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

First reading
Ecclesiasticus 3: 2-6, 12-14

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

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

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
Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23

An’ whan [the wise men] were gane awa, behald, the angel o’ the Lord kytheth til Joseph in a dream, sayin’, "Rise up, an’ tak’ the young bairn an’ his mither, an’ flee intil Egypt, an’ be thou there till I bring thee word; for Herod will seek the young bairn to tak’ his life." Syne he rase up, an’ teuk the young bairn an’ his mither by nicht, an’ gaed awa intil Egypt. An’ was there till the death o’ Herod, that it micht be fulfillet whilk was spoken o’ the Lord by the prophet, sayin’,

Out o’ Egypt hae I ca’d my son.

But whan Herod was dead, behald, an angel o’ the Lord kytheth in a dream til Joseph in Egypt, sayin’, "Rise up, an’ tak’ the young bairn an’ his mither, an’ gang intil the lan’ o’ Israel: for they are dead wha soucht the young bairn’s life." An’ he rase up, an’ teuk the young bairn an’ his mither, an’ cam’ intil the lan’ o’ Israel. But whan he hear’t that Archelaus rang in Judea in the room o’ his father Herod, he was afear’t to gang thither, but, bein’ warnet o’ God in a dream, he turnet aside intil the parts o’ Galilee. An’ he cam’ an’ dwalt in a city ca’d Nazareth; that it micht be fulfillet whilk was spoken by the prophets,

He sall be ca’d a Nazarene.

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

Merry Christmas!

                                                        Ann Macbeth, The Nativity here


Complete Mass readings in Scots for the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord here



Followis ane sang of the birth of Christ, with the tune of Baw Lula Low:


I come from heuin to tell
The best nowellis that euer befell,
To zow thir tythingis trew I bring,
And I will of them say and sing.

This day, to zow, is borne ane childe 
Of Marie meik, and Virgin milde.
That blissit bairne bening and kynde,
Sall zow reioyis, baith hart and mynde.

It is the Lord, Christ, God and Man,
He will do for zow quhat he can :
Him self zour Sauiour will be,
Fra sin and hell, to mak zow fre.

He is zour rycht Saluatioun,
From euerlasting Dampnatioun :
That ze may Ring in gloir and blis,
For euer mair in heuin with his.

Ze sail him find, but mark or wying,
Full sempill in ane Cribe lying:
Sa lyis he quhilk zow hes wrocht.
And all this warld maid of nocht.

Lat vs reioyis and be blyith
And with the Hyrdis go full swyith,
And se quhat God of his grace hes done,
Throw Christ to bring vs to his throne.

My Saull and lyfe stand up and se
Quha lyis in ane Cribbe of tre:
Quhat Babe is that, sa gude and fair ?
It is Christ, Goddis Sone and air.

Welcome now, gracious God of mycht,
To sinnaris vyle, pure and vnrycht.
Thow come to saif vs from distres.
How can we thank thy gentilnes!

O God that maid all Creature,
How art thow now becumit sa pure,
That on the hay and stray will ly,
Amang the Assis, Oxin and Ky?

And war the warld ten tymes sa wyde,
Cled ouer with gold, and stanis of pryde,
Unworthie it war, zit to thé,
Under thy feit ane stule to be.

The Sylk and Sandell thé to eis,
Ar hay, and sempill sweilling clais,
Quharin thow gloris greitest King,
As thow in heuin war in thy Ring.

Thow tuke sic panis temporall,
To mak me ryche perpetuall.
For all this warldis welth and gude,
Can na thing ryche thy celsitude.

O my deir hart, zung Jesus sweit,
Prepair thy creddill in my Spreit,
And I sall rock thé  in my hart,
And neuer mair fra thé depart.

Bot I sall pryse thé euer moir,
With sangis sweit vnto thy gloir:
The kneis of my hart sall I bow,
And sing that rycht Balulalow.

Gloir be to God Eternallie,
Quhilk gaif his onlie Sone for me:
The angellis Joyis for to heir,
The gracious gift of this new Zeir.

[From The Gude and Godlie Ballatis [1567] John Wedderburn et al., Alexander Ferrier (ed.) (1897), pp.49-51 here]





                                                    MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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

First reading
Isaiah 7: 10-14

The Lord God spak to Achaz, sayand, "Ask thou to thee a signe of thi Lord God, into the depnes of hell, or into the heicht abone." And Achaz said, "I sal nocht ask, and I sal nocht tempt the Lord."

And Esaie said,

"Tharfor the hous of Dauid, here ye,
Quhethir it is litil to yow for to be diseisful to men,
for ye ar diseseful alsa to my God?
For this thing the Lord him self
sal geue a signe to yov.
Lo! a virgin sal consaue, and sal here a sonn,
and his name salbe callit Emanuel.

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

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23: 1-6

The yirth is the Lord's, an' the fu'niss o't:
the warld, an' thaye that dwall therin.
For he heth fuundet it apon the seis,
an' sete it siccer apon the fludes.

Wha sail gae up intil the hill o' the Lord?
an' wha sall stan' in his haly piece?
He that heth cleen han's, an' ane pure hairt;
wha hethna liftet up his saul untill vainitie, nar swurn wrangouslie.

He sail receife the blessin' frae the Lord,
an' richteousniss frae the God o' his salvatione.
This is the ganeeratian o' thame that seik him;
that seik thy fece, O God o' Jacob.

[From Psalm 24, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading
Romans 1: 1-7

Paul, a servan o Christ Jesus, caa'd tae be an apostle, an set apairt tae preach the Gospel o Godil aa them in Roum at is luved bi God an caa'd bi him tae be saunts: Grace an peace be wi ye frae God our Faither an the Lord Jesus Christ!

That Gospel, God promised it langsyne i the wurds o his Prophets at is written doun i the Halie Scripturs, an it tells o his Son, at wis born as a man o Dauvit's stock, an for his haliness o spírit wis constitute the Son o God, whan God pat out his pouer an raised him frae the deid, Jesus Christ our Lord. It is throu him at we hae gotten grace an the office o an apostle, wi the wark laid on us tae gang aagates amang the haithen an win men til obedience an faith, for the glorie o his name; an amang the lave yoursels, at hes gotten the caa an belang til Jesus Christ.

[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 1: 18-25

Now the birth o’ Jesus Christ was after this gate. When his mither Mary was bund in wadlock troth til Joseph, afore they cam’ thegither, she was fund wi’ bairn o’ the Haly Ghaist. Syne Joseph her husban’, bein’ a just man, an na willin’ to mak’ her a public example, was mindet to pit her awa hiddlinsly. But while he thoucht on time things, behald, the angel o’ the Lord kythet until him in a dream, sayin’, "Joseph, thou son o’ David, binna afear’t to tak’ until thee Mary thy wife; for that whilk is conceivet in her is o’ the Haly Ghaist. An’ she sall bring furth a son, an’ thou sallt ca his name Jesus; for he sall saufe his people frae their sins." Now a’ this was dune, that it micht be fulfillet whilk was spoken o’ the Lord by the prophet, sayin’,

Behald, a maiden sall be wi’ bairn, an’ sall bring furth a son, an’ they sall ca’ his name Emmanuel, (whilk, bein’ interpretet, is, God wi’ us.)

Syne Joseph, bein’ raiset frae sleep, did as the angel o’ the Lord had bidden him, an’ teuk until him his wife.

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

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

First reading
Isaiah 35: 1-6a, 10

The forsakin...and without way salbe glaid;
and wildirnes sal mak full out ioy,
and sal flour as a lilie.
It burionyng sal burioun,
and it glaid and praysand sal mak full out ioy.
The glorie of Liban is gevin to it,
the fairnes of Carmel and of Saron:
thai sal se the glorie of the Lord,
and the fairnes of our God.
Confort ye laamyt handis,
and mak ye stark febile kneis.
Say ye, Men of litil confort,
be ye confortit, and wil ye nocht drede;
lo! our God sal bring the vengeance of yeelding...,
God him self sal cum, and sal saaf vs.
Than the een of blind men salbe opnit,
and the eris of deef men salbe opin.
Than a crukit man sal skip as ane hart,
and the toung of dumb men salbe opnit:
The folk that's bought wi' Jehovah's fee,
sal home win owre that causey'd grun:
till Zioun, they sal come wi' glee;
an' en'less joie their heads abune.
Syne, a' that's blythe sal be their fa';
an' dule an' sighan flie awa!

[Isaiah 35: 1-6a from The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1905) vol 3 here; Isaiah 35: 10 (italicized) from Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)]

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145: 6-10 (resp. Isaiah 35:4)

[Come, Lord, redd us frae thrall!]

[It is the Lord] wha bides by the trewth evir mair:
wha rights amang sair-tholin folk;
wha ay ettles bread for the hungry,
the Lord lats the thirl-bun' gang.

[Come Lord, redd us frae thrall!]

The Lord, he can lighten the blin';
the Lord, he can straught the twa-fauld;
the Lord loes the rightous weel:
The Lord keeps haud o' the frem;
the orph'lin an' widow, he stoops;

[Come Lord, redd us frae thrall!]

bot the gate o' ill-doers, he dings.
The Lord sal be King for ay!
That God o' yer ain, O Zioun,
is frae ae folk's time till anither:
Laud till the Lord gie ye!

[Come Lord, redd us frae thrall!]

[From Psalm 146, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here. Response adapted from Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)  Google books here]

Second reading
James 5: 7-10

Thole patiently, than, brethren! till the Lord be amang ye. Behauld, the tiller is waiting for the precious frutes o’ the yirth, and is patient wi’ it, till it gets the early and the hin-maist rain. Thole ye patiently, as weel I strenthen yere hearts; for the comin o’ the Lord draws on! Yammer- na, brethren, again ane anither, least ye be judged: see! the Judge stauns fornent the door. Tak ye, brethren, for yere likeness o' sufferan and patience, the Prophets that spak i' the name o’ the Lord.

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


Gospel reading
Matthew 11: 2-11

Now whan John had hear’t in the prison the warks o’ Christ he sendet twa o’ his disciples, an’ said until him, "Art thou he that sud come, or do we leuk for anither?" Jesus answer’t an’ said until them, "Gae ye, an’ shaw John again thae things whilk ye do hear an’ see: the blin’ receive their sicht, an’ the lame gang, the lepers are cleanset, an’ the deaf hear, the dead are raiset up, an’ the puir hae the gospel preachet til them. An’ blesset is he whasaever sallna be offendet be cause o’ me."


An’, as they gaed awa, Jesus begoude to say until the thrang anent John, "What gaed ye out intil the wilderness to see i’ a reed shaken wi’ the win’? But what gaed ye out for to see? a man claithet in saft claes? Behald, they wha wear saft claithin’ are in kings’ houses. But what gaed ye out for to see? a prophet? ay, I say until you, an’ mair nor a prophet. For this is he o’ wham it is written,

         Behald, I sen’ my messenger afore thy face wha sall mak’ ready thy road afore thee.

"Verily I say unto you, amang thae wha are born o' women there hathna risen a greater nor John the Baptist: yet he that is laist in the kingdom o’ heaven is greater nor he."

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

Mass readings in Scots: Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)

First reading
Isaiah 11: 1-10

A wand sal ga out of the rute of Jesse,
and a flour sal ga up of the rute of it.
And the spirit of the Lord sal rest on him,
the spirit of wisdome and vndirstanding,
the spirit of consale and of strenthe,
the spirit of cunnyng and of pitee;
And the spirit of the drede of the Lord sal fulfill him:
he sal nocht deme be the sicht of een,
nouthir he sal repreue...be the hering of eris;
Bot he sal deme in richtfulnes pure men,
and he sal repreue in equitee for the myldmen of erd;
and he sal smyte the land with the wand of his mouth,
and be the spirit of his lippis he sal sla the wickitman.

And richtfulnes salbe the belt of his lendis,
and faith (salbe) the belt of his renes...
Syne the wolf, he sal howff wi' the lam;
an' the libbard straught down wi' the kid;
an' the calf, an' young lyoun, an' stirk sal draw hame;
an' a wean, he sal airt them thegither.
An' the quey an' scho-bear, they sal mell;
an' their gaitlins be sib wi' ilk ither;
an' the lyoun tak strae like the knowte.
The bairnie sal rowe on the neuk o' the ethir;
an' the spean'd lay his loof on the dragon's howff.
They sal neither skaithe nor skail,
athort a' my halie hill;
for the yirth sal be fou o' the fret o' the Lord,
e'en's the fludes sweel the howe o' the watirs.
An' syne it sal be, wha sees the day,
the soukir o' Jesse's stok,
was heized for a stoop till the folk;
the folk till itsel sal forgather;
an' fu' lown, i' the light, it sal stay.

[Isaiah 11: 1-5 from The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1905) vol 3 here; Isaiah 11: 6-10 (italicized) from Isaiah frae Hebrew intil Scottis, by P. Hately Waddell 1879 (Amazon US here; Amazon UK here)]





Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 71: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

Wair yer rightins, O God, on the King;
an' yer right on the King's ain son:
He sal right-recht yer folk wi' right;
an' yer puir anes wi' right-rechtin, syne.

The rightous, fu' green in his days sal growe;
an' peace be enew, till the mune i' the lift sal pine.
Frae sea till sea sal he ring;
an' eke frae the flude that rowes, till the yonder-maist neuks o' the lan'.

For the feckless that skreighs, he sal saif;
an' the puir, and wha ne'er had a stoop o' his ain:
On the weak an' forfairn he sal lay fu' light;
an' the lives o' the frienless sal hain.

His name, it sal stay for evir an' ay;
his name, it sal win ayont the sun:
in him sal the folk be blythe,
an' blythe sal they a' bid himsel.

[From Psalm 72, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
Romans 15: 4-9

For as mony things as war putten doon afore-haun, war putten doon for oor lear, that throwe tholin and the consolation o' the Scripturs we soud hae hope. Noo the God o’ a’ tholin and consolation gie ye to tak tent to the same thing ane wi’ anither, accordin to Jesus Christ. Sae that, wi’ ae mind, and ae voice, ye may be magnifyin the God and Faither o' oor Lord Jesus Christ.

And sae help ye ane anither, e'en as Christ helpit you, to God’s glorie. For I threep that Christ becam a servant o’ circumceesion, in behauf o’ the truth o' God, that he micht mak siccar the promises gien to the faithers. That the nations, on the ither haun, micht magnify God for his mercie; e’en as it is putten doon: “For this cause wull I confess to thee amang the nations; and to thy name wull I sing psalms.”

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


Gospel reading
Matthew 3: 1-2

In thae days cam’ John the Babtist, preachin’ in the wulderniss o’ Judea, an’ sayin’, "Repent ye: for the kingdoom o’ heæven is at han’."  For this is he that was spokin o’ bie the prophet Esaias, sayin’,

The voyce o’ ane cryin’ in the wulderniss,
Prepair ye the waye o’ the Lord,
mak’ his peths straucht.

An’ the same John had his cleedin’ o’ camel’s hair, an’ ane leather girdin’ about his loins, an’ his meæt was locusts an’ wild hinny. Than gaed out til him Jerusalem, an’ a’ Judea, an’ a’ the boundes roun’ about Jordan, an’ wer babteezet o’ him, confessan their sins. But whan he saw mony o’ the Pharisees an’ Sadducees come til his babtizm, he said untill them, "О ganæretian o’ veepers, wha heth warnet yow til flee frae the Wraeth til come? Bring furth therfor fruts fittin’ for repentence. Аn’ thinknа ye til say intill yoursels, 'We hae Abraham til our faether': for I say untill yow, that God is yeable o’ thae stanes til ræise up childer til Abraham. An’ now alsua the ax is laid untill the rute o’ the tries: therfor ilka trie whilk bringithna furth guid frut is hewet doun an’ casan intill the fire. I indeed babteeze yow wi’ water untill repentence; but he that comith efter me is michtier nor me, whase shoon I amna wurdy til bear: he wull babteeze yow wi’ the Haly Ghaist an’ wi’ fire: whase fan is in his han’, an’ he wull throuchly sheel out his floor, an’ gether his wheet intill the girnall; but he wull burn up the chaff wi’ unslockenable fire."

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

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

First reading
Isaiah 2: 1-5

The redde Isaiah, the son o' Amoz, saw fornenst Judah an' Jerusalem.
Come the hinmaist days it sal be,
the height o' Jehovah's biggin
sal be snod on the head o' the hills,
an' heize'd bune ilka riggin;
an folk frae ilka lan' sal win till't,
like a flude that's rinnin.
An' mony a kin sal win; an' it's ay:
"We maun tak the road;
an' up till the height o' Jehovah,
an' till the biggin o' Jakob's God!
an' he'll airt us the feck o' his gates;
an' his roddins, we'll haud ay by them:
for it's but frae Zioun the right maun gae,
an' the word o' the Lord fra Jerusalem."
It's Himsel, for the folk maun right,
an' wyte 'mang mony nations:
till pleughs syne, their swurds they sal dight,
an' their speirs intil mawin-airns:
an' the swurd, they sal swee nae mair;
an' skaith, they sal ettle nae mair;
the folk again ane anither:

Bot, it's Jakob's houss, i' the light o' the Lord, ye maun come,
an' we'se gang thegither!


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


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 121: 1-4, 8-9

Fu' fain was I whan they said to mysel,
Till the houss o' the Lord lat us gang:
Our feet, they sal stan'
i' thae yetts o' yer ain, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem 's bigget fu' braw;
like a brugh a bigget a' by itslane:
For thar, niebor-kins, they maun gather an' a':
the Lord's niebor-kins; the trysts o' Israel;

For my brether's saik, for my niebors' saik,
I maun e'en cry, Lown be in thee!
For the houss o' the Lord, that's God o' our ain,
I maun sook a' that's guid for thee!

[From Psalm 122, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading
Romans 13: 11-14

And, kennin the time, that it is an ’oor e’en noo for us to wauken oot o’ sleep: for noo is oor salvation narer-haun than whan we first believed. The nicht is far gane; the dawin comes on. Pit we awa, than, the warks o’ darkness, and lat us tak the wapins o’ licht! Lat us work, honorably, as in the licht o’ day: no in bruilzies and druckenness, no in lewdness and wantonnese, no in castins-oot and envyin. But pit ye on the Lord Jesus Christ; and hae nae trokin wi' the flesh and its corrupt desires.

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

Gospel reading
Matthew 24: 37-44

[Jesus said untill his discipels:] "But as the days o’ Noe wer, sae sall alsua the comin’ o’ the Son o’ man be. 38 For as in the days that wer afore the fluid, they wer eetin’ an’ drinkin’, marryin’ an’ giein’ in marriage, until the day that Noe enteret intill the airk, an’ kennetna until the fluid cam’ an’ tuik them a’ awa; sae alsua sall the comin’ o’ the Son o’ man be.Than sall twa be in the field; the ane sall be taen, an’ the ither left. Twa women sall be grindin’ at the mill; the ane sall be taen, an’ the ither left.

"Watch therfor: for ye kenna what hoor your Lord deth come. But ken this, that gif the guidman o’ the hous had kennet in what watch the thief wad come, he wad hae watchet, an’ wadna hae tholet his hous til be brokin up. Therfor be ye alsua readie: for in sic ane hoor as ye trowna the Son o’ man comith."

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

Mass readings in Scots: Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King (Year C)

First reading
2 Samuel 5: 1-3

Then aw the tribes o Israel came tae David i Hebron an says, "Truly, we are yer bone an yer flesh. I the past whan Saul wis king ower us, it wis ye that went at the heid o Israel whan they went oot or came i: an the Lord says tae ye, 'Ye are tae be the keeper o ma people Israel an their ruler.' " Sae aw the heid yins o Israel came tae the king at Hebron; an King David made an agreement wi thaim i Hebron afore the Lord: an they put the holy oil on David an made him king ower Israel.

[Own translation, level 1, 18/11/19. For details of methodology see here]

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 121: 1-5

Fu' fain was I whan they said to mysel,
Till the houss o' the Lord lat us gang:
Our feet, they sal stan' i' thae
yetts o' yer ain, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem 's bigget fu' braw ;
like a brugh a bigget a' by itslane:
For thar, niebor-kins, they maun gather an' a':
the Lord's niebor-kins;

the trysts o' Israel;
till gie laud, to the name o' the Lord, wi' a sang.
For thar now are dight, the throns o' the right;
the throns o' King David's line!

[From Psalm 122, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
Colossians 1: 11-20

And be confortit in al virtue be the mycht of his cleernes, in al pacience and lang abiding with ioy, that ye do thankingis to God and to the fader, quhilk made yow worthi into the part of heretage of hali men in licht quhilk deliuerit vs fra the power of mirknessis, and translatit into the kingdom of the sonn of his luving, in quham we haue aganebying and remissioun of synnis.

Quhilk is the ymage of Gode vnuisibile,
the first begottin of ilk creature.
For in him althingis ar made,
in heuenis and in erde,
visibile and vnuisibile,
outhir thronis, outhir dominatiounns, outhir princehedis, outhir poweris,
althingis ar made of nocht be him, and in him,
And he is before all,
and al thingis ar in him.
And he is hede of the body of the kirk;
quhilk is the begynnyng
and the first begottin of dede (men),
that he hald the dignitee in al thingis.
For in him it pleisit
al plentee to inhabite,
And be him al thingis to be reconncilit to him,
and made pece
be the blude of his croce,
tha thingis that ar in erdis, outhir that ar in heuenis.

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


Gospel reading
Luke 23: 35-43

An others sterted tae mock [Jesus] as weel, 'He saves ithers -but he canny save himsel. If he comes doon aff there, we'll believe him -even noo! He trusted oan God an said he wis his Son. Weel then -let the Faither save the Son!'

[...]

Then wan o the criminals oan the next cross said tae him, 'Hey freen, are ye no the Christ? Gauny prove it then an save yersel -aye, an us tae while ye're aboot it.' But the other criminal shouted ower, 'Belt up you! We deserve tae die, but this man didny dae ony wrang. Then he whispered ower tae Jesus, 'Will ye keep mind o me?' An Jesus said, 'Today ye'll be wi me in Paradie -I promise...'

[Paraphrase from A Glasgow Bible Jamie Stuart (1997), St Andrew Press, ISBN: 0 7152 0749 0, Amazon UK here, Amazon US here.]

Mass readings in Scots: Thirty-Third Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading
Malachi 3: 19-20

For see, the day is comin, it is burnin like an oven; aw the men o pride an aw that dae evil will be dry stems o grass: an i the day that is comin they will be burnit up, says the Lord o Armies, till they hae no a root or a branch. But tae ye that gie worship tae ma name, the sun o richteousness will come up wi new life i its wings.

[Own translation 17/11/19. Level 1. See here for details.]

Gospel
Luke 21: 5-19

And whan some war tellin aboot the Temple, hoo it was buskit wi’ bonnie stanes and offerans, he said, "As to thir things ye look at, the days wull come whan no ae stane sal be left on anither, that salna be dung doon.” And they speirit at him, “Maister; whan, than, sal thir things be? and whatna token sal be gien whan thir things are comin to pass?”

And he said, “Tak tent that ye be-na misleared! for a hantle wull come i’ my name sayin, 'I am he!’ and, ‘The time has come!’ - Gang-ye-na eftir them! And, whan ye may hear o’ wars and tulzies, be-ye-na fley’t; for thir things maun come aboot; but the end is no belyve.” Than said he to them, "Nation wull rise again nation, and kingdom again kingdom; and eke great yirdins, and plagues, and famines wull thar be; unco things o’ dreid, and great tokens i' the lift wull thar be.

“And, afore a’ thae things, they wull lay hauns on ye; and wull persecute -giean ye up to kirks and
dungeons- leadin awa afore kings and governors for my name’s sake. But it sal a’ be for you a
testimonie. Sae, hae it siccar in yere hearts, no to be puttenoot aforehaun aboot makin defence; for I wull gie ye a mooth and wyssheid that no ane o’ thae settin their sels again ye sal be fit to staun up again! But ye’se be gien up, e’en by parents, and brithers, and kin, and freends: and they’se pit some o’ ye to deid; and ye’se be hatit by a’ men, for my name’s sake: but no a hair o’ yere heid sal perish! But patiently thole, and mainteen yere sauls."

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

Mass readings in Scots: Thirty-Second Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading

II Maccabees 7: 1-2, 9-14

It came tae pass also, that seven brethren, together wi their mother, were apprehended, an compellit bi the king tae eat swine's flesh against the law, for which end they were tormentit wi whips an scourges. But ane o thaim, wha wis the eldest, says thus: "Whit wouldst thou speir, or learn o us? We are ready tae dee rather than tae transgress the laws o God, receivit from our fathers."

 

An whan he wis at the last gasp, the second brother says thus: "Thou indeed, o most wickit man, destroyest us oot o this present life: but the king o the world will raise us up, wha dee for his laws, i the resurrection o eternal life."

After him the third wis made a mockin stock, an whan he wis required, he quickly put forth his tongue, an courageously stretchit oot his hands, an says wi confidence: "These A have from heaven, but for the laws o God A now despise thaim: because A hope tae receive thaim again from him." Sae that the king, an they that were wi him, wonderit at the young man's courage, because he esteemit the torments as nothin. An after he wis thus dead, they tormentit the fourth i the like manner. An whan he wis now ready tae dee, he spoke thus: "It is better, bein put tae death bi men, tae leuk for hope from God, tae be raisit up again bi him: for, as tae thee thou shalt have nae resurrection unto life."

[Own translation, level 1 (28/6/22). For methodology see here.]

Gospel reading
Luke 20: 27-38

And thar cam to him a wheen o’ the Sadducees, wha say thar is nae Risin-again; and they speir’t at him, sayin, “Master! Moses pat doon for us: Gin aiblins a man’s brither soud dee, haein a wife, and he be bairn-less, that his brither, soud tak the wife, and raise up seed to his brither. Noo, thar war seeven brithers; and the first, takin a wife, dee’t bairn-less. And the second; and he dee’t bairnless. And the third had her; and, i’ the same way the seeven -they left nae bairn, and dee’t. And eftir, the wumman too dee’t. And sae, i’ the Risin again, whase wife o’ them sal she be? For the seven had her a wife.”

And Jesus said to them, “The bairns o’ this warld mairry, and are gien in mairriage; but they that are coontit wordie that warld to obteen, and the Risin-again frae the deid, naither mairry nor are gien in mairriage. Naither can they dee ony mair; for they are as the Angels; and are sons o’ God, bein sons o’ the Risin-again. But, that the deid are to be rais’t, e’en Moses schaws at The Buss, whan he ca’s Jehova[h], ‘The God o’ Abra’m, the God o’ Isaac, and the God o’ Jaucob.’ Noo, he isna the God o’ deid men, but o’ leevin; for to him are a' to leeve!”


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

Mass readings in Scots: Thirty-First Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading
Wisdom 11:22 - 12:2

For the haill warld afore thee is as the laest corn i the balance,
an as a drap o the mornin dew, that faws doun onti the yird:
but thou haes mercie on aw, acause thou can dae aw things,
an owerluiks the sins o men for the sake o repentance.
For thou luivs aw things that ir, an hates nane o the things that thou haes made:
for thou didna appoint, or mak onie thing hatin it.
An hou coud onie thing bide, gin thou wadna?
or be preserved, gin no callit bi thee?
But thou spares aw: acause thai ir thyne, O Laird, wha luivs sauls.
O hou guid an douce is thy spreit, O Laird, i aw things!
An sae thou chastises thaim that err, bi littil an littil:
an admonishes thaim, an speiks ti thaim, anent the things whaur thai offend:
that leivin thair wickedness, thai can believe i thee, O Laird.

[Own translation, level 2  18/11/19. For methodology see here.]

Responsorial Psalm 

Psalm 144: 1-2, 8-11, 13-14, (resp. v1) [In order to preserve the acrostic of the translation, the complete version is given below.]

1.

Ah, my God at’s Kíng, I’ll heize ee,

   an ey an iver bliss thy name;

Blissin ilka day I’ll wage ee,

   an ey an iver laud thy name.

Certie God is braid out laudit,

   an richtlie sae sen gryte is he;

Deed, his gryteness is onendin, 

   an fathomit it canna be.

2.

Eentil their bairns, bairns sal praise ee,

   an weil furthshaw thy michtie acks;

Fair that kinglie glore they’l speak o,

   an I’ll admire thy wunner-warks.

'Gryte thy ferlies,' fowk sal witness,

   an I’ll declare thy celsitude;

Hie that richtousness they’l lilt o,

   an sing the fame ey o thy gude.

3.

It’s the Lord at’s grâcious, louin

   juist; slaw tae low, he rues richt fain:

Kind an gude the Lord til aab’dy,

   an’s pitie’s ower his warks ilk ane.

Lord, thy warks, they aa maun thank ee, 

   an saunts o thine maun speak ee fair!

Maun declare thy kinrik’s glorie,

   an on thy pour maun wurds ey ware

4.

Name they, syne, fore aa God’s ferlies,

   an hou in splendour shines his swey;

Oh, thy realm’s a realm onendin,

   an dures thy rewl ower aa for ey!

Plain the Lord’s in’s ilk wurd faithfu,

   an grâcious in ilk ack o’s maucht -

Quite his thing tae stoop aa cowpin, 

   an aa as gang twa-fauld tae straucht.

5.

Richt the een o aa leuk til ee;

   an thou gies meat til thaim belyve,

Spreidin brawlie braid thy loof, Lord,

   an toomin routh on aa alive.

‘Tis the Lord at’s just in aa’s gates,

   an kindlie in his ilka deed:

Unco near til aa cry’n on him,

veracitie in pray’n he heeds.

6.

Wha revere him, God dis fauvour

   an saufs them, hearkenin their cry;

eXtra care taks o wha lo him,

   an aa wha’r wicket he’l ding by:

Yea, his laud my mouth s’ be tellin,

   an singin o the Lord aawey;

Zionart lat aa heize blissin,

   an praise his halie name for ey.

[From Psalm 145 in Worship in Scots, 'Psalms for Singing' Church of Scotland resource accessed 20/09/22)  https://churchofscotland.org.uk/worship/worship-in-scots]

Gospel reading
Luke 19: 1-10

When Jesus went oan inty Jericho, there wis this man cawd Zacchaeus. He wis the heid tax man for the district an so wis quite rich -in fact he wis really loaded! But though he had plenty o money, he wisny whit ye might caw happy, an he wis dead keen tae meet this Jesus he'd heard aw aboot. Zacchaeus, bein a wee man, canny get near oan account o the great crowd o folk roon aboot Jesus. So he decides tae sclim up a sycamore tree beside the road tae watch. When Jesus eventually comes alang, he spies Zacchaeus. Lookin up, he shouts, 'Hi there, wee man -come doon will ye! Ah've decided tae invite masel tae yer hoose for a meal this efternin.' Tae say that wee Zacchaeus wis fair chuffed is pittin it mildly! But the rest o the folk, by the wey, wir no very pleased that Jesus wis gauny eat wi a bloke they cawd a crook. But already Zacchaeus is a chinged man! He says tae Jesus, 'Lord, see me? Ah'm gauny gie hauf o ma money tae the puir. An ah'll promise tae look efter aw the folk that ah've cheated, so ah will.' Jesus turned roon tae the dumfoonert crowd an telt them tae haud their wheesht: 'This man wis a sinner,' he said. 'He's fund peace at last.'

[From 'Zacchaeus' in A Glasgow Bible, Stuart 1997, pp.123-4 here]

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

First reading
Ecclesiasticus 35: 12-14, 16-19

For the Laird is deemster,
an thare isna wi Him respek o gloriositie.
The Laird winna uphaud onie person agin a puir man,
an He wul tak tent o the prayer o him at is wrongit.
He winna mislippen the prayers o the faitherless;
nor the weidae-wumman, whan she pours oot her complaint.
He at adores God wi jo, sal be acceptit,
an his prayer sal gang til the clouds.
The prayer o him at hummles hissel sal thirl the clouds:
an till it wins throu he winna be comfortit:
an he winna depairt till the Maist Heich tak tent.
An the Laird winna be slack,
but wul judge for the juist, an wul dae judgment.

[Own translation, level 2 25/10/19. For methodology see here.]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 33 (34): 2-3, 17-19, 23 (resp. v7)

This puir-body skreigh't, an' the Lord couth hear. 

Ilk tide my life I'se a blythe-bid the Lord; 

his praise i' my mouthe sal be plene: 

I' the Lord sal my saul be liltin-blythe, 

the feckless sal hear, an' be fain. 

This puir-body skreigh't, an' the Lord couth hear. 

Bot the leuk o' the Lord's again doers o' wrang; 

min' o' them frae the yirth, till rute it. 

The feckless sigh, an' the Lord can hear; 

an' frae a' their fash redds them haillie.

This puir-body skreigh't, an' the Lord couth hear.

The Lord 's fu' nar till heart-broken folk; 

an' the wa'-gaen in spreit he sets gailie. 

The breath o' his servans the Lord sal hae bak; 

an' wha lippen till him, no ane o' them a' sal dwine. 

This puir-body skreigh't, an' the Lord couth hear.

[From Psalm 34, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading

II Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18

As for me, e hinmaist draps o life are bein poored oot for God, ma ein is near at han. A've fochten a gweed fecht, run e coorse A wis set an kept e faith. Fit's afore me is a croon o richteousness att God e True Jeedge will gie on att Day - an nae jist tae me, bit tae aa them fa hiv set their herts on him appearin.

Naebody steed up for ma e first time roun, they aa teuk tae their heels, mith God forgie them. Neeneless e Lord steed wi ma an gied ma e strinth tae proclaim his message att aa Gintiles mith hear, an A wis rescyeed fae e moo o e lion. A'm seer e Lord will rescyee ma fae aa ill an keep ma fae hairm till A win till his hivvenly keengdom. Glory tae him for ivver an 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

Luke 18: 9-14

Ande [Jesus] said alsa to sum men that traistit in thame self as thai war richtful, and despiset vthir, this parabile, sayand, Twa men yede vp into the tempile to pray; that aan a Pharisee, and that vthir a publican. And the Pharise stude and prayit be him self thir thingis, and said, God, I do thankingis to thee, for I am nocht as vthir men, revaris, vniust, adulterans, as alsa this publican. I fast twyes in the wolk, I geue tendis of al thingis that I haue in possessioun. And the publican stude on fer, and wald nouthir raase his een into heuen, bot smaat his breest, and said, God, be merciful to me, synnare. Trewlie I say to you, this yede doun into his hous, and was iustifijt fra that vthir: for ilk that uphies him self salbe made law: and he that mekis him salbe vphieet.

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

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-Ninth Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading
Exodus 17: 8-13

Syne Amalek come an made war on Israel in Rephidim. An Moses said tae Joshua, Gaither thegither a baun o men for us an gang oot; mak war on Amalek: the morn A will tak ma steid on the tap o the knowe wi the staff o God in ma haund. Sae Joshua did as Moses said tae him, an gaen tae war wi Amalek: an Moses, Aaron, an Hur gaen up tae the tap o the knowe. Nou while Moses' haund wis liftit up, Israel wis the stranger: but whan he lat his haund gang doun, Amalek come tae be the stranger. But Moses' haunds come tae be trauchelt; sae thay pit a stane unner him, an he sat on't, Aaron an Hur uphaudin his haunds, ane on ae side an ane on the tither; sae his haunds wis held up 'ithoot fawin till the sun gaen doun. An Joshua owercome Amalek an his fowk by the swuird.

[From The Old Testament in Scots, vol. 1, The Pentateuch, [Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Nummers, Deuteronomy] 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
Psalm 120

Ma een is liftit up tae the knowes:
O whaur will ma help come frae?
Yer help comes frae the Laird,
that made hieven an yird.

Lat him na lat yer fit be muived:
nae need o sleep haes him that hauds ye.
See, the een o Israel's hauder
winna be steekit in sleep.

The Laird is yer hauder;
the Laird is yer shaidae on yer richt haund.
Ye winna be titcht by the sun in the day
or by the muin at nicht.

The Laird will haud ye sauf frae aw ill;
he will ser yer saul.
The Laird will wauk ower ye gaun oot an comin in,
frae this time an for aye.

[From Psalm 121, 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
2 Timothy 3:14-4:2

But div ye bide siccar i' the things ye did learn, and war lippened-wi’, kennin frae whatna teacher ye learned them. And that, frae a bairn, ye kent the holie Scripture, that are able to mak ye wyss to salvation, throwe faith that is in Christ Jesus. A’ Scriptur is wi’ the breath o God, and is o’ profit for teachin, for convincin, for correctin, for trainin in godliness: in order that the man o’ God may be perfete, weel-fettl’t for ilka gude wark.

I chairge ye i' the presence o’ God, and Christ Jesus wha is to judge the leevin and the deid, and by his shinin-forth and kingdom, gie oot the word! Press ye in season and oot o’ season; convince, rebute, entreat, wi’ a lang-tholin and doctrine.

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


Gospel reading
Luke 18: 1-8

Jesus toul hïs folloers thïs parable, that meent that the' shud aye pray an no gie up. An ït went laik this: "Thair wus thïs judge ïn a bïg toon, that haed nae fear o ether God ner man, an haed nae thocht fer oniebodie. In that same toon thair wus thïs weeda wumman, that kep on cumin tae the judge, sayin, 'Wud ye mak shair A get a fair dail ïn that coort frae tha yin tha's agin me?' At tha stairt that judge niver bothert: fer a lang time he did naethin. But then he saed tae hissel, 'Tha mair A dïnnae fear God or care aboot fowk, still wi aa. A wull halp oot thïs weeda wumman, fer she's giein me that much bother. A'm scunnert wi hir aye rinnin tae me!' "

The Loard went on, "Yis unnèrstan whut tha baad judge ïs sayin. Dae yis no thïnk God wull tak tha pairt o hïs ain fowk that cry oot tae hïm day an nicht. He'll no keep pittin thaim aff, sae he'll no. A'm tellin yis, He'll no be lang ïn seein justice daen. But whaniver tha Sinn o Man cums bak, A wunnèr wull he fin oniebodie wi faith on that irth?"

[From Tha Fower Gospels  (2016) (Ulster-Scots), Ullans Press, ISBN: 978-1-905281-25-1, Amazon UK here,  Amazon US here.)]

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-Eighth Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading

II Kings 5: 14-17

Naaman the leper gaed doun seven times intae the waters o Jordan, as Elisha the man o God haed tellt him; an his flesh became like the flesh o a wee bairn again, an he wis clean. 

Then Naaman cam back tae the man o God, wi aw his train, an, takin his place before him, says, "Noo A am certain that thare is nae God i aw the yird, but only i Israel: noo then, tak an offerin frae me." But Elisha says, "Bi the life o the Lord whose servant A am, A will tak naethin frae ye." An Naaman did his best tae mak him tak it but he wadna.

Then Naaman says, "Gin ye willna, then let thare be gien tae yer servant as much yird as twa beasts can tak on their backs; because frae noo on, yer servant will mak nae offerin or burnt offerin tae ither gods, but only tae the Lord."

[Own translation 19/9/22, level 1. For methodology see here.]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 97 (98) 1-4 (resp. v.2)

In sight o' the hethen folk, the Lord lat his health be kent.

Sing ye till the Lord a new sang; 

for warks o' wonner himlane has dune: 

his ain right han', an' his halie arm, 

it wrought him salvatioun. 

In sight o' the hethen folk, the Lord lat his health be kent.

In sight o' the hethen folk, the Lord lat his health be kent; 

an' that right o' his ain, he made plene. 

He had mind o' his rewth an' his trewth, 

till Israel's houss forby; 

In sight o' the hethen folk, the Lord lat his health be kent.

a' neuks o' the lan' the heal-ha'din, 

o' him that's our God, they hae seen. 

Wauken a din till the Lord, O a' the yirth: 

skreigh, an' lowp, an' lilt ye afore him. 

In sight o' the hethen folk, the Lord lat his health be kent.

[From Psalm 98, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading

II Timothy 2: 8-13

Be ey thinkin o "Jesus Christ, raised frae the deid, o Dauvit's stock", as it staunds i the Gospel I preach. I the service o that Gospel I dree ill, een the lenth o baunds an jyle, as gin I wis an ill-daer. But there's nae haudin the Wurd o God in baunds an jyle! An sae I thole aathing for the sake o the eleck, sae at they, tae, may win the salvâtion at is in Christ Jesus, an glorie iverlestin wi the same. Siccar is the say:

    Gif we díed wi him,

        we sal líve wi him;

    gif we thole,

        we sal ring wi him;

    gif we disavou him,

        he will disavou us;

    thof we binna leal an true,

        he bides ey leal an true:

        disavou himsel he downa!

[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 17: 11-19

And it was done, the quhile Jesus went into Jerusalem, he passit throu the myddis of Samarie and Galilee. And quhen he entrit into a castel, ten leprouse men com aganes him, quhilkis stude on ferr and raasit thar voce, and said, Jesu, comandour, haue mercy on vs. And as he saw thame, he said, Ga ye, schaw you to the preestis. And it was done the quhile thai yede, thai war clenget. And aan of thame, as he saw that he was clengeit, went agane, magnifiand Gode with a gret voce. And he fell doun on the face before his feet, and did thankingis: and this was a Samaritan. And Jesus ansuerd and said, Quhethir ten ar nocht clengeit? and quhare ar the nyne? Thar is naan fundin that turnit agane and gave glorie to God, bot this alien. And he said to him, Rise up, ga thou; for thi faith has made thee saaf.

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

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Year (Year C)

First reading
Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2: 2-4

Hou lang, O Laird, wul yeir lugs be shut ti ma cry?
A mak an outcry ti ye aboot violence,
but ye dinna send salvation.
Why dae ye mak me see evil-daein,
an why is ma een fixit on wrang?
For wastin an violence is afore me:
an thare is fichtin an bitter argument.

An the Laird repones an says,
"Pit the vision i writin
an mak it clear on stanes,
sae the reader gaes glegly.
For the vision is still for the fixit time,
an it gangs speedie ti the end, an it winna be fause:
gin it is slow i cumin, aye wait for it;
acause it wul shurlie cum, it winna be kept back.
"As for the man o pride, ma saul haes nae pleisir i him;
but the upricht man wul hae life throu his guid faith."

[Own translation, level 2 4/10/19. For details of methodology see here.]


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 94: 1-2, 6-9

Hereawa folk, lat us lilt to the Lord;
a fu' loud lat us lilt to the craig o' our ain heal-ha'din.
Lat us ben afore him wi' a lilt o' laud;
wi' sangs fu' heigh, lat us lilt until him.

O hereawa syne, lat us lout an' beck;
lat us laigh on our knees, till the Lord our Makar.
For himlane, he is God o' our ain;
an' oursels the folk o' his hirsel;
an' eke the flock o' his han':

Gin his cry, but the day, ye wad hear till.
O haud-na yer hearts sae dour, as ance in the weary warsle;
as ance in the day o' thraw, in that gateless grun', ye daurd till:
Whan yer faithers they tempit,
they tried me sair; an' my warks o' wonner they saw still.

[From Psalm 95, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading
2 Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14

For quhilk cause I monest thee, that thou raase agane the grace of God, that is in thee be the setting on of myn handis. For quhy God gaue nocht to vs the spirit of drede, bot of virtue, and of lufe, and of sobirnes. Tharfore will thou nocht schaam the witnessing of our Lord Jesu Crist, nouthir me, his presonnere; bot trauale thou togiddir in the vangele be the virtue of God.

Haue thou the forme of halsum wordis, quhilk thou herd of me in faith and lufe in Crist Jesu. Kepe thou the gude takin to thi keping be the Haligaast, that duellis in vs.

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


Gospel reading
Luke 17: 5-10

And the apostlis said to the Lord, Encresse to vs faithe. And the Lord said, Gif ye haue faithe as the corn of syneuey, ye sal say to this more tre, Be thou drawn vp be the rute, and be ouirplantit into the see; and it sal obey to you.

Bot quha of you has a seruand eerand or lesuand oxen, quhilk sais to him, quhen he turnis agane fra the feeld, Anon ga and sit to mete? And sais nocht to him, Mak reddy that I soup, and belt thee, and serue me quhile I ete and drink; and eftire this thou sal ete and drink ? Quhethir he has grace to that seruand for he did that that he comandit him? Nay, I gesse. Sa ye, quhen ye haue done al thingis that ar comandit to you, say ye, We ar vnproffitabile seruandis: we haue done that that we aw to do.

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

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-Sixth Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading
Amos 6:1, 4-7

[The Lord, the God o Heiven’s Micht says this:]

Wae tae thaim sittin coshie in Zion,
an thaim lippenin tae the ben o Samaria.
Ye that ligg on beds o ivory,
an rax thaimsels out on sunks,
an thaim eatin the lambs frae the hirsel,
an stot-caufs frae the mids o the buiss;
thaim improvisin on the hairp
- like Dauvit they invent instruments o sang for thaimsels.
Thaim drinkin mazers o wine,
an they smairg thaimsels wi the best o iles;
but they dinna greit for the breakin o Joseph!
Sae nou they sall gae intil exile wi the first o the exiles,
an the feast o the sprauchlers sall stap!

[From The Beuk o Amos:  Sneddon, D. (2009). The Beuk o Amos. Theology in Scotland, 16(1), pp. 97-110 here]


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145: 6-10

[It is the Lord himsel] wha bides by the trewth evir mair:
Wha rights amang sair-tholin folk;
wha ay ettles bread for the hungry.
The Lord lats the thirl-bun' gang.
The Lord, he can lighten the blin';
the Lord, he can straught the twa-fauld;
the Lord loes the rightous weel:
the Lord keeps haud o' the frem;

the orph'lin an' widow, he stoops;
bot the gate o' ill-doers, he dings.
The Lord sal be King for ay!
That God o' yer ain, O Zioun, is frae ae folk's time till anither.

[From Psalm 146, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading
1 Timothy 6: 11-16

But you, O man o’ God! flee frae thir things; and follow ye richtousness, godliness, faith, love, lang-tholin, meekness. Fecht ye the noble fecht o’ the faith! lay haud on the ever-bidin Life, to whilk ye war bidden, and did confess a noble confession fornent mony witnesses. I chairge ye i’ the sicht o’ God, wha gies life to a’ things, and o’ Christ Jesus, wha confess’t afore Pontius Pilate a noble confession, that ye keep the commaun wantin a spot, wantin a’ reproach, until the appearin o’ oor Lord Jesus Christ,

whilk glorie in its ain times
the blessed and only Potentate sal schaw,
the King o’ the kingly, and the Lord of the lordly;
wha alane has immortality,
dwallin in licht unapproachable;
wham nae man e’er saw or can see :
to wham be honor and dominion for evir and evir. Amen!

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

Gospel reading
Luke 16: 19-31

[Jesus said to the Pharisees:] "A particular man was rich, and cleedit his sel wi’ purple and fine linen, and enjoy’d his sel uncolie, ilka day. And a particular beggar-man, ca’d Lazarus, was sutten doon by his yetts, fu’ o’ sairs. And he was sair wussin he micht eat the mools that fell frae the rich man’s buird; aye! e’en the dowgs cam and lickit his sairs. Noo, it cam aboot that the beggar-man dee’t, and was carry’t awa by the Angels, and laid in Abra’m’s bosom. And forby, the rich man, too, dee’t and was bury’t.

“And in hell he raised his een, bein noo in torments, and sees Abra’m far awa, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he, cryin oot, said, 'Faither Abra’m! hae mercie on me, and send ye Lazarus, sae as he may pit the tip o’ his fing’er in watir, and cule my tongue; for I am in anguish in this lowe!' But Abra’m said, ‘Bairn! ca’ ye to min’ that ye gat a’ yere gude things i’ yere lifetime; and Lazarus the ill things: and noo he is at rest, and ye are in sair pyne. And forby, atween us and you an unco void has been set; that thae wha wad gang ower frae here to you, canna be able; nor thae frae you to us canna come ben!’

“Than he said, 'I entreat ye than, faither! that ye wad send him to my faither’s hoose; for I hae fyve brethern; that he may bear testimonie to them, that they come-na intil this place o’ dool!’ Abra’m says till him, 'They hae Moses and the Prophets; lat them hear them!’ But he says, 'Na, faither Abra’m! but gin ane gaed to them frae the deid, they wull repent them!’ But he said to him, ‘Gif to Moses and the Prophets they tak nae tent, naither wull they be perswadit e’en by ane that raise frae the deid!’”

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

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-Fifth Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading
Amos 8: 4-7

Tak tent, ye that dird on the puir,
e’en tae gar the hummle o the kintra tae cease,
sayin, ‘Whan wull the muin hae passed,
that we micht buy corn?
Or the Sabbath, that we micht apen the wheat,
makkin the ephah wee an the shekel muckle,
an tae mak the deceitfou ballances fauss,
that we micht buy the helpless wi siller
an the puir for a pair o sandles,
an sell the caff o the wheat?’
The Lord haes sweired by the pride o Jaucob,
‘Shairly, I’ll no forleit aw their warks for aye.'

[From The Beuk o Amos:  Sneddon, D. (2009). The Beuk o Amos. Theology in Scotland, 16(1), pp. 97-110 here]


Gospel reading
Luke 16: 1-13

And [Jesus] was sayin till his ain disciples, “A rich man thar was, wha had a grieve; and he was wytit wi’ wastin his haddin. And haein him afore him, he said, ‘Whatna clash aboot ye is this I hear! Gie in yere reckonin as grieve; for ye'se be grieve nae mair!' But the grieve said till his sel, ‘My lord taks awa my office frae me: what sal I do? I am-na fit to delve; I wad be sham’d to beg! I ken what I wull do! sae that whan I am putten-oot o' the grieve's place, they may tak me into their hooses!'

“And sae, biddin ilka ane o' his lord’s debtors to come till him, he speirs at the first, 'Hoo muckle are ye awn to my lord?' And he says, 'A hunner cogs o' ulyie.’ He says to him, 'Tak yere bill, and sit doon, and haste to mak it fifty!’ And he said to the neist ane, ‘Hoo muckle are ye awn to my lord?’ And he said, ‘A hunner bows o’ wheat.’ He says to him, ‘Tak yere accounts, and write auchty!’

“And his lord commendit the fause grieve for doin wysslie; for the bairns o’ the warld are, in their ain generation, wysser than the bairns o’ the licht!

“And I say t’ye, Mak to yersels freends o’ unrichtous gear; that whansae’er it may fail ye, they sal tak ye in till everlastin bidin-places! Ane faithfu’ and leal i’ the least, is faithfu’ in mickle! Gif, than, ye arena faithfu’ in unrichtous gear, who wad gie in til yere keepin the true riches? And gif ye be-na faithfu’ in what is anither’s, wha sal gie you yere ain?

“Nae servant can be in service tae twa maisters; for aither the ane he hates, and the tither he lo’es; or to the ane he wull haud, and lichtlie the tither: ye canna be in service baith to God and Mammon!”

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

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-Fourth Sunday of the Year (Year C)

Gospel reading
Luke 15: 1-32

And thar war comin till him a’ the tax men and the ill deedie anes to hear him. And baith the Writers and the Pharisees war yammerin at him, “This ane tales in ill-leeyin folk, and eats meat wi’ them!" And he spak till them this parable, sayin,

“Whatna man amang ye, haein a hunner sheep, gin he tine ane frae amang them, disna lea’ the ninety-and-nine i’ the muirs, and gang awa eftir the forwander’t ane, till he lichts on it? And, fain in wi’t, he heizes it on his shouther, rejoicin; and, comin hame, he sen’s for his freends and neebors; sayin to them, ‘Be blythe wi’ me! for I hae fun my sheep! the ane that forwander't!’ I say t’ye, that in siclike sal thar be joy in heeven ower ae sinner repentin, mair nor ower ninety-and-nine gude o’ the folk wha needit nae repentance.

“Or whatna wumman, haein ten siller-pennies, gin aiblins she tine ane o’ them, disna licht a crusie, and soop her hoose, and seek wi’ tentie care, till whatna time she lichts on it? And, lichtin on’t, she brings thegither her freends and neebors, sayin, 'Be ye glad wi’ me! for I fund the siller-penny I tint!’ E’en sae, I say t’ye, sal thar be joy amang the Angels o’ God ower ae sinner repentin.”

He said, forby, “A particular man had twa sons; and the young son said till his faither, 'Faither! gie me my portion that wad fa' to me o’ a’ the gear!’ And he portioned oot till them his leevin. And, a wheen days eftir, the young son gaither't a' his gear thegither, and gaed awa frae hame till a far-awa lan’; and thar sperfl’t his gear in riotousness.

“But mair: whan a’ was gane thar cam up an awesome famine oot-throwe yon lan'; and he begude to be wantin. And he gaed awa, and was sornin on ane o’ the men o’ that lan': and he sent him oot-by to herd swine. And he fain wad fill’t his sel wi’ the hools the swine war eatin; and nae ane gied them till him. But, cornin’ till his richt min’, quo’ he, ‘Hoo mony are the fee’d servants o’ my faither, wha hae rowth o' breid, and an over-come; while I, here, dee o’ hung’er! I will rise and gang tae my faither, and wull say till him, My faither! I hae dune wrang, again Heeven, and afore you; nae mair am I fit to be ca’d yere son; mak me like till ane o' the fee'd servants!' And, sae risin, he cam awa till his faither.

“But, while he was yet haudin far awa, his faither spy't him, and was fu’ o’ compassion; and rinnin, he fell on his neck, and begude kissin him. And the son said till him, ‘My faither! I did wrang again
Heeven, and afore you: I am nae mair wordie to be ca’d yere son!’ But the faither said to the servants, 'Waste nae time! bring oot a robe -the first and best ane- and pit it on him; and gie a ring for his fing’er, and shoon for his feet; and bring oot the stall'd cauf, and kill it; that we may eat and be joyfu’! For he my son, was deid, and cam to life again; he had been tint, and is fund again!' And they begude to be joyfu’.

“But his auld brither was i’ the field: and, as he cam in, he drew nar the hoose, and heard music and dancin. And, beckonin till him ane o' the fee’d folk, he speir't what aiblins a’ this micht mean? And he said till him, ‘Yere brither has come back again; and yere faither has kill’t the stall'd cauf, for that he gat him hame again a' safe and soun’.’ But he was fu' o' ang’er, and wadna gang in. His faither, tho', cam oot, and was entreatin him. But he, answerin him, said till his faither, ‘See! a' thir years hae I ser't ye ; and never did I gang ayont yere commauns; and at nae time did ye gie me e'en a kid, that I  micht mak a feast for my freends; but whane'er this yere son, wha has devoor’t yere leevin wi' harlots, cam, ye killed the stall’d cauf !'

“But he said till him, 'Bairn! thou art aye wi’ me! and a' that is mine is thine! But it was richt we soud mak merry and rejoice; for he, thy brither, was deid, and cam back to life again; he had been tint, and was fund!' "

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

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-Third Sunday of the Year (Year C)

Gospel reading
Luke 14:25-33

And thar war gaun wi’ [Jesus] an unco thrang o’ folk; and, turnin, quo’ he to them, “Gin ony ane is for comin to me, and hates-na his faither and mither, and wife and weans, and brithers and sisters -aye, and his ain life as weel- he canna become my disciple! And whasae cairries-na his ain cross, as he comes eftir me, canna be my disciple.

“For whatna man amang ye, ettlin to bigg a tooer, sits-na doon first to reckon the cost? gin aiblins he has eneuch to finish it? Least ance, eftir layin the fundation, and no bein able to finish it, a’ wha see’t begin to jeer him, sayin, ‘This man begude to bigg, and wasna able to finish!’ Or whatna king, mairchin to meet anither king in battle, disna sit doon first and seek advice, whether he be able wi’ his ten-thoosands to meet him wha comes again him wi’ his twenty-thoosands. And gin it canna be dune, e’en while yet far-awa, he sends an embassy, and seeks terms o’ peace. In like mainner, than, ilk ane amang ye, wha isna biddin adieu to a’ his ain gear, canna be my disciple."

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

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-Second Sunday of the Year (Year C)

Gospel reading
Luke 14: 1, 7-14

Ande it was done, quhen [Jesus] had entrit into the hous of a prince of Phariseis in ye sabot to ete brede, thai aspiet him. He said alsa a parabile to men biddin to a feest, and beheld hou thai cheisit the first sitting places; and said to thame, "Quhen thou art biddin to bridales, sit nocht at the met in the first place: or perauenture a worthiare than thou be biddin of him; and or perauentur he cum that callit thee and him and say to thee, 'Geue place to this'; and than thou sal begynn with schame to hald the lawest place. Bot quhen thou art biddin to a feest, ga and sit doun in the lawest place; that quhen he cummis that callit thee to the feest, he say to thee, 'Freend, cum up hieare.' Than wirschip salbe to thee before men that sittis at the mete. For ilk that vphieis him self salbe made law; and he that mekes him self salbe vphiet."

And he said to him that had biddin him to the feest, "Quhen thou makest a dynere or a supere, will thou nocht call thi freendis, nouthir thi brether, nouthir cusingis, nouthir nechbouris, nor riche men; or perauentur thai bid thee agane to the feest, and it be yoldin agane to thee. Bot quhen thou makis a feest, call pure men, febile, crukit, and blind, and thou salbe blessit, for thai haue nocht quharof to yeeld to thee; for it salbe yoldin to thee in the rising agane of iustmen."

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

Mass readings in Scots: Twenty-first Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading

Isaiah 66: 18-21

[It's sae quo' the Lord:] [T]he folk an' their tongues, I sal gather them a'; an' eke they sal come, an' eke they sal see my gloiry an' a': An a sign I'se set on them for-thy; an' a wheen I sal sperfle out-by, till the natiouns: till Tarshish, till Pul, an' till Lud, wha can stent the bow; till Tubal, an' Javan, that's far i' the howe: wha ne'er heard ought o' my name, wha ne'er saw ought o' my fame; an' my gloir, they sal tell't till the hethen. An' yer brethren a', frae ilk natioun an' a', they sal fesh for Jehovah's hansel: on naigs, an' on sleds, an' on sweys; an' on mules, an' on gleg-gaen beiss; till my ain halie hill, quo' the Lord, at Jerusalem: like's the Sons o' Isr'el brought an offran themsel, on a weel-wushen sey, till the houss o' the Lord, till please him. Aye, an' it's e'en frae siclike the wale I sal hae, for priests an' for Levites, the Lord couth say.

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

Responsorial Psalm 116 (117) (resp. Mk 16:15)

Gang ye to a' the warld;

and preach the Gude-Tidins.

[Hallelujah!]

Gie laud till the Lord, O a' ye folk;

laud ye Himsel a' niebor kin: 

Gang ye to a' the warld;

and preach the Gude-Tidins.

For heigh owre oursel, 's his gudeness gran'; 

an' the truth o' the Lord for ay sal win: 

Gang ye to a' the warld;

and preach the Gude-Tidins.

[From Psalm 117, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here; response from The New Testament in Braid Scots William Wye Smith (1904) here]

Second reading
Hebrews 12: 5-7, 11-13

And ye haue foryet the confort that spekis to you as to sonnis, sayand, My sonn, will thou nocht despise the teching of the Lord, nowthir be thou made wery, the quhile thou art chastisit of him. For the Lord chastisis him that he luvis; he scurgis euiry sonn that he resaues. Abide ye still in chastising; God proffris him to you as to sonnis. For quhat sonn is it, quham the fader chastisis nocht? And ilk chastising in present tyme semes to be nocht of ioy, bot of sorow; bot eftirwart it sal yelde fruit of richtuisnes maast peciabile to men exercit be it. For quhilk thing raase ye slaw handis, and kneis vnbundin, and mak ye richtfull steppis to your feet ; that naman halt and erre, bot mare be helit.

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

Gospel reading
Luke 13: 22-30

And [Jesus] was gaun on his way, throwe citie by citie, and village by village, teachin and journeyin on to Jerusalem. And ane says to him, “Lord! are thar but a wheen that wull be saved?” But he said to him, “Be ye warslin to win in at the stret yett! for mony, I say t’ye, wull fain be gaun in, and winna be able.

“Frae the time the gudeman may rise and steek the door -and ye begin to staun withoot, and to chap at the door, cryin, ‘Lord! open ye to us! and, answerin, he sal say, ‘I ken ye na, nor whaur ye are frae!’ “Than wull ye begin to say, 'We did eat and drink afore ye; and on oor causeys did ye teach!’ And he wull say, 'I tell ye, I ken-na whaur ye are frae! depairt frae me a' ye doers o’ unrighteousness!'

“Thar sal be maenin and girnin, whan ye see Abra’m and Isaac, and Jaucob, and a' the prophets, i’ the Kingdom o’ God, and ye yersels cuisten oot! Whan they sal hae come frae the east and frae the wast, and frae the north and the sooth; and sit doon i’ the Kingdom o' God!

"And tent ye! some are hinmaist that sal be foremaist; and some are foremaist that sal be hinmaist.”

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