Thursday 24 December 2020

Merry Christmas

 





Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to
take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a
pure virgin: grant that we, being regenerate and made thy
children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy
Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ thy son our Lord, who
liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one
God, world without end. Amen.

(From the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham.)


Complete Mass readings in Scots: here

Saturday 15 August 2020

Mass readings in Scots: Feast of the Assumption

 



First reading
Apocalypse 11: 19; 12: 1-6, 10

Ande the tempile of God in heuen was opnit, and the ark of his testament was sene in his tempile. And a gret signe apperit in heuen; a woman clethit with the sonn, and the mone vndir hir feet, and in the hede of hir a croun of xij sternis. And scho had in wambe, and scho crijs, traualing of child, and is turmentit, that scho bere child. And ane vthir signe was sene in heuen; and lo! a gret rede dragoun, that had vij hedis, and ten hornis, and in the hedis of him vij diademis. And the taile of him drew the thridpart of the sternis of heuen, and send thame into the erd. And the dragoun stude befoir the woman, that was to bere child, that quhen scho had bom child, he suld deuour hir sonn. And scho baire a male childe, that was to reule al folkis in ane irn wand; and hir sonn was rauisit to God, and to his throne. And the woman fled into wildirnes, quhare scho has a place made reddi of God [...] And I herd a gret voce in heuen, sayand, Now is made hele, and virtue, and kingdome of our God, and the power of his Crist [...]

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


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 44: 10-12, 16 (resp. v.10)

The queen at thy right han' i' the gowd o' Ophir stude.

Kings' dochtirs, i' yer brawest gear, war snod: 
the queen at thy right han', i' the gowd o' Ophir stude.
Dochtir, hearken ye an' leuk, an' lout yer lug; 
an' forget ye yer ain folk, an' eke yer faither's blude: 

The queen at thy right han', i' the gowd o' Ophir stude.

Syne yer leuks sal like the king;
an' for he is your Lord, ye maun lout fu' laigh till him. 
Wi' blytheheid an' wi' glee, sal they be fushen in; 
an' they sal a' gang hame, till the pailis o' the king. 

The queen at thy right han', i' the gowd o' Ophir stude.

[From Psalm 45 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
1 Corinthians 15: 20-26


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.

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


Gospel reading
Luke 1: 39-56

And Marie raase vp in tha dais, and went with haast into the montanis, into a citee of Judee: And scho entrit into the hous of Zacharie, and salusit Elizabeth. And it was done, as Elizabeth herd the salutatioun of Marie, the yonng child in hir wambe glaidit; and Elizabeth was fulfillit with the Haligaast: And criet with a gret voce, and said, "Blessit be thou amang women, and blessit be the fruit of thi wambe. Quharof is this thing to me, that the moder of my Lord cum to me? For, lo, as the voce of thi salutatioun was made in myn eiris, the infant [...] glaidit in ioy in my wambe. And blessit be thou that has beleuet; for tha thingis that ar said of the Lord to thee salbe perfytlie done."

And Marie said, 

"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 made mycht in his arme; 
he scatterit proudmen with the thoucht of his hart. 
He put doun mychti men fra the seet, and vpheet mekemen. 
He has fulfillit hungrie men with gudes; and he has left richemen void. 
He, having mynd of his mercy, tuke Israel, his childe; 
As he has spokin to oure fadris, 
to Abraham, and to his seed in to warldis."

And Marie duelt with hir as it war iij monethis, and turnit agan into hir hous.

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

Sunday 2 August 2020

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







First reading
Isaiah 55:1-2

[Sae quo' the Lord:]
Hy! A' that's sair tholin wi' drowthe,
an' wha has nae siller till gie; come yer wa's till the watirs o' truth;
come yer wa's, ye can buy an' pree;
aye, come, ye can buy wi' nae siller;
wine an' milk, an' wi' never a fee.
What-for fling ye siller awa, an' no for bread?
the feck o' yer fash an' a', for a fusionless screed?
Ye suld hearken an' hear till myself, syne guid ye suld pree;
an' e'en as in walth o' talch, yer heart it suld swee.
Rax roun' yer lug, an' come a' till myself;
hearken, an' syne yer heart it sal live:
an I'se tryst yo the tryst was trystit langsyne;
the goodwill o' David, was ay sae stieve.

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

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144: 8-9, 15-18 (resp. v.16)

[Ye braid yer loof, O Lord, an' toom aneugh,
o' yer gudeness, till a' on live.] 

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

[Ye braid yer loof, O Lord, an' toom aneugh,
o' yer gudeness, till a' on live.] 

The een o' the lave leuk a' till thee,
an' ye gie them bread belyve:
Braidin yer loof, an' toomin aneugh,
o' yer gudeness, till a' on live.

[Ye braid yer loof, O Lord, an' toom aneugh,
o' yer gudeness, till a' on live.]


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. 


[Ye braid yer loof, O Lord, an' toom aneugh,
o' yer gudeness, till a' on live.]


[From Psalm 145 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
Romans 8: 35, 37-39

Fa will separate hiz fae e luv o  Christ? Trauchle? Chauve? Tiraneesin? Hunnger? Nyaakitness? Mischaunce? Roch hannlin? Na, yet, in aa things we win ower, throw him fa looed hiz. 

Cause A'm perswaaded att neither daith, nor life, nor angels, nor cuntras o e warl, nor pooers, nor fit happens e day, nor fit happens e morn, nor fit's abeen, nor fit's aneth nor ony ither thing in God's warl will haud hiz fae e luv o God, throw Christ Jesus, 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
Matthew 14: 13-21


Whan Jesus heard o’ [the deæth o John the Babtist], he gaed awa frae ther bie schip, intill ane desert plece bie himsel’; an’ whan the peeple had heard thero’, they folloet him on fit out o’ the cities. An’ Jesus gaed furth, an’ saw ane grit multitud, an’ was amovet wi’ tendir wae to waird them, an’ he hælet their siek.

An’ whan it was eenin’, his discipels cam’ til him, sayin’, "This is ane desart plece, an’ the time is now gane bye ; sen’ the multitud awa, that they may gae intill the clauchans an’ coffe themsels vittels." But Jesus said untill them, "They needna gang awa: gie ye them til eet." An’ they say untill him, "We hae here but five laives an’ twa fishes." He said, "Bring them hidder til me." An’ he commandet the multitud til sit doun on the gerse, an’ tuik the five laives an’ the twa fishes, an’ luikin’ up til heæven, he blisset, an’ brak, an’ gae the laives til his discipels, an’ the discipels til the multitud. An’ they did eet, an’ wer satisfiet: an’ they tuik up o’ the fragments that wer left twal baskits fu’.An’ they that had eeten wer about five thousan’ men, forbye women an’ childer.


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

Sunday 24 May 2020

Mass readings in Scots: Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year A)


First reading
Acts 1: 12-14


Efter that they quat the hill caa'd Olivet an gaed back tae Jerusalem. It is nae lang gate, nae mair an a Sabbath day's traivel. Whan they hed gotten back tae Jerusalem, they gaed up tae the chaumer up the stair whaur they war stappin - that is: PETER, JOHN, JEAMES, an ANDRO; PHILIP an TAMMAS; BARTHOLOMEW an MATTHEW; JEAMES the son o Alphaeus, SIMON the leal Jew, an JUDE the son o JEAMES. Aa thir men huid on wi ae hairt a mind at the prayin, alang wi a wheen weimen, Mary the mither o Jesus, an his brithers.

[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.]


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 26: 1, 4, 7-8 (resp. v.13)

A haed awmaist gien up howp o seein the sainin o the Lord
in the laund o the leevin.

The Laird is ma licht an ma salvation;
wha's than a cause o fear tae me?
The Laird is the strenth o ma life;
wha's a danger tae me?

A haed awmaist gien up howp o seein the sainin o the Lord
in the laund o the leevin.

Ae prayer A hae made tae the Laird,
an this is ma hert's desire;
that A can hae a seat in the hoose o the Laird
aw the days o ma life,
leukin on his glore
an gittin wit in his Temple.

A haed awmaist gien up howp o seein the sainin o the Lord
in the laund o the leevin.

O Laird, lat the vyce o ma prayer come tae yer lugs;
hae mercy on me, an answer me.
Whan ye said, Seek oot ma face,
ma hert said tae ye,
For yer face A will leuk.

A haed awmaist gien up howp o seein the sainin o the Lord
in the laund o the leevin.

[From Psalm 27, 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 Peter 4: 13-16

Be  gled, cause ye're bein caalled tae share wi Christ's sufferins, an fan his glory's revealed till ye, some day, ye'll be fulled wi e maist triumphant joy. Gin ony chiel gets on till ye for bein a folla'er o Christ, coont yersel lucky, cause syne e winnerfu Speerit, att's e Speerit o God is reestin onno ye. Bit gin ony o ye suffer, dinna lat it be as a murtherer, or as a thiefor a cyaard or for meddlin in ither fowk's affairs. Gin ony chiel suffers as a Christian, he his naethin tae be affrontit o, bit mith glorifee God in Christ's name.

[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
John 17: 1-11

Sae spak Jesus, and than liftit up his een aboon, and said,
“Faither, the ’oor is here!
Glorify thy Son,
sae that thy Son soud e’en glorify thee;
E’en as thou hast gien him authoritie ower a’ leevin,
that he micht gie Life-for-Aye till as mony as thou hast gien him.
And here is Life-for-Aye,
that they soud ken thee,
wha art the true God aboon,
and Jesus the Christ, sent by thee.
Thee hae I glorify’t on the yirth;
I hae wrocht the wark
thou gied me to do.
And noo, O my Faither! glorify me Aboon wi’ thysel,
e’en wi’ the glorie I bure wi’ thee afore a’ warld!
I hae schawn forth thy name
to the men thou did gie me oot frae the warld:
they war thine, and o’ thine ain thou did gie me:
and they hae keepit thy word.
And they hae come to ken
that a’ things thou hast gien me are o’ thysel.
For I hae gien them
the words thou gied me;
and they hae taen them ben to them, and stievely ken that I cam forth frae thee;
and they hae lippened that thou sent me.
For them I pray;
no for the warld,
but for them thou gi’est me;
for they are thy ain.
And a’ things mine are thine;
and a’ things thine are mine;
and I in them am glorify’t!
And now I am nae mair i’ the warld;
I come ben to thee!
but thir bide i’ the warld.

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

Sunday 17 May 2020

Mass readings in Scots: Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A)


First reading
Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17

And Philip gaed doon to Samaria-citie, and preached the Word to them. And a’ the folk wi’ ae mind gied gude tent to the things Philip spak; seein and hearin a’ the wunner-warks he wrocht. For foul spirits, skirlin wi’ rage and pain, cam oot o’ a hantle possess’d anes; and mony wi’ palsies, and that war lameters, war made hale. And thar was unco joy i’ that citie.

Noo, whan the Apostles at Jerusalem heard tell that Samaria had received God’s word, they sent to them Peter and John wha, whan they cam doon, prayed for them that they micht hae the Holie Spirit. For till this time he hadna faun on ony o’ them: only they had been bapteez’t i’ the name o’ the Lord Jesus. Than laid they their hauns on them, and they received the Holie Spirit.

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


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 65: 1-7, 16, 20 (resp. v.1)

Lilt wi' a sugh till God, O a' the yirth.

Lilt wi' a sugh till God, O a' the yirth
Lilt Loud till his name the weight o' its fame;
gie himsel a' the weight o' his gloiry.
Quo' ye until God: "How awsome in warks o' yer ain!"

Lilt wi' a sugh till God, O a' the yirth.

I feck o' yer might, sal ill-willers o' thine lout like liears afore ye.
Lout till yersel, sal a' the yirth: lout till yersel sal they lilt;
they sal lilt till yer name fu' cheerie: Selah.
Here-awa syne, see the warks o' God;
sae dread a' he does till the bairns o' yird:

Lilt wi' a sugh till God, O a' the yirth.

He swapit the sea for a bawk o' san';
on fit, they gaed owre the tide:
fu' blythe in himsel war we than.
He hauds ay a heigh han' o' his ain;
[...]

Lilt wi' a sugh till God, O a' the yirth.

Here-awa syne an' hearken ye; I sal tell yo, ilk ane wha has dread o' God,
what he for my saul has dune:
Blythe, blythe may God be ;
wha thol'd ay my bidden wi' him,
an' ne'er took his gude frae me!

Lilt wi' a sugh till God, O a' the yirth.

[From Psalm 66, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
1 Peter 3: 15-18

[J]ist haud fest e Lord God in yer herts. Aye be reddy tae gie a quait, reverent answer fan ony body speirs at ye fit wye ye hiv sae muckle hope in ye. Mak sheer yer conscience is clear, sae att gin fowk spik ill o ye, they'll come tae be affrontit o themsels for mislippenin yer gweed Christian conduck. Gin it be e will o God att ye shuld suffer, it's better tae suffer for deein gweed nor tae suffer for deein ill.

Myn, Christ suffert for wir ill-deeins, eence an for aa. A gweed livin chiel deit for e ill-deein fowk tae fess hiz aa tae God. His body wis deen awa wi, bit he cam tae life again in e Spirit.

[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
John 14: 14-21

[Jesus sais to his discipilis:]
"Gif ye luf me, kepe my comandmentis.
And I sal pray the fader,
and he sal geue to you an vthir confortour,
The spirit of treuth,
to duelle with you withoutin end;
quhilk spirit the warld may nocht tak,
for it seis him nocht, nouthir knawis him.
Bot ye sal knaw him,
for he sal duelle with you, and he salbe in you.
I sal nocht leif yow faderles,
I sal cum to yow.
Yit a litil, and the warld seis nocht now me;
bot ye sal se me,
for I leeue, and ye sal leeue.
In that day
ye sal knaw that I am in my fader,
and ye in me, and I in you.
He that has my comandmentis, and kepis thame,
he it is that luvis me;
and he that luvis me, salbe luvit of my fader,
and I sal lufe him, and I sal schaw to him my self."

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

Saturday 2 May 2020

Mass readings in Scots: Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A)


First reading
Acts 2: 14, 36-41

[And quhen the dais of Penthecoste war fillit,] Petir stude with the elleuen, and raasit vp his voce, and spak to [the multitude]: "Tharfor maast certanelie witt all the hous of Israel, that God made him baath Lord and Crist, this Jesu, quham ye crucifijt."

Quhen thai had herd thir thingis, thai war compunct in hart; and thai said to Petir and to vthiris apostilis, "Brether, quhat sal we do?" And Petir said to thame, "Do ye pennance, and ilk of yow be baptizit in the name of Jesu Crist, ande into remissioun of your synnis; and ye sal tak the gift of the Haligaast. For the behecht is to you, and to your sonnis, and to all that ar fer, quhilkis euir our Lord God has callit." Alsa with vtheris wordis full mony he witnessit to thame, and exhortit thame, and said, "Be ye saluit fra this schrewit generatioun. Than thai that resauet his word war baptizit, and in that day saulis war incressit, about thre thousand.

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


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22: 1-6, resp. v.1

The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?


The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?
He feidis me in feildis  fair,
To Reueris sweit, pure, and preclair,
He dryuis me but ony dreid.

The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?


My Saull and lyfe he dois refresche.
And me conuoyis in the way
Of his Justice and rychteousnes.
And me defendis from decay,
Nocht for my warkis verteousnes,
Bot for his name sa glorious,
Preseruis me baith nycht and day.

The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?


And thocht I wauer, or ga wyll,
Or am in danger for to die,
Na dreid of deide sall cum me till.
Nor feir of cruell Tyrannie.
Because that thow art me besyde,
To gouerne me and be my gyde,
From all mischeif and miserie.

The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?


Thy staffe, quhair of I stand greit awe,
And thy scheip huke me for to fang,
Thay nurtour me, my faultis to knaw,
Quhen fra the hie way I ga wrang.
Thairfoir my spreit is blyith and glaid,
Quhen on my flesche thy scurge is laid.
In the rycht way to gar me gang.

The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?


And thow ane Tabill dois prouyde
Befoir me, full of all delyte,
Contrair to my persewaris pryde,
To thair displesour and dispyte.
Thow hes annoyntit weill my heide.
And full my coupe thow hes maid,
With mony dischis of delyte.

The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?


Thy gudnes and beningnitie
Lat euer be with me thairfoir; 
And quhill I leue vntill I die,
Thow lay thame vp with me in stoir,
That I may haif my dwelling place,
Into thy hous befoir thy face,
To Ring with thé for euer moir.

The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?


[From a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 23, The Gude and Godlie Ballatis [1567] John Wedderburn et al., Alexander Ferrier (ed.) (1897), pp.91-3 here]

Second reading
1 Peter 2: 20-25

Bot gif ye do wele, and suffir pacientlie, this is grace anentis God.

For to this thing ye ar callit. For alsa Crist suffrit for vs, and left exempile to yow, that ye follow the steppis of him. Quhilk did nocht syn, nouthir gile was fundin in his mouth. And quhen he was cursit, he cursit nocht; quhen he suffrit, he manassit nocht; bot he betuke him self to him, that deemyt him vniustlie. And he him self baire our synnis in his body on a tre, that we be dede to synnis, and leeue to richtuisnes, be quhais wann wonnd ye ar helit. For ye war as schepe errand, bot ye ar now turnit to the schephird, and bischop of your saule.

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

Gospel reading
John 10: 1-10

[Jesus said to the Iewes:] Treulie, treulie, I say to you, he that cummis nocht in be the dure into the fauld of schepe, bot gais vp be ane vthir way, is a nycht theef and a day theef. Bot he that entris be the dure is the scheephird of the schepe. To this the portare opnis, and the schepe heres his voce, and he callis his awn schepe be name, and leidis thame out. And quhen he has ledde out his awn schepe, he gais before thame, and the schepe followis him; fore thai knaw his voce. Bot thai follow nocht ane alien, bot Heis fra him; for thai haue nocht knawne the voce of alienis.

Jesus said to thame this prouerbe; bot thai knew nocht quhat he spak to thame.

Tharfore Jesus said to thame eftsone,

Treulie, treulie, I say to you,
that I am the dure of the schepe.
Als mony as haue cummin,
war nycht theues and day theues,
bot the schepe herde nocht thame,
I am the dure.
Gif ony man sal entire be me, he salbe sauet;
and he sal ga in, and sal ga out,
and he sal finde lesues.
A nycht theef cummis nocht,
bot that he steil, sla, and tyne;
and I com,
that thai haue lif,
and haue maire plenteouslie.

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




Sunday 19 April 2020

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


First reading
Acts 2: 42-47

An they [fa were new believers] aa held stoot tae e wird an learnin o the Apostles an jined in their fellaship o brakkin e loaf an prayin.

A sense o awe wis aawye an mony meeracles an ferlies were brocht aboot throw the Apostles.

Aa e believers were egither an pairted oot amo themsels aa att they hid. They selt aa their gear an aa att they ained an pairted oot e siller amo themsels as there wis need.

Ilka day they met egither i the Temple an they breuk loaf egither in een anither's hooses an ett their maet wi gled an hummle herts, praisin God. An aabody respeckit them. An ilka day e Lord jined tae their groupie, them fa hid been savit.

[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.]


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 117: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24. Resp: v.1

Gie laud till the Lord, for he's gude;
for his gudeness, it tholes for ay.

Lat Israel say siclike;
for his gudeness, it tholes for ay:
Lat Aaron's houss say siclike;
for his gudeness, it tholes for ay.
Lat wha fear the Lord say siclike;
for his gudeness, it tholes for ay.

Gie laud till the Lord, for he's gude;
for his gudeness, it tholes for ay.

Ye schot at me sair, till ding me owre;
bot the Lord, he was stoop till me.
My strenth an' my sang, is the Lord;
an' eke, my heal-ha'din sal be.
It 's the sugh o' a sang an' heal-ha'din,
they're baith wi' gude folk i' the shiels;

Gie laud till the Lord, for he's gude;
for his gudeness, it tholes for ay.

The stane the biggers wad nane o',
the head o' the neuk it has been:
Frae the Lord himlane, siclike maun hae fa'n;
an' a ferlie it stan's in onr een.
A day siclike, 's the wark o' the Lord;
blythe an' fu' fain lat us be tharin:

Gie laud till the Lord, for he's gude;
for his gudeness, it tholes for ay.

[From Psalm 118 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
1 Peter 3-9

Blissed be God, the Faither o our Lord Jesus Christ, at in his gryte mercie hes begotten us til a new life an a víve howp throu the resurrection o Jesus Christ frae the deid! Nou ar we heirs til an heirskip at will ne'er be connacht or fyled or dow, an heirskip laid by in heiven for ye, at is keepit bi the pouer o God throu faith for the salvâtion at is bidin us eenou, an will kythe at the hinnerend o this warld. That dirls your hairts wi joy, een tho for a wee the nou ye may hae tae dree pyne in monifauld seyals. For aa it perishes, gowd is seyed wi fire; an een sae ye maun dree sair seyals, at the pure metal o your faith, whilk is mair praicious nor gowd, may bring ye praise, glorie, an honour on the day whan Jesus Christ is revealt. For aa ye haena seen him, ye luve him; an tho ye see-him-na the nou, ye lippen on him, an your hairts stounds wi a glorious, heivenlie joy by tellin, because ye ar winnin the frute o your faith, the salvâtion o your sauls.


[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 John 20: 19-31

Tharfore quhen it was euen in that day, aan of the sabotis, and the yettis war closit quhare the discipilis war gaderit for drede of the Iewis, Jesus com and stude in the myddis of the discipilis, and he sais to thame, "Pece to yow." And quhen he had said this, he schewit to thame handis and side; tharfore the discipilis ioyit, for the Lord was seen. And he sais to thame agane, "Pece to you;

"as the fader send me,
I send you."

Quhen he had said this, he blew on thame, and said,

"Tak ye the Haligast;
Quhais synnis ye forgefe,
tha ar forgeuen to thame;
and quhais ye withhald,
tha ar withhaldin."

Bot Thomas, aan of the xij, that is saide Didymus, was nocht with thame quhen Jesus com, tharfore the vther discipilis said to him, "We haue sene the Lord." And he said to thame, "Bot I se in his handis the fixing of the nailis, and put my fingire into the place of the nailis, and put my hand into his side, I sal nocht beleue." And eftir viii dais agane his discipilis war within, ande Thomas with thame. Jesus com, quhile the yettis war closit, and stude in the myddis, and said, "Pece to you." Eftirwart he sais to Thomas, "Put in here thi fingire, and se myn handis, and put hiddire thi hand, and put into my side, and will thou nocht be vnbeleeffull, bot faithfiill." Thomas ansuerd, and said to him, "My Lord and my God." Jesus sais to him,

"Thomas, for thou has sene me, thou beleues;
blessit be thai that saw nocht, and has beleuet."

And Jesus did mony vthir signes in the sicht of his discipilis, quhilkis ar nocht writtin in this buke. Bot thir ar writtin, that ye beleue that Jesus is Crist, the sonn of God, and that ye beleuynig haue lif in his name.


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

Saturday 4 April 2020

Mass readings in Scots: Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) (Year A)


First reading
Isaiah 50: 4-7

The Lord that's Jehovah, he ettled mysel
the tongue o' siclike as hae lear;
that sae I suld ken, on the weary wight,
a kin' canny word till ware.
It's mornin by mornin, he waukens me weel;
he waukens my lug,
like the lave that hae lear, till hear:
Aye, the Lord that's Jehovah, my lug he couth dreel,
an' mysel I was-na sweer;
nor back frae the bit whar I had my fit,
awa I did-na steer:
my shouthirs I gied till wha dang fu' sair,
an' my chowks I turn'd till wha ruggit the hair;
my face I ne'er happit frae skaudes an' mair.
Bot the Lord that's Jehovah was stoop till me ay;
syne sae I was-na dauntit:
syne sae I couth stint my face like a flint;
for I kenn'd I suld ne'er be affrontit.

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


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 21: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24 (R: v.2)

R: My God, my God, whatfor hae ye mislippen'd me?

A' that see me laugh me by;
they schute wi' the lip, they cave the head;
and quo they,
"He lippen'd the Lord; lat the Lord gar him gang:
lat the Lord redd him but, sen he liket him weel."

R: My God, my God, whatfor hae ye mislippen'd me?

For brachs hae forset me roun;
the gath'ran o' ill-doers fankit me about;
they drave thro' my han's an' my feet.
I may count ilk bane i' my bouk.

R: My God, my God, whatfor hae ye mislippen'd me?

They synder my cleedin amang them;
an' fling for my vera manteele.
Bot yersel, O Lord, be-na far frae me:
haste ye till help me,
my strenth an' a '.

R: My God, my God, whatfor hae ye mislippen'd me?

I maun tell o' yer name till my brether ilk ane;
in mids o' the folk I maun lilt till thee.
Wha fear the Lord, ye suld laud him a';
a' Jakob's out-come, laud him heigh;
an the growth o' Israel a', quauk ye afore him.

R: My God, my God, whatfor hae ye mislippen'd me?

[From Psalm 22, in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
Philippians 2: 6-11

He aye hid e netter o God,
bit he didna think tae strive
tae be upsides doon wi God.
Instead, o his ain free will,
he gied up aa att he hid
an teuk on e pairt o a fee'd man.
Takkin on human form,
he hummlt himsel bi deein jist fit he wis telt,
aye aiven tae verra daith,
daith on e cross.
Sae God reesed him up till e heichest place there is
an gied him a name abeen aa names;
an at e name o Jesus ilka knee will boo,
in hiven, in earth an in e placie aneth.
An ilka tongue will confess
att Jesus Christ is Lord,
tae e Glory o God e Fadder.

[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 21: 1-11

Key: N. Narrator. Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker.

N: Syne ane o’ the twal, ca’d Judas Iscariot, gaed until the chief priests, an’ said until them,

O: What will ye gie me, an’ I will gie him up until you?

N: An’ they ’gree’t wi’ him for thretty pieces o’ siller. An’ frae that time he soucht for a chance to betray him.

Now the first day o' the feast o’ unleavenet bread, the disciples cam’ til Jesus, sayin’,

C: Whare wilt thou that we mak’ ready for thee to eat the passover?

N: An’ he said,

✠Gang intil the toun til sic a man, an’ say until him, "The Maister saith, My time is at han’; I will keep the passover at thy house wi' my disciples."

N: An’ the disciples did as Jesus had direckit them; an’ they made ready the passover.

Now whan the gloamin’ was come he sat doun wi’ the twal. An’ as they did eat he said,

✠Verily I say unto you, that ane o’ you sall betray me.

N: An’ they were unco waefu’, an’ begoude ilka ane o’ them to say until him,

C: Lord, is it me?

N: An’ he answer’t an’ said,

✠He wha dippeth his han’ wi’ me in the aschet, the same sall betray me. The Son o’ man gaeth, as it is written o’ him; but wae until that man by wham the Son o’ man is betrayet! it had been guid for that man gif he hadna been born.

N: Syne Judas, wha betrayet him, answer’t an’ said,

O: Maister, is it me?

N: He said until him,

✠Thou hast said.

N: An’ as they were eatin’, Jesus teuk bread an’ blesset it, an’ brak’ it, an’ gied it til his disciples, an’ said,

✠Tak’, eat; this is my body.

N: An’ he teuk the cup, an’ gied thanks, an’ gied it til them, sayin’,

✠Drink ye a’ o’ it; for this is my bluid o’ the new testament, whilk is shed for mony for the forgieness o’ sins. But I say until you, I winna drink hancefurth o’ the fruit o’ the vine, till that day whan I drink it new wi’ you in my Father’s kingdom.

N: An’ whan they had sung a hymn, they gaed out til the Mount o’ Olives. Syne saith Jesus until them,

✠A’ ye sall be offendet because o’ me this nicht, for it is written, I sall smite the shepherd, an’ the sheep o’ the hirsel sall be scatter’t abraid. But after I am risen again, I will gae afore you intil Galilee.

N: Peter answer’t an’ said until him,

O: Though a’ men sall be offendet, because o’ thee, yet will I never be offendet.

N: Jesus saith til him,

✠Verily I say unto thee, that this nicht, afore the cock craw, thou sallt disown me thrice.

N: Peter said until him,

O: Though I sud dee wi’ thee, yet winna I disown thee.

N: Likewaise alsua said a’ the disciples. Syne cometh Jesus wi’ them until a place ca’d Gethsemane, an’ saith until the disciples,

✠Sit ye here, while I gang an’ pray yonner.

N: An’ he teuk wi’ him Peter an’ the twa sons o’ Zebedee, an’ begoude to be waefu’, an’ unco heavy. Syne saith he until them,

✠My saul is unco waefu’, e’en until death: bide ye here, an’ watch wi’ me.

N: An’ he gaed a wee farrer, an’ fa’d on his face, an’ prayet, sayin’,

✠O my Father, gin it be possible, let this tass pass frae me; natheless, no as I will, but as thou wilt.

N: An’ he cometh until the disciples' an’ fand them sleepin’, an’ saith until Peter,

✠What! cudna ye watch wi’ me ae hour? Watch an’ pray, that ye dinna gae intil temptation; the spirit truly is willin’, but the flesh is feck less.

N: He gaed awa the second time, an’ prayet, sayin’,

✠O my Father, gif this tass maunna pass awa frae me, excep’ I drink it, thy will be dune.

N: An’ he cam’ an’ fand them sleepin’ again (for their een were heavy): an’ he quat them, an’ gaed awa again, an’ prayet the third time, sayin’ the same words. Syne cometh he til his disciples, an’ saith until them,

✠Sleep on now, an’ tak’ your rest: behald, the hour is at han’, an’ the Son o’ man is betrayet intil the han’s o’ sinners. Rise up, let us be gaun: behald, he is at han' wha doth betray me.

N: An’ while he yet spak’, lo, Judas, ane o’ the twal, cam’, an’ wi’ him a meikle thrang wi’ swerds an’ rungs, frae the chief priests an’ elders o’ the people. Now he wha betrayet him had gien them a sign, sayin’,

O: Whamsaever I sall kiss, that same is he: haud him fast.

N: An’ furthwith he cam’ til Jesus, an’ said,

O: Hail, Maister;

N: an’ kisset him. An’ Jesus said until him,

✠Frien’, wharefore art thou come?

N: Syne cam’ they, an’ laid han’s on Jesus, an’ teuk him. An’, behald, ane o’ them wha were wi’ Jesus raucht out his han’, an’ drew his swerd, an’ strack a servan’ o’ the high-priest, an’ sneddet aff his ear. Syne said Jesus until him,

✠Pit up again thy swerd intil its place; for a’ they wha tak’ the swerd sall perish by the swerd. Trowest thou that I canna now pray til my Father, an’ he sall at ance gie me mair nor twal legions o’ angels? But how than sall the Scriptures be fulfillet whilk say that sae it maun be?

N: In that same hour said Jesus til the folk,

✠Are ye come out as agayne a riever wi’ swerds an’ rungs for to tak’ me? I sat daily wi’ you teachin’ in the temple, an’ ye laid nae hand on me. But a’ this was dune that the Scriptures o’ the prophets micht be fulfillet.

N: Syne a’ the disciples forleet him, an’ fled. An’ they wha had laid hand on Jesus led him awa til Caiaphas the high-priest, whare the scribes an’ elders were gather’t thegither. An’ Peter followet him afar aff until the palace o’ the high-priest, an’ gaed in, an’ sat wi’ the servan’s to see the en’. Now the chief priests, an’ elders, an’ a’ the cuncil, soucht fause witness agayne Jesus that they micht pit him til death. But they fand nane; ay, e’en though mony fause witnesses cam’, yet fand they nane. At last cam’ twa fause witnesses, an’ said,

O: This fallow said, I am able to destroy the temple o’ God, an’ to big it again in three days.

N: An’ the high-priest rase up, an’ said until him,

O: Answerest thou naething? What is it whilk thae witness agayne thee?

N: But Jesus held his tongue. An’ the high-priest answer’t an’ said until him,

O: I adjure thee by the livin’ God, that thou tell us gif thou be the Christ, the Son o’ God.

N: Jesus saith until him,

✠Thou hast said: mair owre I say until you, hereafter sall ye see the Son o’ man sittin’ on the richt han’ o’ power, an’ comin’ in the cluds o’ heaven.

N: Syne the high-priest rived his claes, sayin’,

O: He hath spoken blasphemy. What mair need hae we o' witnesses? behald, now ye hae hear’t his blasphemy. What trow ye?

N: They answer’t an’ said,

C: He is wordy o’ death.

N: Syne they spat in his face, an’ nevellet him, an’ ithers cuffet him wi’ the looves o' their han’s, sayin’,

C: Spae until us, thou Christ, wha is he that cuffet thee?

N: Now Peter sat without in the ha’: an’ a maid servan’ cam’ until him, sayin’,

O: Thou alsua wast wi’ Jesus o’ Galilee.

N: But he denied afore them a’, sayin’,

✠I dinna ken what thou sayest.

N: An’ whan he was gane out intil the porch, anither ane saw him, an’ said until them wha were there,

C: This fallow was alsua wi’ Jesus o’ Nazareth.

N: An’ again he denied wi’ an aith,

O: I dinna ken the man.

N: An’ after a while cam’ until him they wha stood by, an’ said til Peter,

C: Surely thou alsua art ane o’ them, for thy speech outeth thee.

N: Syne begoude he to ban an’ to sweer, sayin’,

O: I dinna ken the man.

N: An’ straughtway the cock crawed. An’ Peter mindet the word o’ Jesus, wha said until him, "Afore the cock craw, thou sallt disown me thrice." An’ he gaed out, an’ grat sairly.

Whan the mornin was come, a' the chief priests an' elders o' the people teuk rede agayne Jesus to pit him til death. An’ whan they had bund him they led him awa, an’ gied him up til Pontius Pilate the governor.

Syne Judas, wha had betrayet him, whan he saw that he was condemnet, rewet himsel, an’ broucht again the thretty pieces o’ siller til the chief priests an’ elders, sayin’,

O: I hae sinnet in that I hae betrayet the innocent bluid.

N: An’ they said,

C: What is that til us ? See thou til that.

N: An’ he coost doun the pieces o’ siller in the temple, an’ quat them, an’ gaed an’ hanget himsel. An’ the chief priests teuk the siller pieces, an’ said,

C: It isna lawfu’ for to pit them intil the treasure kist, because it is the price of bluid.

N: An’ they teuk rede, an’ coft wi’ them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Wharefore that field was ca’d the field o’bluid until this day. Syne was fulfillet that whilk was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, sayin’, An’ they teuk the thretty pieces o’ siller, the price o' him wha was valuet, wham they o’ the childer o' Israel did value; an’ gied them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointet me.

An’ Jesus stood afore the governor; an’ the governor spier’t at him, sayin’,

O: Art thou the king o’ the Jews?

N: An’ Jesus said until him,

✠Thou sayest.

N: An’ whan he was delatet o’ the chief priests an’ elders, he answer’t naething. Syne said Pilate until him,

O: Hearestna thou how mony things they witness agayne thee?

N: An’ he answer’t him no a word; insaemeikle that the governor wonder’t greatly.

Now at that feast the governor uset to lowse until the folk a prisoner, wham they wad. An’ they had than a notable prisoner ca’d Barabbas. Therefore whan they were gather’t thegither, Pilate said until them,

O: Wham will ye that I lowse until you, Barabbas, or Jesus wha is ca’d Christ?

N: For he kent that for ill-will they had gien him up. Whan he was set doun on the judgment-seat, his wife sendet until him, sayin’,

O: Hae thou naething to  do wi’ that just man: for I hae tholet mony things this day in a dream because o’ him.

N: But the chief priests an’ elders persuadet the folk that they sud ask Barabbas, an’ destroy Jesus. Syne the governor spak’ an’ said until them,

O: Whilk o’ the twa will ye that I lowse until you?

N: They said,

C: Barabbas.

N: Pilate saith until them,

C: What sall I do than wi’ Jesus wha is ca’d Christ?

N: They a’ say until him,

C: Let him be crucifiet!

N: An’ the governor said,

O: Why? what ill hath he dune?

N: But they screighet the mair, sayin’,

C: Let him be crucifiet!

N: Whan Pilate saw that he cud prevail naething, but that rather a racket was made, he teuk water an’ washet his han’s afore the folk, sayin’,

O: I am innocent o’ the bluid o’ this just person: see ye til it.

N: Syne answer’t a’ the folk, an’ said,

C: His bluid be on us, an’ on our bairns!

N: Syne he lowset Barabbas until them; an’ whan he had scourget Jesus, he gied him up to be crucifiet. Syne the sodgers o’ the governor teuk Jesus intil the common ha’, an’ gather’t until them the hale band. An’ they strippet him, an’ pat on him a scarlet robe. An’ whan they had plattet a croun o’ thorns, they pat it upon his head, an’ a reed in his richt han’; an’ they bowet the knee afore him, an’ mocket him, sayin’,

C: Hail, King o’ the Jews!

N: An’ they spat upon him, an’ teuk the reed, an’ strack him on the head. An’ after they had mocket him, they teuk the robe atf frae him, an’ pat his ain claes on him, an’ led him awa to crucify him.

An’ as they cam’ out, they fand a man o’ Cyrene, Simon by name, him they gar’t to bear his cross. An’ whan they were come until a place ca’d Golgotha, (whilk is to say, a place o’ a skull,) they gied him vinegar to drink mynget wi’ ga’: an’ whan he had pried thereo’, he wadna drink. An’ they crucifiet him, an’ pairtet his claes, drawin’ cutts: that it micht be fulfillet whilk was spoken by the prophet, They pairtet my claes amang them, an’ for my vesture did they draw cutts. An’ sitting doun, they watchet him there; an’ set up aboon his head his delation in writin’, "This is Jesus the King o' the Jews". Syne were there twa rievers crucifiet wi’ him, ane on the right han’, an’ anither on the left.

An’ they that gaed by misca’d him, geckin' their heads, an’ sayin’,

C: Thou wha destroyest the temple, an’ biggest it in three days, saufe thysel. Gif thou be the Son o’ God, come doun frae the cross.

N: Likewaise alsua the chief priests mockin’ him, wi’ , the scribes an’ elders, said,

C: He saufet ithers; himsel he canna saufe. Gif he be the King o’ Israel, let him now come doun frae the cross, an’ we will believe him. He lippenet in God: let him saufe him now, gif he will hae him: for he said, I am the Son o’ God.

N: The rievers alsua wha were crucifiet wi’ him, coost the same in his teeth.

Now frae the saxt’ hour there was mirkness owre a’ the lan’ until the nint’ hour. An’ about the nint’ hour Jesus criet wi’ a loud voice, sayin’,

✠Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!

N: whilk is to say, "My God, my God, why hast thou forleet me?" Some o’ them wha stood there, whan they hear’t that, said,

C: This man ca’eth for Elias.

N: An’ straughtway ane o’ them ran, an’ teuk a spunge, an’ fillet it wi’ vinegar, an’ pat it on a reed, an’ gied him to drink. The lave said,

C: Let him alane, let us see gin Elias will come to saufe him.

N: Jesus, whan he had criet again wi’ a loud voice, gied up the ghaist.

An’, behald, the veil o’ the temple was riven in twa frae the tap til the boddum; an’ the yirth did quake, an’ the rocks were rendet. An’ the graves were openet: an’ mony bodies o’ the saunts wha sleepet rase up, an’ cam’ out o’ the graves after his resurrection, an’ gaed intil the haly toun, an’ kythet until mony. Now whan the centurion, an’ they wha were wi’ him, watchin’ Jesus, saw the yirthquake, an’ thae things whilk were dune, they fear’t greatly, sayin’,

C: Verament this was the Son o’ God.

N: An’ mony women were there leukin’ on frae afar afi', wha followet Jesus frae Galilee, ministerin’ until him; amang wham was Mary Magdalene, an’ Mary the mither o’ James an’ Joses, an’ the mither o’ Zebedee’s childer.

Whan the gloamin’ was come, there cam’ a bien man o’ Arimathea, ca’d Joseph, wha alsua himsel was a disciple o’ Jesus: he gaed til Pilate, an’ begget the body o’ Jesus. Syne Pilate commaundet the body to be gien til him. An’ whan Joseph had taen the body, he wand it in a clean linen claith, an’ laid it in his ain new tomb, whilk he had hewet out o’ the rock, an’ he rowet a muckle stane til the door o’ the sepulchre, an’ gaed his gate. An’ there was Mary Magdalene, an’ the tither Mary, sittin’ fornent the sepulchre.

Now the niest day (whilk followet the day o' the preparation), the chief priests an’ Pharisees gaed the gither until Pilate, sayin’,

C: Sir, we mindet that that begowker said while he was yet livin’, "After three days I will rise again." Commaun’ therefore that the sepulchre be made sicker until the third day, lest his disciples come by nicht an’ steal him awa, an’ say until the folk, "He is risen frae the dead: sae the last faut sall be waur nor the first."

N: Pilate said until them,

O: Ye hae a watch, gae your gate, mak’ it as sicker as ye can.

N: Sae they gaed, an’ made the sepulchre sicker, pittin’ a seal on the stane, an’ settin’ a watch.

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

Saturday 28 March 2020

Mass readings in Scots: Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year A)

First reading
Ezekiel 37: 12-14

The Lord says this: see, A am openin the resting-places o yer dead, an A will make ye come up oot o yer resting-places, o ma people; an A will tak ye intae the land o Israel. An ye will be certain A am the Lord bi ma openin the resting-places o yer dead an makin ye come up oot o yer resting-places, O ma people. An A will put ma spirit i ye, sae ye may come tae life, an A will give ye a rest i yer land: an ye will be certain A the Lord have said it an have done it, says the Lord.

[Own translation, level 1 28/03/20. Methodology here]


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 129


Fra deip, O Lord, I call to thé,
Lord heir my Inuocatioun.
Thy eiris thow inclyne to me,
And heir my Lamentatioun:
For gif thow will our Sin impute
Till vs, O Lord, that we commit,
Quha may byde thy accusatioun?

Bot thow art mercyfull and kynde,
And hes promittit in the write,
Thame that repent with hart and mynde,
Of all thair Sin to mak thame quyte :
Thocht I be full of sinfulnes,
Zit thow art full of faithfulnes.
And thy promeis trew and perfyte.

My hope is steidfast in the Lord,
My Saull euer on him traist,
And my beleue is in thy word.
And all thy promittis maist and leist
My Saull on God waits, and is bent.
As watcheman wald the nycht war went,
Bydand the day to tak him rest.

Israeli in God put thy beleue,
For he is full of gentilnes,
Fredome, gudnes and [s]all releue
All Israel of thair distres.
He sail deliuer Israell,
And all thair sinnis sall expell,
And cleith thame with his rychteousnes.

[From Psalm 130, pp.112-113 in The Gude and Godlie Ballatis [1567] John Wedderburn et al., Alexander Ferrier (ed.) (1897) Contains metrical versions of some scripture passages and some metrical psalms here]




Second reading
Romans 8: 8-11

And they wha hae their bein i’ the flesh, canna pleasur God. But ye haena yere bein i’ the flesh, but i’ the Spirit, gin God’s Spirit is bidin in ye: but gin ony ane hasna Christ’s Spirit, he isna o’ his. But, gin Christ is in ye, the body is deid on accoont o’ sin, but the Spirit is leevin on accoont o' holiness. And gin the Spirit, wha raised up Jesus frae amang the deid, dwalls in ye, he that raised up Christ Jesus frae amang the deid sal e’en gie life to yere deein bodies, on accoont o’ his indwallin Spirit in ye.


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



Gospel reading
John 11: 1-45

Noo, a particular ane was ill; Lazarus, o’ Bethanie; Mary’s toon, and her sister Martha’s toon. It was the same Mary wha anointit the Lord wi’ the ointment, and dightit his feet wi'  her hair, whase brither Lazarus was ill. Sae his sisters sent word to him, “Lord, see! the lad ye lo’e is sick!” Whan Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness is no to bring death, but the glorie o’ God; sae as God’s Son micht be glorify’t.”

Noo Jesus had tender love for Mary, and her sister, and Lazarus. Whan, than, he heard he was ill, he ye bade thar twa days i’ the bit whaur he was. Eftir that, quo’ he to his disciples, “Lat us gang into Judea again!” The disciples say to him, “Maister! the Jews e’en noo ettled to stane ye, and wull ye gang thar-awa again?"  Jesus answer’t,

“Are thar no twal’ oors to a day?
Gin ony man gang i' the day, he stoiters-na,
for that he sees the licht o’ this warld.
But gin ane walk i’ the nicht, he stoiters,
for that the licht isna in him.”

Thir things quo’ be; and eftir he said to them, “Oor freend Lazarus is faun on sleep; but I gang that I may wauken him oot o’ sleep!” Than quo’ the disciples, “Lord, gin he sleep, he maun be on the mend!” But Jesus spak o’ his deein; while they thocht he had spoken o’ his takin rest in sleep. Than said Jesus plainly to them, “Lazarus is deid! And I am weel pleased, for yere sakes, I wasna yonner, sae as ye may believe; nane-the-less, lat us gang to him!” Than Tammas (he wha was ca’d “The Twin”) says to his neebors, “Lat us a’ gang, too, that we may dee wi’ him!”

Than, when Jesus cam, he faund he had been i’ the tomb for fowr days. Noo, Bethanie was nar-haun Jerusalem, no twa mile awa. And mony folk o' the Jews had come oot to Martha and Mary to console them ower their brither. Than Martha, as sune as she kent Jesus was comin, gaed oot and met him; but Mary sat yet i’ the hoose. Sae says Martha to Jesus, “Lord! gin thou had been here, my brither hadna dee't! And e’en yet, I ken that whate’er thou may ask o’ God, God wull gie it thee!” Quo' Jesus to her, “ Yere brither sal rise again!” Martha says to him, “I ken he sal rise again, i’ the Risin at the Last Day!” Jesus said to her,

“I am the Risin-again and the Life!
Wha lippens on me, e’en gin he dee, yet sal he leeve!
And whasae leeves, lippenin on me,
sal dee nae mair!
Dae ye believe this?”

Quo' she to him, “ Aye, Lord! I believe thou art God’s Son, wha was to come intil the warld!”

And whan she had said this, she gaed her ways, and ca’d Mary her sister, unkent, sayin, “The Maister is come, and is seekin’ ye!” And as sune as she kent it, she raise quickly, and gaed till him. Noo Jesus wasna yet come to the toon, but was i' the place whaur Martha met him. Sae the Jews wha war i' the hoose to console her, whan they saw Mary rise up o’ a suddaintie and gang oot, follow’t her, sayin amang theirsels, “She gangs to the tomb, to wail thar!”

Than Mary, bein come whaur Jesus was, fell doon at his feet, sayin to him, “ Lord! gin thou had been here, my brither hadna dee’t!” Whan Jesus saw her sabbin, and the Jews a’ greetin that cam wi’ her, he was unco touched at the heart, and was wrocht-on. And quo’ he, “Whaur hae ye laid him doon?” They say to him, “Lord, come awa and see!” Jesus grat. The Jews than said, “See hoo he lo’ed him!” But a wheen o’ them said, “Coud-na this man, wha unsteekit the een o’ the blin’, hae caused e’en this man to leeve?” Jesus, groan in at this within his sel, comes to the tomb. Noo it was a cave, and a stane was putten ower it. Jesus said, “Tak ye awa the stane!” Martha, the sister o’ the deid man, says, “Lord! by noo the corp wull be rank, for he has been fowr days deid!” Jesus says to her, “Did I no say t’ye, that gin ye wad believe, ye soud see the glorie o’ God!” Than took they awa the stane. And Jesus liftit up his een, and said,

“Faither! I thank thee that thou did hear me.
And I ken that thou aye hears me;
but for the sake o’ a’ the folk staunin here
I said it,
that they may ken that thou did send me.”

And whan he had sae said, he cry’t wi’ a soondin voice, “Lazarus! hither! Come!” And the deid cam forth, bund haun and fit wi’ deid-claes; and his heid bund roond wi’ a naipkin. Jesus says to them, "Lowse him, and lat him gang!”

Than a hantle o’ the Jews wha cam to Mary, and saw a’ that he did, believed on him.

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


Saturday 21 March 2020

Mass readings in Scots: Fourth Sunday of Lent (Year A)


First reading
1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6-7, 10-13a

An the Lord says tae Samuel: " Tak oil i yer vessel an gae; A will send ye tae Jesse, the Bethlehemite: for A hae got a king for mysel among his sons."

Nou whan Samuel came, lookin at Eliab, he says: "Clearly the man o the Lord's selection is before him. But the Lord says tae Samuel: "Dinna tak note o his face or hou tall he is, because A will no hae him. For the Lord's view is no man's; man takes note o the outer form, but the Lord sees the heart."

An Jesse made his seven sons come before Samuel. An Samuel says tae Jesse, the Lord has no taen any o these. Then Samuel says tae Jesse: "Is aw yer bairns here?" An he says: "Thare is still the youngest, an he is lookin after the sheep. An Samuel says tae Jesse: "Send an make him come here: for we will no tak our seats till he is here." Sae he sent an made him come i. Nou he haed rit hair an bonny een an pleasin looks. An the Lord says: "Come, put the oil on him, for this is he."  Then Samuel took the bottle o oil, an put the oil on him thare among his brothers: an from that day the Spirit o the Lord came on David wi pouer.

[Own translation. Level 1, 21/3/20. Methodology here]

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22

The Lord God is my Pastor gude,
Aboundantlie me for to feid:
Than how can I be destitute
Of ony gude thing in my neid?
He feidis me in feildis fair,
To Reueris sweit, pure, and preclair,
He dryuis me but ony dreid.

My Saull and lyfe he dois refresche.
And me conuoyis in the way
Of his Justice and rychteousnes.
And me defendis from decay,
Nocht for my warkis verteousnes,
Bot for his name sa glorious,
Preseruis me baith nycht and day.

And thocht I wauer, or ga wyll,
Or am in danger for to die,
Na dreid of deide sall cum me till.
Nor feir of cruell Tyrannie.
Because that thow art me besyde,
To gouerne me and be my gyde,
From all mischeif and miserie.

Thy staffe, quhair of I stand greit awe,
And thy scheip huke me for to fang,
Thay nurtour me, my faultis to knaw,
Quhen fra the hie way I ga wrang.
Thairfoir my spreit is blyith and glaid,
Quhen on my flesche thy scurge is laid.
In the rycht way to gar me gang.

And thow ane Tabill dois prouyde
Befoir me, full of all delyte,
Contrair to my persewaris pryde,
To thair displesour and dispyte.
Thow hes annoyntit weill my heide.
And full my coupe thow hes maid,
With mony dischis of delyte.

Thy gudnes and beningnitie
Lat euer be with me thairfoir; 
And quhill I leue vntill I die,
Thow lay thame vp with me in stoir,
That I may haif my dwelling place,
Into thy hous befoir thy face,
To Ring with thé for euer moir.

[From Psalm 23, p. 91, The Gude and Godlie Ballatis [1567] John Wedderburn et al., Alexander Ferrier (ed.) (1897) Contains metrical versions of some scripture passages and some metrical psalms here]


Second reading
Ephesians 5: 8-14

Ae time ye war aa mirkness, but nou i the Lord ye ar aa licht. Líve your lives, than, as men at belangs tae the licht, for the crap at licht feshes up is aa kin o guidness, richteousness, an truith. Be ey seekin tae finnd out what is pleisin tae God. Be naither airt nor pairt i the barren deeds o them at bides i the mirk, but raither apenlie condemn them, for the things at they dae in hiddlins isna een tae be spokken o wiout shame. But aathing at is apenlie condemned is made manifest bi the licht, for aathing at is made manifest is itsel made licht. An sae the hyme says:

Wauk ye, sleeper,
rise ye up frae the deid,
an Christ upò ye sal shíne!

[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
John 9: 1-41

And as [Jesus] gaed by he saw a man wha was blin’ frae he was born. And his disciples speir’t at him, "Maister! whase sin was’t? the man’s ain sin, or his faither and mither’s, that he was born blin’?” Jesus answer’t, “Naither his ain sin, nor his faither’s and mither’s; but for that the warks o’ God soud be seen in him.

"I maun do the warks o’ him that sent me,
while it is day:
the nicht comes on, when man canna work.
While I am in the warld,
I am the warld’s licht.”

Whan he had said this, he spat on the grun’, and made clay o’ the spittle, and pat the clay on the blin’ man’s een. And bad him, "Gang awa, wesh ye in the pool o’ Siloam” (whilk means “Sent”). He gaed his gate tharfor, and wesh’t, and cam back seein.

Than the neebors, and the folk that afore had seen him, and kent the beggar, said, "Isna this the ane that sat and beggit?” Some again, “It is he !” Ithers, "It’s like him!” Quo’ he, "I am he!” Sae they speir’t at him, "Hoo than are yere een unsteekit?” He answer’t, and quo’ he, "The man they ca’ Jesus made clay, and pat it on my een, and tell’t me, 'Gang yere ways to the Pool o’ Siloam, and wesh ye!’ And I gaed and I wesh’t, and I gat my sicht.” And quo’ they to him, "Whaur is he?” He said, “I ken-na.”

They fesh till the Pharisees the man that o’ auld time was blin'. Noo it was the Sabbath, the day that Jesus wrocht the clay, and unsteekit the man’s een. Ance mair the Pharisees speir’t at him, hoo he had gotten his sicht? Quo’ he, "He pat clay on my een, and I wesh’t - and I see!” Sae quo’ some o’ the Pharisees, "This man is no o’ God, for he keeps-na the Sabbath!” Quo' ithers, "Hoo can a man fu’ o’ sin do sic wunner-warks?” And thar was contention amang them. Than said they again to the man that was blin’, "What say ye aboot him, sin’ he has open’d yere e’en?” Quo’ he, "He is a Prophet!”

But the Jews wadna believe - anent the man’s bein blin', and winnin to his sicht - till they ca’d the parents o’ him that had gotten his sicht. And they speir’t at them, “Is this yere son, wha, as ye say, was born blin’? Hoo than is he noo seein?” His parents answer’t, and quo’ they, "We ken weel that this is oor son; and that he was born blin’; but hoo he noo sees, or wha has unsteekit his een, we kenna: he is come to age; speir at him: he his ain sel wull tell ye.” Thir things spak the parents, for that they war fley’t o’ the Jews; for the Jews had plottit amang theirsels, that gin ony man soud own him to be the Christ, he soud be putten oot o’ the kirk. And sae said his parents, "He is come to age; speir at him!”

Sae they ca’d back again the man that had been blin’, and quo’ they to him, "Gie the praise to God! we a’ ken that this man is no a gude man.” But quo’ he to them, "Gin he be a gude man or an ill man, I ken-na ; ae thing I dae ken, that ance I was blin’, and noo I see!” And than again they said to him, "What was’t he did till ye? Hoo did he unsteek yere een?” He answer’t, "I tell’t ye juist e-noo, and ye didna hear me! Why wad ye hear it ower again? wull ye be his disciples?” And they misca’t him, and said, "Ye are his disciple! but we are Moses’ disciples! We ken that God has spoken to Moses; as for this ane, we kenna whaur he is frae!” The man answer’t, and quo’ he, "Why, here is an unco ferlie; that ye kenna whaur he is come frae, and yet he has unsteekit my een! We ken that God hears-na ill men; but gin ane worships God, and dis his wull, him he hears. Sin’ the warld begude was it ne’er heard that ony ane unsteekit the een o’ a man born blin’! Gin this man warna o’ God, he coud do naething!” They answer’t, and quo’ they to him, "Ye war born in sin, oot and oot; and wad ye teach us?” And they cuist him oot.

Jesus was tell’t that they had cuisten him oot; and as sune as he faund him he says to him, "Dae ye believe on the Son o’ God?” He answerin said, "And wha is he, Lord? sae as I may believe on him?” Jesus says to him, "Ye hae baith seen him, and it is he wha is speakin w’ye!” And he cry’t oot, “Lord, I believe!” and he worshipp’t him.

And quo' Jesus,

"For judgment
cam I tae this warld;
that the blin’ may see,
and the seein be made blin’.”

And thae o’ the Pharisees that war wi’ him heard thir words, and quo’ they to him, "Are we blin', as weel?” Jesus says to them,

"Gin ye war blin’,
the sin wadna be on ye;
but noo ye say, 'We see!’
yere sin is whaur it was!”

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

Saturday 14 March 2020

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


First reading
Exodus 17: 3-7

An fowk wis in sair want o watter; an thay raised a dirdum agin Moses an said, Whit for hae ye taen us oot o Egypt tae send deith on us an oor bairns an oor kye throu want o watter? An Moses, golderin oot tae the Laird, said, Whit am A tae dae tae thir fowk? Thay ar near ready tae pit me tae deith by stanin. An the Laird said tae Moses, Gang on afore the people, an tak a wheen o the heidsmen o Israel wi ye, an tak in yer haund the staff that wis raxt oot ower the Nile, an gang. See, A will tak ma steid afore ye on the craig in Horeb; an whan ye gie the stane a blaw, watter will come oot it, an fowk will hae something tae drink. An Moses did that afore the een o the heidsmen o Israel. An he gien that steid the name o Massah an Meribah, acause the bairns o Israel wis wraith, an acause thay pit the Laird tae the test, sayin, Is the Laird wi us or no?

[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 94: 1-2, 6-9

O cum, let us sing untill the Lord;
let us mak' ane joyfu noyse til the rok o' our salvatione.
Let us cum afore his presince wi' thanksgiein',
an' mak' ane joyfu' noyse til him wi' psalms.

O cum, let us wurschip an' bowe doun,
let us neel afore the Lord our Makir.
For he is our God;
an' we ar the peeple o' his heff,
an' the sheepe o' his han'.

On this verra daye, gif ye wull heær his voyce,
Hardanna your hairts, as in the provokshon,
an' as in the daye o' temptatione in the wuldirniss:
Whan your fæthers tempet me,
pruvet me, an' saw my wark.

[From Psalm 95 in The Book of Psalms in Lowland Scots Henry Scott Riddell (1857) here]


Second reading
Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8

Bein than coontit richtous by faith, lat us hae peace in God, by oor Lord Jesus Christ; by wham is the introducin we hae had, by oor faith, in til this favor in whilk we staun: and lat us rejoice i’ the hope o’ God’s glorie. And hope maks-na ashamed; for that God’s love has been shed abreid in oor hearts throwe the Holie Spirit gien to us. For, we yet bein feckless, Christ in due season dee’t for the ungodlie. Far jimply wad ony ane dee for an upricht man; yet aiblins for a holie man ane micht e’en daur death; but God commends his ain love to us, in that e’en while we war yet in sin, Christ dee’t for us.

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

Gospel reading
John 4: 5-42

And [Jesus] lichtit on a Samaria citie ca’d Sychar; nar-haun the bit grun’ Jaucob gi’ed to Joseph. And Jaucob’s waal was thar-at. And Jesus, forfouchten wi’ the way, cuist his sel doon on the waal: and it was aboot the denner-time. Than thar cam a Samaria-wumman forrit, to draw watir. Quo’ Jesus, "Lat me have a sowp o’ watir!” (His disciples had a’ gane to the citie for meat.) Quo’ the Samaria-wumman, “Hoo is’t that ye, bain a Jew, are seekin drink frae me, a Samaria- wumman?” (For the Jews hae nae trokin nor neeborliness wi’ the Samaria-folk.) Quo’ Jesus,

“Gin ye kent God’s Gift,
and wha it soud be that said
'Gie me a sowp o’ watir,'
ye wad bae socht frae him the Leevin’ Watir
- and gotten’t too!”

Said the wumman to him, “Sir, ye hae naething to lat doon the waal, and the waal’s unco deep; whaur fin’ ye the Leevin Watir? Ye canna be greater nor oor forebear Jaucob, wha gied us the waal, and slockened his ain drouth wi’t, and the drouth o’ his bairns - and his beasts?” Jesus said to her,

“Wha may drink this watir
wull be drouthie syne;
but wha drinks o’ the watir I gie him,
sal be drouthie nevirmair ;
for the watir I gie him
sal be in him an unseen waal,
springin up intil Life Eternal!”

The wumman cry’t oot, “Sir, lat me hae this watir! no to be drouthie, and ne’er to fash to come to
the waal again.” Quo' Jesus, “Gang awa, and ca’ yere gudeman, and come again belyve!” But the wumman said to him, “I haena a gudeman!” Quo’ Jesus, “Ye hae dune richt to say ye haena a gudeman; for ye hae had fyve; and the ane ye hae e-noo is no yere ain gudeman; ye spak truth thar.” Quo’ the wumman, “Sir, I jalouse ye maun be a Prophet! Oor forebears worshipped i’ this vera mountain; but yere folk say Jerusalem’s the place whaur folk soud worship." Jesus pat in,

“Wumman, lippen to me!
the ’oor’s at haun,
whan naither here, nor yet thar,
sal they worship the Faither!
Ye ken-na what ye ser';
but we ken what we worship;
and salvation comes frae amang the Jews.
But the ’oor is at haun, and e’en noo it comes,
whan God’s ain worshippers sal worship the Faither in the truth and wi’ the Spirit
- for the Faither wad hae
siclike to seek him.
God is a spirit;
and wha worship him
maun e’en do sae i’ the spirit and wi’ the truth.”

The wumman says, “I ken Messiah's comin, that folk ca’ 'The Christ'; whan he comes, he’ll tell us a’.” Jesus spak - “I that’s noo speakin t’ye am ‘The Christ!’" 

On the back o’ this cam the disciples, and ferlied that he soud be speakin wi’ the wumman; but nane
o’ them speir’t, “ What are ye seekin?” nor, “Hoo is’t that ye talk wi’ the wumman?” Than the wumman, leavin her watir-stoup, gaed awa to the citie, and cry’t oot to the men, “Co’ way! and see a man that tell’t me a’ that evir I did! Is he no the Messiah?” Then they gaed oot o’ the citie to come till him.

But atween times his disciples war ask-askin him, “Maister! wull ye no eat?” But quo’ he to them, “ I hae meat that ye ken-na!” And sae they speir’t ane o’ anither, “Think ye ony ane brocht him ocht to eat?” Quo’ Jesus,

“It’s meat to me
to do his wull that sent me,
and finish his wark!
Div ye no say,
‘Fowr months, and than the hairst’?
But unsteek yere een and see the fields
- they’re whitenin till the hairst e'en noo!
And the shearer wins his fee,
and gaithers till him an eternal hairst;
and the sawer and shearer are baith blythe thegither!
And the auld proverb comes true ower again,
‘Ane saws, and syne anither shears!’
I bade ye to a hairst
whauron ye hadna toiled:
ither men toiled,
and ye are entered on their reward.”

And mony o’ the Samaria-folk lippened on him for the wumman’s sake, wha aye threepit, “He tell’t me a’ that evir I did!” Sae whan they cam till him they besocht him to bide wi’ them; and he stoppit twa-thrie days thar. And a hantle mair believed whan they heard his ain word; and quo’ they to the wumman, “Noo we believe - no for yere report - for oor ain lugs hae heard him; and noo we ken that he is the Anointit Ane, the warld’s Saviour!”

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