. v.2)

My saul, it maun win till thee, O God, my God.

O God, ye are God o' my ain; wi' the glintin I sought yersel:

my saul, it maun win till thee;

my bouk, it clings for yerlane, 

in a dry drowthy lan', whar nae watirs be.

My saul, it maun win till thee, O God, my God.

Till see ye again i' yer halie howff; 

till leuk on yer might an' yer gloiry syne. 

For yer gudeness is mair nor life, 

my lips sal gie laud till thee.

My saul, it maun win till thee, O God, my God.

Sae blythe maun I bid thee, ay while I live; 

my loov's I maun lift till that name o' thine. 

As wi' creesh an' wi' talch, sal my saul be sta't; 

an' wi' liltin lips sal my mouthe gang free.

My saul, it maun win till thee, O God, my God.

Whan I think o' yersel on my bed o' dule; 

whan I wauken at night, I sal mind on thee. 

For ye 'been a stoop till mysel; 

i' the scaum o' yer wings I sal lilt an' laud. 

My saul, it maun win till thee, O God, my God.

[From Psalm 63, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading

1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

For, brether, we will nocht that ye vnknaw of men that deis, that ye be nocht soroufull, as vthir that haue nocht hope. For gif we beleue, that Jesus was dede, and raase agane, sa God sal lede with him thame that ar dede be Jesu. And we say this thing to you in the word of the Lord, that we that levis, that ar left in the cumming of the Lord, sal nocht cum before thame that ar dede. For the Lord him self sal cum doun fra heuen, in the comandment, and in the voce of ane archangcle, and in the trumpet of God; and 

the dedemen that ar in Crist, sal rijse agane first. Eftirwart we that leues, that ar left, salbe rauisit togiddir with thame in cloudis, meeting Crist in to the aere; and sa euirmare we salbe with the Lord. 

Tharfor be ye confortit togiddir in thir wordis.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here.]

Gospel reading
Matthew 25: 1-13

[Jesus spak' this parable until his disciples:]

"Than sall the kingdom o’ heaven be evenet until ten maidens, wha teuk their lamps, an’ gaed furth to meet the bridegroom. An’ five o’ them were wise, an’ five were fulish. They wha were fulish teuk their lamps, an’ teuk nae oulie wi' them: but the wise teuk oulie in their crusies wi’ their lamps. While the bridegroom taiglet, they a’ dover’t an sleepet. An’ at midnicht there was a cry made, 'Behald, the bridegroom cometh ; gae ye out to meet him!' Syne a’ thae maidens rase up, an’ trimmet their lamps. An’ the fulish said until the wise anes, 'Gie us o' your oulie, for our lamps are gane out.' But the wise maidens answer’t, sayin’, 'It maunna be sae, lest there binna eneugh for us an’ you, but gang ye rather til them wha sell, an’ coff for yoursels.' An’ while they gaed to coff, the bridegroom cam’; an’ they wha were ready gaed in wi’ him til the bridal, an’ the door was steeket. Afterward cam’ alsua the tither maidens, sayin’, 'Lord, Lord, open til us.' But he answer’t an’ said, 'Verily I say unto you, I dinna ken ye.' Watch, therefore; for ye ken neither the day nar the hour wharein the Son o’ man cometh."

[From The Gospel of St. Matthew, Translated Into Lowland Scotch, by George Henderson (1862) here]

Mass readings in Scots: Thirty-first Sunday of the Year (Year A)

First reading

Malachi 1: 14b-2:2b, 8-10

For A am a gret king, says the Lord o armies, an ma name is tae be fearit amang the gentiles. An nou, O ye priests, this order is for ye. If ye winna gie ear an tak it tae hert, tae gie glory tae ma name, says the Lord o armies, then A wul send the curse on ye an wul put a curse on yer blessin.

Ye are turnit oot o the way; ye hae made the law hard for monie; ye hae made the agreement o Levi o nae value, says the Lord o armies. An sae A hae taen awa yer honour an made ye low afore aw the fowk, e'en as ye haena kept ma ways, an haena gien thocht tae me i usin the law.

Haena we aw ane Faither? Haena ane God made us? Why ir we, ivery ane o us, actin falsely tae his brother, puttin shame on the agreement o our faithers?

[Own translation, level 1, 24/10/20. Methodology here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 130 

Keep ma saul quate afore you, O Laird.

Laird, the'r nae pride in ma hert,

an ma een isna liftit up;

an A haena taen pairt in great haundlins 

or in things ower haurd for me.

Keep ma saul quate afore you, O Laird.

See, A hae made ma saul

lown an quate,

like a soukin bairn;

ma saul is like a soukin bairn.

Keep ma saul quate afore you, O Laird.

[From Psalm 131, The Old Testament in Scots, vol. 3, The Books of Wisdom, [Job, Psaums, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Sang o Sangs] trans. Gavin Falconer and Ross G. Arthur (2014) (translation into Plain Scots under the auspices of the Ullans Academy) ISBN 978-1-78324-006-7. Amazon US here. Amazon UK here.]

Second reading

1 Thessalonians 2: 7b-9: 13

Quhen we, as Cristis apostilis, mycht haue bene in charge to you; bot we war made lytil in the middis of you, as gif a nurise fostire her sonnis; sa we desirand you with gret lufe, walde haue betakin to you, nocht aanly the gospel of Gode, bot alsa our lyves, for ye ar made maast dereworthe to vs. For brether, ye ar mayndeful of our trauale and werynes; that we wirk nycht and day, that we suld nocht greue ony of you, and prechit to you the evangele of God.

Tharforwe do thankingis to God without cesing. For quhen ye hadde takin of vs the word of the hering of God, ye tuke it nocht as the word of men, bot, as it is verralie, the word of God, that wirkis in you that has beleuet.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here]

Gospel reading
Matthew 23: 1-12

Than spak’ Jesus til the multitud an’ til his discipels, sayin’, "The Scribes an’ the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: a’ therfor whatsaeevir they bid yow tak’ tent o’, that tak’ tent o’, an’ do: but dona ye efter their warks; for they say, an’ dona. For they bin’ hivy burdens an’ grevious til be borne, an’ lay them on men’s shouthers; but they themsels wullna muve them wi’ ane o’ their fingirs. But a’ their warks they do for til be seen o’ men: they mak’ braid their phylacteries, an’ widen the bordirs o’ their garmints, an’ loe the uppermaist rooms at feasts, an’ the chief settels in the synigogues, an’ accoustins in the merkits, an’ til be ca’t o’ men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

"But bena ye ca’t Rabbi: for ane is your Maister, een Christ, an’ a’ ye ar brithren. An’ ca’ nаe man your faether upon yirth: for ane is your Father, whilk is in heæven. Næther be ye ca’t maisters: for ane is your Maister, een Christ. But he that is gritest amang ye sall be your servent. For whasaeevir sall lift up himsel sall be casan doun; an’ he that shall humill himsel sall be liftet up."

(From The Gospel of St. Matthew in Lowland Scotch, from the English Authorised Version. By H. S. Riddell (1856) here)

Mass readings in Scots: Thirtieth Sunday of the Year (Year A)

First reading
Exodus 22: 20-26

[The Laird said tae Moses, "Say this tae the bairns o Israel,]

'Evendoun ruinage will come on ony man that maks offerins tae ony ither god but the Laird. Dae nae wrang tae an ootlin, an dinna be haurd on him; for ye yersels bade in a fremmit kintra, in the laund o Egypt. Dae nae wrang tae a weedae, or tae a bairn that's faither is deid. Gin ye'r ill-kyndit tae thaim in ony wey; an thair cry comes up tae me, A will certes tak tent; an in the heat o ma wraith A will pit ye tae deith by the swuird, sae that yer guidwifes will be weedaes an yer bairns 'ithoot faithers.

'Gin ye lat ony o the puir amang ma fowk hae the uiss o yer siller, dinna be a haurd creeditor tae him, an dinna tak interest.

'Gin iver ye tak yer neebour's claesin excheenge for the uiss o yer siller, lat him hae't back afore dayset: for it's the ae thing he haes for happin his skin; whit is he tae gang tae sleep in? An whan his cry comes up tae me, A will tak tent, for ma mercy is great.' "

(From The Old Testament in Scots, vol. 1, The Pentateuch, trans. Gavin Falconer and Ross G. Arthur (2014) (translation into Plain Scots under the auspices of the Ullans Academy) ISBN 978-1-78324-005-0. Amazon US here. Amazon UK here.

Responsorial Psalm 17: 2-4, 47, 51 (resp. v2)

I wull loe thee, O Lord, my strencth.

I wull loe thee, O Lord, my strencth.
The Lord is my rok, an' my reive, an' my deliferer;
my God, my strencth, in wham I wull trust;
my buklir, an' the hoorn o' my salvatione, an' my hie towir.
I wull ca' apon the Lord, wha is wurdie til be prayset;
sae sail I be saufet frae a' mine enimies.

I wull loe thee, O Lord, my strencth.

The Lord leiveth; an' blisset be my rok;

an' let the God o' my salvatibne be sete hie. 

Grit delifrance gies he til the King,

an' shaws mercie til his anaintet. 

I wull loe thee, O Lord, my strencth.

(Psalm 18, from The Book of Psalms in Lowland Scots Henry Scott Riddell (1857) here)

Second reading
1 Thessalonians 1, 5c-10

Ye wate, quhilk we war amang you for you; And ye ar made followeris of vs, and of the Lord, resavand the word in mekile tribulatioun, with ioy of the Haligaast; Sa that ye ar made exempile to almen that beleues, in Macedonie and in Achaie. For of yow the word of the Lord is publisit, nocht aanly in Macedonie and Achaie, bot your faith that is to God, in ilk place is gane furth; sa that it is nocht nede to vs to speke ony thing. For thai schaw of yon, quhat maner entre we had to you, how ye ar conuertit to God fra mawmentis, to serue to levand God and verray; And to abide his sonn fra heuenis, quham he raasit fra dede, the Lord Jesu, that deliuerit vs fra wrathe to cummand.

(From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here)

Gospel reading
Matthew 22:34-40

But whan the Pharisees had heard that he had putten the Sadducees til silence, they wer getheret thegither. Than ane o’ them, whilk was ane lawyer, axet him ane quastione, tempin’ him, an’ sayin’, "Maister, whilk is the grit commandement in the law?" Jesus said untill him, "Thou sallt loe the Lord .thy God wi’ a’ thy hairt, an’ wi’ a’ thy saul, an’ wi’ a’ thy min’. This is the first an’ grit commandement. An’ the second is like untill it, Thou sallt loe thy neeber as thysel’. On thae twa commandements hing a’ the law an’ the prophets."

(From The Gospel of St. Matthew in Lowland Scotch, from the English Authorised Version. By H. S. Riddell (1856) here)

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-ninth Sunday of the Year (Year A)

First reading

Isaiah: 45: 1, 4-6

The Lord God sais thir thingis to my crist, Cyrus, 

quhais richt hand I tuke, 

that I mak subiect folkis befoir his face, 

and turn the backis of kingis; 

and I sal opin yettis befoir him, 

and the yettis sal nocht be closit. [...]

For my seruand Jacob, and Israel my chosen; and I callit the be thi name; 

I liknit thee, and thou knew nocht me. 

I am the Lord, and thaie is na mare: 

without me is na God. 

I haue beltit thee, and thou knew nocht me: 

That thai that ar at the rijsing of the sonn, and thai that ar at the west, 

knaw that without me is na God. I am the Lord, and naan vthir God is.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1905) vol 3 here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 95: 1, 3-5, 7-10 (resp. v.7)

Gie ye till the Lord, gudeliheid an' might.

 

Sing ye till the Lord a new sang; 

sing ye till the Lord, the hail yirth: 

Tell owre amang the folk the weight o' his gree; 

amang a' the folk, his warks o' wonner.

Gie ye till the Lord, gudeliheid an' might.

For grand's the Lord, an' fu' gran'ly lauded: 

himlane till be fear'd abune a' the gods. 

For a' gods o' the hethen are gods o' nought; 

bot the Lord himlane, it was, wrought the hevins. 

Gie ye till the Lord, gudeliheid an' might.

Gie ye till the Lord, ye outcome o' the folk; 

gie ye till the Lord, gudeliheid an' might: 

Gie ye till the Lord, the gloiry beha'din his name; 

tak a hansel, an' ben till his chaumers: 

Gie ye till the Lord, gudeliheid an' might.

Lout laigh till the Lord, h 'm braws o' the best;

quak ye afore him, the hail yirth: 

Quo' ye amang the folk, The Lord he's king; 

the warld eke fu' sikker is, that it suld ne'er be steerit: 

the folk he sal guide himsel, wi' his ain rightous guidins.

Gie ye till the Lord, gudeliheid an' might.

[From Psalm 96 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading

1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5b

Fae Paul, Silvanus an Timothy tae e fowk o e kirk in Thessalonica fa belang tae God e Fadder an e Lord Jesus Christ, grace an peace be wi ye.

We're aye thankin God for ye an mynin on ye in wir prayers. We're aye mynin foo ye pat yer faith tae wirk, yer luv o hard graft an e hope att ye hiv throw wir Lord Jesus Christ inn e sicht o God. 

We ken att nae only dis God loo ye, bit He's choisen ye tae dee speecial warks. We brocht e Gospel till ye, nae jist in wirds bit in pooer an in e Haily Speerit, kennin foo richt it wis.

[From The Doric New Testament (2012), rendered in Doric by Gordon M. Hay, published by G. M. Hay, Longside, ISBN 978-0-9573515-0-9, author's website http://www.doricbible.com/, Amazon UK here, Amazon US here.]

Gospel reading
Matthew 22: 15-21

Than gaed the Pharisees, an’ teuk rede how they micht fickle him in his talk. An’ they sendet out until him their disciples wi’ the Herodians, sayin’, "Maister, we ken that thou art true, an’ teachest the way o’ God in truth, neither carest thou for ony man: for thou regardestna the person o’ men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawfu' to gie stent until Caesar, or no?" But Jesus perceivet their wicketness, an’ said, "Why temp’ ye me, ye hypocrites? Shaw me the stent-money." An’ they broucht until him a penny. An’ he saith until them, "Whase is this image an’ the writin’ aboon?" They say until him, "Caesar’s." Syne saith he until them, "Gie therefore until Caesar the things whilk are Caesar’s, an’ until God the things whilk are God’s."

[From The Gospel of St. Matthew, Translated Into Lowland Scotch, by George Henderson (1862) here]

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-eighth Sunday of Year (Year A)

First reading

Isaiah 25: 6-10

An' here-awa, syne, on this sel-sam hill, 

for folk far an' near till eat their fill, 

sal Jehovah o' hosts mak ready:

o' a' that's gude, an' o' wine weel-stude; 

o' what's gude by itslane, an' wi' pith i' the bane, an' o' wine weel-clear'd an' steady. 

An' athort the height, he sal thole nae mair 

the face o' the scaum on a' folk was thar; 

nor the theek streekit owre a' natiouns: 

Deid himsel, he sal smoor alluterlie.

An' the Lord that's God, he sal dight the tear fra ilka face;

an' the scorn o ' his folk , he sal lift it clear, 

frae athort the lan' on ilka place: 

for the Lord himsel, it was, said it.

An ' folk they sal say intil siccan a day, Leuk , this is our God that did it! 

We hae tholed for him lang, an' he'll redd us a' roddin: 

it's the Lord himsel, we hae tholed for him lang; 

we'se be blythe syne, 

an ' lilt in his ain heal-haddin.

For it's lown, on this sel-sam height, 

the han' o' the Lord sal gie.

[From Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)  Google books here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 22 (resp. v.6)

While faulded on the fields o’ time

His hame ma dwellin’ be.

Wha is my Shephard wel A ken,
The Lord hisel is he.
He leads me whaur the girse is green,
An’ burnies quaet that be.
Aft times A fain astray wud gang,
An’ wann’r far awa.

While faulded on the fields o’ time

His hame ma dwellin’ be.

He fin’s me oot, He pits me richt,
An brings me hame an’ a’.
Tho’ I pass through the gruesom sheugh,
Fin’ A ken that He is near.
His muckle cruk wull me defen’,
Sae A hae nocht tae fear.

While faulded on the fields o’ time

His hame ma dwellin’ be.

Ilk comfort whilk a sheep cud need
His thochtfu care provides.
Tho’ wolves an’ dugs may prowl aboot,
In safety me He hides.

While faulded on the fields o’ time

His hame ma dwellin’ be.

His guidness an’ his mercy, baith
Nae doot wull bide wi’ me.
While faulded on the fields o’ time
His hame ma dwellin’ be.

While faulded on the fields o’ time

His hame ma dwellin’ be.

[Punctuation, paragraphing and response added. From Psalm 23, version by Ernie Scott, Ballyclare Town Hall c.1994, from Ullans Magazine Nummer 2 Spring 1994, reported Ulster-Scots Academy blog http://www.ulsterscotsacademy.com/ullans/2/23rd-psalm.php (accessed 11 October 2020).]

Second reading

Philippians 4: 12-14, 19-20.

A ken fit it is tae wint an fit it is tae hae ower muckle. A've hid ma ups an doons an ken noo foo tae face them baith, aye foo tae be full an foo tae gyang hunngry. Bit A can face onything wi e pooer o Christ inno ma. Neeneless, it wis gweed o ye tae tak a pairt o ma tribbles.

Ma God will supply aa yer wints fae his boontifu graith in Christ Jesus. Tae God an wir Fadder be glory for aye. Amen.

[From The Doric New Testament (2012), rendered in Doric by Gordon M. Hay, published by G. M. Hay, Longside, ISBN 978-0-9573515-0-9, author's website http://www.doricbible.com/, Amazon UK here, Amazon US here.]

Gospel reading

Matthew 22: 1-14

[Jesus spak' until the chief priests an' the elders o' the people:] "The kingdom o’ heaven is like until a certain king, wha made a bridal for his son, an’ sendet furth his servan’s to ca’ them wha were bidden til the waddin’; and they wadna come. Again, he sendet furth ither servan’s, sayin’, 'Tell thae wha are bidden, behald, I hae preparet my dinner; my owsen an’ my fatlin’s are killet, an’ a’ things are ready: come until the bridal.' But they made licht o’t, an’ gaed their gates, ane til his mailen, anither til his merchandice, an’ the lave teuk his servan’s, an’ treated them spitefully, an’ killet them. But whan the king hear’t o’t, he was wrathfu’; an’ he sendet furth his sodgers, an’ destroyet thae murderers, an’ brunt up their toun. Syne saith he til his servan’s, 'The waddin’ is ready, but they wha were bidden werena wordy. Gang ye therefore intil the highways, an’ as mony as ye sall fin’, bid them til the feast.' Sae thae servan’s gaed out intil the highways, an’ gather’t thegither a’ as mony as they fand, baith bad an’ guid: an’ the waddin’ was bodin wi’ guests. An’ whan the king cam’ in to see the guests, he saw there a man wha hadna on a waddin’ garment. An’ he saith until him, 'Frien’, how camest thou in here no haein’ on a waddin’ garment?' An’ he was dumbfoun’er’t. Syne said the king til the servan’s, 'Bin’ him han’ an’ fit, an’ tak’ him awa, an’ cast him intil outer mirkness: there sall be greetin’ an’ runchin’ o’ teeth.' For mony are ca’d, but few are wal’d."

[From The Gospel of St. Matthew, Translated Into Lowland Scotch, by George Henderson (1862) here]

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-seventh Sunday of the Year (Year A)

First reading

Isaiah 5: 1-7

An' syne I maun sugh a bit sang , till ane I loe weel; 

the sang , it ' s my niebor himsel , an' the yaird he can teel. 

My niebor's a yaird o’ his ain, 

on an unco growthy knowe: 

An' he dykit it roun', an flang stanes out enew; 

an' he set it wi’ stoks o ' the wale'dest; 

an' he bigget a towir i' the mids o' the yaird, 

an' he howket a troch whar the wine maun be shair'd; 

an ' he ettled it syne till gie grapes in reward, 

bot it gie'd-na a grape but the wildest.

An ' now a' ye folk i' Jerus'lem that fen'; 

an' o' Judah itsel, the lave o' the men; 

ye maun right atween me an' my vineyaird:

What mair's till do wi' this yaird o' my ain, 

that I hae-na dune wi 't till gar't carry? 

whan I leukit syne it suld carry me grapes, 

what for brought it canker'd berries? 

Come here awa syne, an' I'se gar yo ken what I ettle till do wi' my vineyaird: 

I'se out wi' its hedge, 

I'se down wi' its dyke; 

an' it's baith be herried an' moul'ard:

I'se e'en mak it a' wust lan'; it sal neither be sned nor digget; 

bot the brier an' the thorn, they sal thig it: 

an ' the cluds, I sal gie my commaun, 

that they dreep-na a drap till sloke it.

For Jehovah o' hosts, that vineyaird o' his, 

it's the houss o' Isra'l; 

an' the stok he's sae fain o', 

's the men o' Judah: 

an' he leukit for right, 

bot ay it was wrang; 

an' for a' that was straught, 

bot ay the sugh o' sair tholin.

[From Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)  Google books here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 79: 9, 12-16, 19-20 (resp. Isaiah 5: 7)

For Jehovah o' hosts, that vineyaird o' his, 

it's the houss o' Isra'l.

A vine-stok ye brought out o'Ægyp;

ye dang the hethen atowre, an' ye plantit her. 

Till the sea, scho rax't yont her suckers; 

till the watirs, her fast-growin rods. 

For Jehovah o' hosts, that vineyaird o' his, 

it's the houss o' Isra'l.

Whatfor hae ye dang down her dykins; 

that ilka gate-ganger can rive her awa? 

The boar frae the frith, he can stamp her; 

an' the beast o' the fell, he can glaum her at will.

For Jehovah o' hosts, that vineyaird o' his, 

it's the houss o' Isra'l.

Hame again, O God o' hosts: 

tak a leuk frae the lift, an' see; 

an' visit this vine: 

An' the haddin yer right han' has plantit; 

an' the growthe ye made stieve for yersel. 

For Jehovah o' hosts, that vineyaird o' his, 

it's the houss o' Isra'l.

Syne, frae thee, we suld ne'er fa' awa; 

lat us live, an' we'll cry on yer name. 

Weise us hame again, Lord God o' hosts; 

gar yer face gie a glint, an' we're hain'd. 

For Jehovah o' hosts, that vineyaird o' his, 

it's the houss o' Isra'l.

[From Psalm 80 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here; response from Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)  Google books here]

Second reading

Philippians 4: 6-9

Be ye nathing besie, bot in al prayere and beseking, with doing of thankingis, be your askingis knawne at God. And the pece of God, that passis al witt, kepe your hartis and vndirstanding in Crist Jesu. Fra hine furth, brether, quhat euir thingis ar suthe, quhat euir thingis chast, quhat euir thingis iust, quhat euir thingis halie, quhat euir thingis abile to be luvit, quhat euir thingis of gude fame, gif ony virtue, gif ony praising of discipline, think ye thir thingis, that alsa ye haue leirit, and takin, and herd, and sene in me, do ye thir thingis: and God of pece salbe with you.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here]

Gospel reading
Matthew 21:33-43

[Jesus said untill the chief priests an' the elders o' the peeple,] "Hear anither parable: Ther was ane certain houshaulder whilk plantet ane vinyaird, an’ hedget it roun’ about, an’ howket ane wine-press in it, an’ bigget ane touer, an’ let it out til husbanmen, an’ gaed intill аne fer countrie. An’ whan the time o’ the frut drew neer, he sendet his servents til the husbanmen, that they micht receive the fruts o’ it. An’ the husbanmen tuik his servents an’ nevellet ane, an’ killet anither, an’ stanet anither. Agane he sendet ither servents mair nor the first: an’ they did untill them likewaise. But last o’ a’ he sendet untill them his son, sayin’, 'They wull reverance my son.' But whan the husbanmen sаw the son, they said amang themsels, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him, an’ let us seeze on his heirscep.' An’ they grippet him, an’ castet him out o’ the vinyaird, an’ sleyet him. Whan the lord therfor o’ the vinyaird comith, what wull he do til thae husbanmen?" They say untill him, "Нe wull miserablie destroye thae wicket men, an’ wull let out his vinyaird untill ither husbanmen, whilk sall render him the fruts in their seasens." Jesus saith untill them, "Did ye nevir reæd in the Scripturs,

The stane whilk the biggers rejecket,
the same is become the cape stane o’ the nuik:
this is the Lord’s doin’,
an’ it is marvellous in our eyne?

"Therfor say I untill yow, The kingdoom o’ God sall be taken frae yow, an’ gien til ane natione bringin’ furth the fruts thero’."

The Gospel of St. Matthew in Lowland Scotch, from the English Authorised Version. By H. S. Riddell (1856) here

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-sixth Sunday of the Year (Year A)

First reading

Ezekiel 18: 25-28

[In tha dais the word of the Lord was made to me, and he said:] "And ye said, 'The way of the Lord is nocht euen.' Tharfor, the hous of Israel, here ye, Quhethir my way is nocht euen, and nocht mare your wayis ar schrewit? For quhen a richtfulman turnis away him self fra his richtfulnes, and dois wickitnes, he sal dee in it: he sal de in the vnrichtfiilnes quhilk he wroucht. And quhen a wickit man turnis away him self fra his wickitnes quhilk he wrocht, and dois dome and richtfulnes, he sal quickin his saule. For he behaldand, and turnand away him self fra al his wickitnes quhilk he wrocht, sal leeue in lijf and sal nocht dee."

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1905) vol 3 here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 24: 4-9 (resp. v.6)

Remembir, O Lord, thy tendir mercies.

Shaw me thy wayes, O Lord; 

teech me thy peths.
Leede me in thy trouth, an' teech me: 

for thou art the God o' my salvatione; [...] 

Remembir, O Lord, thy tendir mercies.

Remembir, O Lord, thy tendir mercies an' loein-kindnisses:
for thaye hae been evir o' auld.
Remembirna the sins o' my youdith, nar my transgressiones;
akordin' til thy mercie remembir thou me 

for thy guidniss' sak', O Lord.

Remembir, O Lord, thy tendir mercies.

Guid an' upricht is the Lord: 

therfor wull he teech sinnirs in the waye.

The meik wull he gæyde in juudgemint; 

an' the meik wull he teech his waye. 

Remembir, O Lord, thy tendir mercies.

[From Psalm 25 in The Book of Psalms in Lowland Scots Henry Scott Riddell (1857) here]

Second reading

Philippians 2: 1-11

Tharfor gif ony confort is in Crist, gif ony solace of charitee, gif ony fallouschip of spirit, gif ony inwartnes of mercy doing, Fulfill ye my ioy, that ye vndirstande the sammin thing, and haue the sammin charitee, of aa will, and fele the sammin thing; Nathing be strijf, nouthir be vane glorie, bot in meeknes, demand ilk vthir to be hieare than him self; Nocht behaldand ilk be him self quhat thingis ar his awne, bot tha thingis that ar of vthir men. And fele ye this thing in you, quhilk alsa in Crist Jesu; 

That quhen he was in the forme of God, 

demyt nocht rubberie, 

that him self war euen to God; 

Bot he lawit him self, 

takand the forme of a seruand, 

and was into the liknes of men, 

and in habite was fundin as a man. 

He mekit him self, 

and was made obedient to the deide, 

ye, to the dede of the croce. 

For the quhilk thing God vphieit him, 

and gaue to him a name that is abone al name; 

That in the name of Jesu ilk kne be bowit, 

of heuenlie thingis, of erdlie thingis and of hellis;

And ilk tonng knawleche, 

that the Lord Jesu Crist 

is in the glorie of Gode the fader.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1903) vol 2 here]

Gospel reading
Matthew 21:28-32

[Jesus said untill the chief priests an' the elders o' the peeple,] "But what think ye? Ane certain man had twa sons; an’ he cam’ til the first, an’ said, 'Son, gae wurk the day in my vinyaird.' He answiret an’ said, 'I wullna': but efterwaird he ruet, an’ gaed. An’ he cam’ til the second, an’ said likewaise. An’ he answiret an’ said, 'I gae, sir': an’ gaedna. Whuther o’ them twayne did the wull o’ his faether?" They say untill him, "The first." Jesus saith untill them, "Verilie I say untill yow, that the publikins an’ harlotes gae intill the kingdoom o’ God afore yow. For John cam’ untill yow in the waye o’ richtiousniss, an’ ye beleivet him nat: but the publikins an’ harlotes beleivet him; an’ ye, whan ye had seen it, repentetna efter wairds, that ye micht beleive him."

The Gospel of St. Matthew in Lowland Scotch, from the English Authorised Version. By H. S. Riddell (1856) here