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

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

First reading
Isaiah 55: 6-9

Syne seek till the Lord, whan he's in yer ca';
an' cry till himsel, whan he's no far awa.
Lat the ill-man quat his ill-gate;
an' the man o' mischieff, his debait:
an' win back till the Lord, for he'll rew on him syne;
an' till God o' our ain, for he's unco kin'.
For it's no, thought o' mine, thought o' yours;
nor it's no, gate o' yours, gate o'  mine:
bot heigh owre the yirth as the lifts are,
sae heigh abune your gates are my gates;
an' my thoughts abune thoughts o' thine.

(From Peter Hately Waddell (1879) Isaiah: Frae Hebrew intil Scottis, J. Menzies & Co, Edinburgh and Glasgow (reprint Lightning Source UK Ltd, Milton Keynes, ISBN 9-781274542106 (Amazon UK here; Amazon US here)).)

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144: 2-3, 8-9, 17-18

I maun heize ye heigh; an' laud yer name, for evir an' ay:
Ilka day, I maun roose yersel; an' laud yer name for evir an' ay.
Fu' gran' 's the Lord, an' weel to be laudit;
end o' his greatness nane can be:

Kind an' pitifu' ay is the Lord;
lang or he lowes; and rews right fain:
Gude's the Lord till a' forby;
an' his pitie, atowre his warks ilk ane.

Right is the Lord in ilk gate o' his ain,
an' kindly in a' that his han' does:
Nieborlie ay is the Lord, till a' wha cry on himsel;
till a' wha cry on himsel, right heartilie.

The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here


Second reading
Letter of St Paul to the Philippians 1:20-24, 27

Crist salbe magnifijt in my body, outhir be lijf, outhir be deid. For to me to leeue is Crist, and to dee is wynnyng. That gif to leue in flesch, is fruit of werk to me, and quhat I sal chese, I knaw nocht. Bot I am constrenyeit of ij thingis, I haue desire to be dissoluit, and to be with Crist, it is mekile mare bettire; Bot to duell in flesch, is nedefull for you.

Aanly leue ye worthilie to the gospele of Crist, that quhethir quhen I cum and se you, outhir absent I here of you, that ye stand in aa spirit of aa will, traualand togiddire to the faith of the euangele.

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


Gospel reading
Matthew 20:1-16

[Jesus said till his disciples] "For the Kingdom o’ Heeven is like till a man, a laird, wha gaed oot i’ the dawin, to hire workers intil his vine-yaird. And whan he had ’greet wi’ the laborers for a hauf-merk a day, he sent them intil his vine-yaird. And he gaed oot aboot the chap o’ nine, and, saw ither anes staunin idle i’ the merkit. And quo’ he to them, ‘Gang ye as weel intil the vine-yaird, and whate’er is richt, ye sal hae!’ And they gaed their ways. And again he gaed oot aboot twal’, and thrie o’clock, and did the same. And at fyve he gaed oot, and faund mair staunin; and, quo’ he, 'Hoo is’t ye staun here, idle a’ the day?' They say, 'For that nae man fee’d us!' He says to them, ‘Gang ye as weel intil the vine-yaird; and whate’er is richt, that sal ye hae!’ Sae whan gloamin was come, the laird o’ the vine-yaird says to his grieve, 'Ca' the workers; and gie them their fee; beginnin frae the hinmaist doon to the first.’ And whan they o' fyve o’clock cam, they gat ilk man a hauf-merk. And whan the first cam, they trow’d to hae gotten mair; and they, as weel, gat ilka man a hauf-merk. And whan they gat it, they yammer’t again the gudeman, saying, 'Thir last anes hae putten-in ae ’oor, and ye hae made them even wi’ us, wha hae dreed the weary cark and scouther o’ the day!' But he answer’t ane o’ them, and quo’ he, ‘Freend, I do ye nae wrang! Did-ye-na tak-on wi’ me for a hauf-merk? Tak what belangs t’ye, and gang yere gate ! It is my wull to gie to this last e’en as to you.  Is't no richt to hae my ain wull in my ain things? Is your ee skellied because I am upricht?’ Sae the hinmaist sal be first, and the first hinmaist. For mony are bidden, but no a’ acceptit.”

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

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

First reading

Ecclesiasticus 27: 30- 28: 7

Anger an rampage is baith o thaim abominable, 

an the sinful man sal be subject ti thaim.

He that seeks ti revenge hissel, sal finnd vengeance frae the Lord, 

an he wul shuirlie keep his sins i remembrance. 

Forgie thy neibor gin he haes hurt thee: 

an than sal thy sins be forgien ti thee whan thou prays. 

Man ti man reserves anger, an seeks he remedy o God? 

He haes no mercy on a man lyke hissel, 

an daes he entreat for his ain sins? 

He that is but flesh, nourishes anger, 

an daes he speir forgieness o God? 

wha sal obtain pardon for his sins?

Mynd thy last things, an let enmity cease.

Mynd corruption an daith, an abide in the commandments.

[Own translation, level 1, 11/9/20, methodology here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 102: 1-4, 9-12 (resp. v. 8)

Frienly an' kind is the Lord; 

lang or he lowes, and in tholin, ayont a' measur.

My saul, ye maun blythe-bid the Lord;

and a' in mysel, that name o' his ain sae halie.

My saul, ye maun blythe-bid the Lord; 

an' forget-na his gates, a' sae kindly.

Frienly an' kind is the Lord; 

lang or he lowes, and in tholin, ayont a' measur.

Wha rews upon a' yer wrang; 

an' yer dowie turns a' wha heals them: 

Wha redds but yer life frae the mouls; 

wha theeks ye wi' gude gree an' kindness. 

Frienly an' kind is the Lord; 

lang or he lowes, and in tholin, ayont a' measur.

He winna gang flytin for ay; 

nor haud his ill-will for evir. 

He wrought-na till us as our fauts had been; 

an' pay'd us na hame, like our ain ill-doens.

Frienly an' kind is the Lord; 

lang or he lowes, and in tholin, ayont a' measur.

Bot e'en as the lifts are at-owre the lan'; 

sae heigh hauds his pitie owre them that fear him. 

Sae far as the east lies awa frae the wast; 

sae far frae oursels has he rax't our wrang-doens.

Frienly an' kind is the Lord; 

lang or he lowes, and in tholin, ayont a' measur.

[From Psalm 103 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading

Romans 14: 7-9

Nane o us líves for himsel, an nane o us díes for himsel. Gin we líve, it is for the Lord at we líve, an gin we díe, we díe for the Lord; baith in life an in deith we belang tae the Lord. It wis een at he micht be lord baith o the lívin an the deid at Christ díed an cam back tae life.

[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
Matthew 18:21-35

Than cam’ Peter til him, an’ said, "Lord, how aft sall my brither sin agayne me, an’ I forgie him? till se’en times?" Jesus saith untill him, "I sayna untill thee, Until se’en times, but until se’enty times se’en. 

"Therfor is the kingdoom o’ heaeven likenet untill ane certain king, whilk wad tak’ account o’ his servents. An’ whan he had begoude til recken, ane was broucht untill him whilk awet him ten thousan’ talents. But forasmeikle as he hadna til paye, his lord commandet him til be sauld, an’ his wiffe an’ chider, an’ a’ that he had, an’ payement til be made. The servent therfor fell doun an’ wurshippet him, sayin’, 'Lord, hae patience wi’ me, an’ I wull paye thee a’.' Than the lord o’ that servent was amovet wi’ tendir wae, an’ lowset him, an’ foтgаe him the det. But the same servent gaed out, fand ane o’ his fella-servents whilk awet him ane hundret pence; an’ he laid hans on him, an’ tuik him bie the hass, sayin’, 'Paye me that thou awest.' An’ his fella-servent fell doun at his feet, an’ besoucht him, sayin’, 'Hae patience wi’ me, an’ I wull paye thee a’. An’ he wadna; but gaed an’ castet him intill prisen till he shud paye the det. Sae whan his fella-servents saw what was dune, they wer verra sorrie, an’ cam’ an’ tauld untill their lord a’ that was dune. Than his lord, efter that he had ca’t him, said untill him, 'O ye wicket servent, I forgae thee a’ that det, becaus thou desiredst me. Shudestna thou alsua hae had tendir feelin’ for thy fella-servent, een as I had pitie on thee?' An’ his lord was verra angrie, an’ de liveret him til the tormenters til he shud paye a’ that was due untill him. Sae likewaise sall my heaevenlie Faether do alsua untill yow, gif ye frae your hairts forgiena ilka ane his brither their offendins."

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

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

First reading

Ezekiel 33: 7-9

[An the word o the Lord cam tae me, sayin,]

"So ye, son o man, A hae made ye a watchman for the children o Israel; an ye are tae gie ear tae the word o ma mouth an gie thaim news frae me o their danger. When A say tae the ill-daer: 'Death will surely owertak ye'; an ye say naethin tae mak clear tae the ill-daer the danger o his way; death will owertak thon ill-daer i his ill-daein, but A will mak ye responsible for his blood. But gin ye mak clear tae the ill-daer the danger o his way for tae turn him frae it, an he is no turnit frae his way, death will owertak him i his ill-daein, but yer life will be safe."

[Own translation, level 1, 11/9/20, methodology here.]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 94: 1-2, 6-9, (resp. vv.7-8)

The day, gin ye wad anerly tak tent tae his vyce!

Latna yer herts be haurd!

O come, lat us sing tae the Laird;

sendin up gled vyces tae the Fundament o oor salvation.

Lat us come afore his face wi ruise,

an mak melody wi haly sangs.

The day, gin ye wad anerly tak tent tae his vyce!

Latna yer herts be haurd!

O come, lat us wirship, 

fawin doun on oor knees afore the Laird oor Makker.

For he is oor God; an we

ar the fowk that he gies meat tae

an the sheep o hirsel.

The day, gin ye wad anerly tak tent tae his vyce!

Latna yer herts be haurd!

The day, gin ye wad anerly tak tent tae his vyce!

"Latna yer herts be haurd, as at Meribah,

as in the day o Massah in the fouthless laund;

whan yer faithers pit me tae the test

an seen ma pouer an ma wark."

The day, gin ye wad anerly tak tent tae his vyce!

Latna yer herts be haurd!

[From Psalm 95 in 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

Romans 13: 8-10

Dinna be owin naebody naethin, excep luv for een anither. E chiel fa loos his neeper is keepin bi e laa. Cause e commandments, "Ye winna tak up wi anither man's wife", "Ye winna kill", "Ye winna steal", "Ye winna tell lees unner aith", "Ye winna be jillous o anither man's gear" an ony ither commanment there mith be, are aa summt up in the ae rowle: "Ye maun loo yer neeper as yersel". Luv canna dee ill till his neeper, sae luv is the answer tae the commans o e laa.

[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 18: 15-20

[Jesus said until his disciples:] "Mairowre, gif thy brither do aucht agayne thee, gae an’ tell him his faut atween him an’ thee alane; gif he sall hear thee, thou hast gainet thy brither. But gif he winna hear thee, syne tak’ wi’ thee ane or twa mair, that in the mouth o’ twa or three witnesses ilka word may be sickerly made to stan’ guid. An’ gif he sall neglec’ to hear them, tell it til the kirk: but gif he neglec’ to hear the kirk, let him be until thee as a heathen man an’ a publican.

"Verily I say unto you, whatsaever ye sall bin’ on yirth sall be bund in heaven; an’ whatsaever ye sall lowse on yirth sall be lowset in heaven.

"Again I say until you, That gif twa o’ you sall agree on yirth as touchin’ ony thing that they sall ask, it sall be dune for them o’ my Father wha is in heaven. For whare twa or three are gather’t thegither in my name, there am I in the middle o’ them."

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

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

First reading

Jeremiah 20: 7-9

O Lord, ye hae been false tae me, an A wis tricked; 

ye are stranger an hae overcome me: 

A hae become a thing tae be lauchit at aw the day, 

awbody makes sport o me.

For ivery word A say is a cry for help; 

A say wi a loud voice, "Bangstrie an wasting!"

because the word o the Lord is made a shame tae me

an a cause o lauchin aw the day.

An gin A say, "A winna keep him in mind, 

A winna say another word in his name"; 

then it is i ma heart as a burnin fire shut up in ma bones,

an A am weary o haudin massell in, 

A canna dae it.

[Own translation level 1 30/8/20 methodology here]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 62: 2-6, 8-9 (resp. v2)

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

For ye 'been a stoop till mysel; 

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

My saul, it hauds eftir ye close; 

yer right han', till me it 's a gad.

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

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

Second reading

Romans 12: 1-2

I entreat ye, than, brethren, by the mercies o’ God, that ye render yersels as a leevin, holie, weel-pleasin offeran to God - a proper, rational service. And no to be conform to this warld, but to be transformed by the renewin o’ yere mind, that ye may pit to the prufe what is God’s gude, and perfete, and acceptable wull. 

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

Gospel reading
Matthew 16: 21-27

Frae that time furth begoude Jesus til shaw untill his discipels how that he maun gang untill Jerusalem, an’ thole mony things o’ the elders an’ chief priests an’ scribes, an’ be killet, an’ be ræset agane the thrid day. Than Peter tuik him, an’ begoude til rebuke him, sayin’, "Be it fer frae thee, Lord: this sallna be untill thee." But he' turnet an’ said untill Peter, "Get thee behint me, Sattan: thou art ane offence untill me; for thou saaverestna o’ the things that be o’ God, but thae that be o’ men."

Than said Jesus untill his discipels, "Gif ony man wull come efter me, let him deny himsel’, an’ tak’ up his cross, an’ follo me. For whasaeevir wull saufe his liffe sall lose it; an’ whasaeevir wull lose his liffe for my sak’ sall fin’ it. For what is ane man profitet, gif he sall gaine the haill warld an’ lose his ain saul? or what sall ane man gie in nifferment for his saul?

"For the Son o’ man sall come in the glorie o’ his Fæther wi’ his angils; an’ than he sall rewaird ilka man accordin’ til his warks."


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