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]

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]

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]

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

First reading
Genesis 2: 7-9, 3: 1-7

An the Laird God made man frae the stour o the yird, braithin intae him the braith o life: an man come tae be a leevin saul.

An the Laird God made a gairden in the east, in Eden; an thare he pit the man that he haed made. An oot the yird the Laird gart ilka tree come, delitin the ee an guid for meat; an in the mids o the gairden, the tree o life an the tree o the knawledge o guid an ill.

Nou the serpent wis wicer nor ony beast o the field that the Laird God haed made. An he said tae the wumman, Haes God truelins said that ye canna tak o the fruit o ony tree in the gairden? An the wumman said, We can tak o the fruit o the trees in the gairden: but o the fruit o the tree in the mids o the gairden, God haes said, Gin ye tak o't or pit yer haunds on't, deith will come tae ye. An the serpent said, Deith winna come tae ye for shuir: for God sees that on the day whan ye tak o its fruit, yer een will be appen, an ye will be like gods, kennin guid an ill. An whan the wumman seen that the tree wis guid for meat, an a delite tae the een, an tae be socht tae mak a body wicelike, she taen o its fruit, an gien it tae her guidman. An thair een wis appen, an thay kent that thay haen nae claes, an thay made thairsels coats oot o blads steekit thegither.


[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 50: 3-6, 12-14, 17

Be gude till me, God, as yer gudeness can be;
i' the feck o' yer rewth, dicht out my wrang:
Reinge mc fu' weel, frae my ill-dune deed;
an' sine me fu' soun' frae the sin I belang:

For my wrang I ken brawly mysel;
an' my sin, it's fu' sikker afore me.
Till yerlane, till yerlane, I 'dune a' the skaith;
an' sic ill I hae wrought i' yer een:

Mak a clean heart, O God, for me;
an' trew breath i' my body, perfy'.
Thring me na but frae yer sight;
nor that spreit o' yer ain sae halie, tak ye ony mair frae me:

The joy e o' yer heal-ha'din wair on me yet;
an' stoop me forby wi' the ghaist that 's fìt.
Unsteek ye my lips, O Lord;
an' my mouthe yer ain praise sal tell.

[From Psalm 51 in The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
Romans 5: 12-19

Tharfor as be aa man synn entrit into this warld, and be synn deid, and sa deid passit furth into al men, in quhilk man almen synnit. For till to the law synn was in the warld; bot synn was nocht reput, quhen law was nocht. Bot deid regnit fra Adam till to Moyses, alsa into thame that synit nocht in liknes of the trespassing of Adam, the quhilk is liknes of Crist to cumming.

Bot nocht as gilt, sa the gift: for gif throu the gilt of aan mony ar deid, mekile mare the grace of God and the gift in the grace of aa man Jesu Crist has aboundit into mony men. And nocht as be aa synn, sa be the gift; for the dome of aan into condampnatioun, bot grace of mony giltis into iustificatioun. For gif in the gilt of aan deid regnit throw aan, mekile mare men takand plentee of grace, and of geving, and of richtuisnes, sal regne in lif be aan Jesu Crist. Tharfor as be the gilt of aan into almen into condempnatioun, sa be the richtuisnes of aan into iustifying of lif. For as be the inobedience of aa man mony ar made synnaris, sa be the obedience of aan mony salbe iust.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1901) (1903) vol 2 here]


Gospel reading
Matthew 4: 1-11

Syne was Jesus led up o’ the Spirit intil the wilderness, to be temp’et o’ the deevil. An’ whan he had fastet forty days an’ forty uichts, he was afterwards an hunger’t. An’ whan the temp’er cam’ til him, he said, "Gif then be the Son o’ God, commaun’ that thae stanes be made bread." But he answer’t an’ said, "It is written,

   'Man sallna live by bread alane,
   but by ilka word that gaeth out o’ the mouth o’ God.' "

Syne the deevil taketh him up intil the haly city, an’ setteth him on a pinnacle o’ the temple, an’ saith until him, "Gif thou be the Son o’ God, cast thysel doun; for it is written,

   'He sall gie his angels charge anent thee;
   an’ in their han’s they sall bear thee up, lest at ony time thou dash thy fit agayne a stane.' "

Jesus said until him, "It is written again,

   'Thou salltna temp’ the Lord thy God.' "

Again, the deevil taketh him up intil an unco high mountain, an’ shaweth him a’ the kingdoms o’ the warld, an’ the glory o’ them;  an’ saith until him, "A’ thae things will I gie thee, gif thou wilt fa’ doun an’ worship me." Syne saith Jesus until him, "Get thee behint me, Satan; for it is written,

   'Thou sallt worship the Lord thy God,
    an’ him alane sallt thou serve.' "

Syne the deevil leaveth him; an’, behald, angels cam’ an’ minister’t until him.

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

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

First reading
Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18

An the Laird said tae Moses, "Say tae awbody o Israel, 'Ye're tae be haly, for A, the Laird yer God, is haly.'"

"Lat there be nae ill will in yer hert for yer brither; but ye can mak a plaint tae yer neebour, sae that he is hindert frae daein ill. Dinna ettle tae git e'en wi ane that's duin ye wrang, or haud haurd feelins agin the bairns o yer fowk, but luve yer neebour as yersel: A am the Laird."

[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 102: 1-4, 8, 10, 12-13

Bliss the Lord, O my saul;
an' a' that is wuthin me, bliss his haly næme.
Bliss the Lord, O my saul,
an' forgetna a' his kin' an' guid gifties.

Wha forgies a' thine inequities,
an' hæles a' thy ailments;
Wha redeims thy liffe frae destruckshon;
wha crownes thee wi' loeinkindniss an' tendir-mercies

The Lord is mercifu' an' græcious,
slaw til angir an' routh in mercie.
He hethna deelt wi' us efter our sins,
nar rewairdet us akordin' til our inequities.

As fer as the east is frae the wast,
sae fer heth he remuvet our trangressiones frae us.
Like as ane faether feels tendir wae for his childer,
sae deth the Lord feel for thame that feær him.

[From Psalm 103, The Book of Psalms in Lowland Scots Henry Scott Riddell (1857) here]


Second reading
1 Corinthians 3: 16-23

Wate ye nocht, that ye ar the tempile of God, and the spirit of God duellis in you? And gif ony defoulis the tempile of God, God sal tyne him; for the tempile of God is haly, the quhilk ye ar.

Na man desaue him self. Gif ony man amang you is seen to be wise in this warld, be he made a fule, that he be wiise. For the wisdome of this warld is foly anentis God; for it is writtin, I sall tak wiise men in thare fell wisdome; and eftsone, The Lord knawis the thouchtis of wiismen, for thai ar vane. Tharfor na man haue glorie in men. For althingis ar youris, outhir Paule, outhir Apollo, outhir Cephas, outhir the warld, outhir liif, outhir deid, outhir thingis present, or thingis to cummand; for al thingis ar youris, and ye ar of Crist, and Crist is of God.

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


Gospel reading
Matthew 5: 38-48

[Jesus said untill his discipels:] "Ye hae heard that it heth been said, Ane ee for ane ee, an’ ane tuth for ane tuth. But I say untill yow, That ye resent na ill: but whasaeevir sall smite thee on the richt cheek, turn til him the ither alsua. An’ gif ony man wull sue thee at the law, an’ tak’ awa thy cott, let him hae thy cloke alsua. An’ whasaeevir sall gar thee gang аe mile, gang wi’ him twa. Gie til him that axith thee, an’ frae him that wad borro o’ thee turnna thou awa.

"Ye hae heard that it heth been said, Thou sallt loe thy neeber, an’ hete thine enemie. But I say untill yow, Loe your enemies, bliss them that ban yow, do guid til them that hete yow, an’ praey for them whilk despightfullie use yow an’ persecute yow; that ye may be the childer o’ your Faether whilk is in heæven: for he mak’s his sun til ræise on the ill an’ on the guid, an' sen’ith rain on the just an’ the unjust. For gif ye loe them that loe yow, what rewaird hae ye? dinna een the publikins the same?An’ gif ye salute your brithren onlie, what do ye mair nor ithers? dinna een the publikins sae? Be ye therfor perfite, een' as your Faether whilk is in heæven is perfite.

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

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

First reading
Isaiah 58: 7-10

[The Lord God sais thir thingis:]
Brek thi brede to ane hungri man,
and bring into thin hous mystirfull men and herbriles:
quhen thou seis a nakitman, keuir thou him,
and despise nocht thi flesch (that is bruthir or sistir).
Than thi licht sal brek oat as the mornyng,
and thi hele sal rijse full sone,
and thi richtuisnes sal ga befoire thi face,
and the glorie of the Lord sal gader thee.
Than thou sal call to help, and the Lord sal here;
thou sal cry, and he sal say, Lo! I am present;
for I am merciful, thi Lord God.
[...] Gif thou takis away a chenye fra the myddis of thee,
and ceessis to hald furth the fingir, and to speke that that proffittis nocht.
Quhen thou scheddis out thi saule to ane hungriman,
and fillis a saule tormentit,
thi licht sal rijse in mirknessis,
and thi mirknessis salbe as mydday.

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


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 111: 4-9

For the upricht the'r a licht sheenin in the mirk;
he is fou o grace an peety.
Aw's weel for the man that's couthie an gies freely tae ithers;
he will make guid his cause whan he is deemed.

He winna iver be sweyed;
the myndin o the upricht will be tae the fore for aye.
He will hae nae fear o ill newins;
his hert is stieve, for his howp is in the Laird.

His hert rests sauf, he will hae nae fear, till he sees tribble come upo his ill-willers.
He haes gien wi an appen luif tae the puir;
his richtousness is for aye;
his horn will be liftit up wi honour.


[From Psalm 112 in The Old Testament in Scots, vol. 3, The Books of Wisdom, [Job, Psaums, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Sang o Sangs] trans. Gavin Falconer and Ross G. Arthur (2014) (translation into Plain Scots under the auspices of the Ullans Academy) ISBN 978-1-78324-006-7. Amazon US here. Amazon UK here.


Second reading
1 Corinthians 2: 1-5

Whan I cam tae Corinth, brether, an proclaimed God's saicret purpose tae ye, aathing wis hame-owre wi me, baith wurds an wit. I had sattelt wi mysel no tae ken ocht, whan I wis wi ye, binna Jesus Christ, mairfortaiken the Jesus Christ o the Cross. I can tell ye I wis fu o douts an dreid, an terrible nervish, whan I cam tae ye. In my speaks an sermons I yuisedna the langage at professors an siclike yuises tae win owre their hearers tae their ain weys o thinkin: it wis God's Spírit an pouer at brocht hame my wurds tae your hairts, for it wis een his will at your faith suid be biggit on his pouer, an no on men's wisdom.

[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 5: 13-16

[Jesus said till his disciples:]

"Ye're e saut o the earth, bit gin e saut his tint its sizzonin, foo will ye mak it sautty again? It's gweed for naethin bit tae be cassen oot an trumpit aneth yer fit. Ye're e licht o e warl. Ye canna hide a toon att's on e heid o a hill. Fan ye licht a cannel, ye dinna pit it aneth e bushel i the barn, bit on e lampstan, far it'll gie licht tae aa att are i the hoose. Sae mak seer yer licht sheens oot afore ither fowk sae they aa mith see yer gweed wark an they'll praise yer Fadder in hivven."

[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.]

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: 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: 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: 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-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-Second Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First Reading

Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29

My son, gang aboot yer darg wi meekness,
an ye’ll win the love o them the Lord favours.
The mair heich ye staun, the mair ye maun bring yersel law;
syne ye’ll win grace in the Lord’s een.

For the Lord is michty aboon a’ things,
an he’s glorified by thae that are humble.

There’s nae healin for the prood man’s wound,
for evil has ta’en root in his soul.
The mind o the wise will dwine on a parable,
an the wise man’s joy is an ear that listens weel.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 68(67):4-7, 10-11

In yer kindness, O God, ye gied a hame tae the puir.

Let the richtfu fowk be blythe at the sicht o God;
they’ll lilt wi joy an gladsome sang.
Sing ye tae God, lilt oot his name wi music:
the LORD is his name.

In yer kindness, O God, ye gied a hame tae the puir.

Faither o orphans, keeper o widows,
sic is God in his haly steid.
He sets the lane-some in a dwelling o their ain,
an leads the prisoners oot tae ease an freedom.

In yer kindness, O God, ye gied a hame tae the puir.

Ye sent doon, O God, a kindly rain;
whan yer heritage was weary, ye gied it strength.
There did yer folk tak up their biding;
in yer goodness, ye made ready for the puir.

In yer kindness, O God, ye gied a hame tae the puir.

Second Reading
Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a

Brothers an sisters,

Ye’ve no come tae a thing ye can touch—
nae bleezin fire, nor mirk, nor blackness, nor storm,
nor the cry o a trumpet,
nor the voice that garred the hearers beg nae mair be said tae them.

But ye’ve come tae Mount Sion,
the toun o the leevin God, the heevenly Jerusalem,
an tae thrangs upon thrangs o angels in festal trim,
tae the kirk o the first-born, whase names are written i the heeven,
tae God himsel, the judge o a’,
tae the souls o the just made hale an perfeck,
an tae Jesus, the go-between o a new covenant.

[All three readings above from ESV, translated into Scots by ChatGPT prompt to translate into modern literary Scots 31/8/25]

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: Twentieth Sunday of the Year (Year C)

First reading

Jeremiah 38: 4-6, 8-10

Then the rulers says tae the king, "Let Jeremiah be put tae death, because he is puttin fear intae the hearts o the men o war wha are still i the toun, an intae the hearts o the people, bi sayin such things tae thaim: this man is no workin for the well-bein o the people, but for their damage." Then Zedekiah the king says, "See, he is i yer hands": for the king wis no able tae dae anythin against thaim. So they took Jeremiah an put him intae the water-hole o Malchiah, the king's son, i the place o the armit watchmen: an they let Jeremiah doun wi cords. An i the hole thare wis na water, but wet yird: an Jeremiah went doun intae the wet yird.

Now it came tae the ears o Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, an unsexit servant i the king's house, that they haed put Jeremiah intae the water-hole; the king at thon time bein seatit i the doorway o Benjamin: and Ebed-Melech went oot from the king's house an says tae the king, "My lord the king, these men have done evil i aw they have done tae Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have put intae the water-hole; an he will come tae his death i the place where he is throuch neit o food: for thare is na more bread i the toun." Then the king gave orders tae Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, "Tak wi ye three men from here an get Jeremiah oot o the water-hole before death overtakes him."

[Own translation, level 1. For methodology see here.]

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 39 (40): 2-4, 18, (resp. v.14)

Haste ye, O Lord, till help me! 

Lang leukit I for the Lord;

an' he loutit till me, 

an' he heard my skreigh. 

Haste ye, O Lord, till help me! 

An' he raxit me up frae ane awsome heugh, 

frae the till sae teugh; 

an' he stude my feet on a craig; 

my roddins fu' sikker made he. 

Haste ye, O Lord, till help me! 

An' a new sang pat he i' my mouthe, 

nae less nor laud till our i God: 

mony sal see, an' fley'd sal they be; 

an' sal lippen a' syne till the Lord. 

Haste ye, O Lord, till help me! 

'Am but forfairn an' forlied; 

yet the Lord, he can rew on me: 

my strenth an' out-redder are ye 

yerlane; taigle na langer, my God, frae me!

Haste ye, O Lord, till help me! 

[From Psalm 40, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading
Hebrews 12: 1-4

Tharfor we that haue sa gret a cloude of witnessis put to, do we away al charge, and synn standing about vs, and be pacience rin we to the batale purposit to vs, behalding into the makare of faith, and the perfite endare, Jesu; quhilk quhen ioy was purposit to him, he suffrit the croce, and contempnit confusioun, and sittis on the richthalf of the sete of God. And bethink ye on him that suffrit sic aganesaying of synfulmen aganes him self, that ye be nocht made irkit, failyeing in your saulis. For ye aganestand nocht yit til to blude, fechting aganes synn.

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



Gospel reading
Luke 12: 49-53

[Jesus said to his discipilis:] "I com to send fire into erde; and quhat will I, bot that it be kendlit? And I haue to be baptizit with a baptyme; and how am I constrenyeit till that it be perfitlie done?

"Ween ye that I com to geue pece in to erde? Nay, I say to you, bot departing: for fra this tyme thare salbe five departit in aan hous, thre salbe departit aganes twa, and ij salbe departit aganes thre. The fader aganes the sonn, and the sonn aganes the fader; the modere aganes the douchter, and the douchter aganes the modere; the housbandis modere aganes the sonnis wif, and the sonnis wif aganes the housbandis moder."

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

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

First reading
Genesis 18: 20-32

An the Laird said, Acause the dirdum agin Sodom an Gomorrah is unco great, an thair sin is unco ill, A will gang doun nou, an see gin thair acts is as ill's thay seem frae the dirdum that haes come tae me; an gin thay arna, A will see.

An the men, turnin frae that steid, gaen on tae Sodom: but Aubraham wis aye waitin afore the Laird. An Aubraham come nearhaund an said, Will yet lat ruingage come upo the richtous wi the sinners? Gin by chance the'r fifty richtous men in the toun, will ye gie the steid tae ruinage an no hae mercy on't acause o the fifty richtous men? Lat sicna thing be faur frae ye, tae pit the richtous tae deith wi the sinner: winna the juidge o aw the yird dae richt? An the Laird said, Gin the'r fifty richtous men in the toun, A will hae mercy on't acause o thaim.

An Aubraham, answerin, said, Truelins, A, that's but stour, haes hecht tae pit ma thochts afore the Laird: Gin by chance the'r five less nor fifty richtous men, will ye gie up aw the toun tae ruinage acause o thir five? An he said, A winna gie't tae ruinage gin the'r fowerty-five. An again he said tae him, By chance the'll mebbe be fowerty thare. An he said, A winna dae't gin the'r fowerty.

An he said, Latna the Laird be wraith wi me gin A say, Whit gin the'r thirty thare? An he said, A winna dae't gi the'r thirty. An he said, See nou, A hecht tae pit ma thochts afore the Laird: whit gin the'r twinty thare? An he said, A will hae mercy acause o the twinty. An he said, O latna the Laird be wraith, an A will say juist the ae wird mair: by chance the'll mebbe be ten thare. An he said, A will hae mercy acause o the ten.


[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 137: 1-3, 6-8

I maun laud ye, Lord,
wi' my heart's accord;
afore the gods, I maun lilt till thee.
I maun lout me laigh i' yer halie howff;

I maun lilt till yer name, for yer rewth an' yer trewth;
for heigh abune a' that name o' yer ain, that word o' yer ain ye hecht.
I the day whan I skreigh'd an' ye hearken'd me,
ye doubled the might o' my saul.

Tho' the Lord be fu' heigh, the laigh he can sight;
an' the mighty, he kens far eneugh.
Tho' I gang pingled roun', ye can haud my life soun';
on the wuth o' my faes, yer han' ye can heize; an' yer right-han', sal haud me fu' lown.

 
The Lord sal do a' for mysel;
yer gudeness, O Lord, tholes for evir:
the warks o' yer han',
ye win-na fling by, a'-thegither.

[From Psalm 138, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]


Second reading
Colossians 2: 12-14

And ye ar berysit togiddire with [Crist] in baptym, in quham alsa ye haue risen agane be faith of the wirking of God, that raasit him fra dede. And quhen ye war dede in giltis, and in the prepucie of your flesch, he quiknyt togiddir you with him, forgevand to you al giltis, doing away the writing of decre that was aganes vs, that was contrarie to vs; and he tuke away that fra the myddis, affixing it on the croce.

[From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1901) vol 2 here]

Gospel reading
Luke 11: 1-13

Ande it was done, when [Jesus] was praying in a place, as he cessit, aan of his disciplis said to him, "Lord, teche vs to pray, as Johne tachte his discipilis." And he said to thame, "Quhen ye pray, say ye:

'Fader, hallowit be thi name.
Thy kingdom cum to.
Geue to vs this day oure ilk dais breid.
And forgeue to vs our synnis:
as we forgeue to ilk man that aw to vs.
And leid vs nocht into temptatioun.' "

And he said to thame, "Quha of you sal haue a freend, and sal ga to him at mydnycht, and sal say to him, 'Freend, lenn to me iij laaues; For my freend cummis to me fra the way, and I haue nocht quhat I sal set before him.' And he within ansuere and say, 'Will thou nocht be noyous to me: the dure is now closit, and my childir ar with me in bedde; I may nocht ryse and geve to thee.' And gif he sal duelle still knokking, I say to you, thouch he sal nocht ryse and geve to him for that that he is his freend, neuirtheles for his continuale asking he sal ryse and geue to him als mony as he has nede to.

"And I say to you, ask ye, and it salbe gevin to you; seek ye, and ye sal find: knok ye, and it salbe opnyt to you. For ilk that askis takis; and he that seekis findis ande to a man that knockis it salbe
opnytt. Tharfor quha of you askis his fader brede, quhethir he sal geue him a staan? or gif he askis fisch, quhethir he sal geue to him a serpent for the fisch? Or gif he ask ane eg, quhether he sal areck him a scorpioun? Tharfor, gif ye, quhen ye ar euile, can geue gude giftis to your childir : how mekile maire your fader of heuen sal geue a gude spirit to men that askis him!"

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

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

First reading 

Genesis 18: 1-10

Nou the Laird come tae [Aubraham] by the haly tree o Mamre, whan he wis seatit at the mou o his tent in the mids o the day; an liftin up his een, he seen three men afore him; an, seein thaim, he gaen swith tae thaim frae the slap o the tent, an cuist hissel doun on the yird; an said, Ma Laird, gin nou A hae grace in yer een, dinna forleet yer servand: Lat me fesh watter tae wash yer feet, an rest unner the tree: An lat me git a bit breid tae haud up yer strenth, an efter that ye can gang on yer wey: for this is whit for ye hae come tae yer servand.An thay said, Lat it be sae.

Syne Aubraham gaen swith intae the tent an said tae Sarah, Git three meisurs o meal straucht awa an bak cakes. An, rinnin tae the hird, he taen a cauf, saft an fat, an gien it tae the servand, an he swith made it ready; An he taen butter an milk an the cauf that he haed redd an pit it afore thaim, waitin by thaim unner the tree while thay taen meat.

An thay said tae him, Whaur is Sarah yer guidwife? An he said, She is in the tent. An he said, A will certes come back tae ye in the spring, an Sarah yer guidwife will hae a son.

[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 14: 2-5 (resp. v.1)

[The just sal bide i the hous o the Lord]

Lord, wha sal bide i' that howff o' thine? 

or wha be lown on yer halie height? 

Wha gangs ay straught; an' wha does ay right;

an' wha speaks frae his heart right sikkerlie:

Wha double-deals nane wi' his tongue; 

[The just sal bide i the hous o the Lord]

wha warks nae ill till his frien'; 

nor tholes nae skaithe on his niebor:

In whase een the little worth are lightlied eneugh, 

bot whasae fear the Lord he likes fu' weel; 

wha swears till his frien', an' steers-na: 

[The just sal bide i the hous o the Lord]

His siller wha sets-na till gather gear; 

nor nae fee will he tak on the saikless loon 

wha siclike does sal ne'er be steerd, frae the height the Lord, for evir. 

[The just sal bide i the hous o the Lord]

[From Psalm 15, The Psalms: frae Hebrew intil Scottis P. Hately Waddell (1891) here]

Second reading
Colossians 1: 24-28

And now I haue ioy in passioun for you, and I fill tha thingis that failyeis of the passionns of Crist in my flesch, for his body, that is the kirk. Of quhilk I am made minister be the dispensatioun of Gode, that is gevin to me in you, that I fulfill the word of God, the priuitee, that was hid fra warldis and generatiouns. Bot now it is schewit to his Sanctis, to quhilkis God wald mak knawne the richessis of the glorie of this sacrait in hethin men, quhilk is Crist, in yow the hope of glorie. Quham we schaw, repreving ilkman, and teching ilkman in al wisdome, that we offire ilkman perfite in Crist Jesu.

 [From The New Testament in Scots Murdoch Nisbet [c.1520] (1901) vol 2 here]


Gospel reading
Luke 10: 38-42

And it was done, quhile thai yede, [Jesus] entirit into a castell: and a woman, Martha be name, resauet him into hir house. And to this was a sistire, Marie be name, quhilk alsa sat beside the feet of the Lord, and herde his word. Bot Martha besiet about the oft seruice, and scho stude and said, "Lord, thou takis na kepe that my sistire has left me allaan to serue: tharfor say thou to hir that scho help me." And the Lord ansuerd and said to hir, "Martha, Martha, thou art besie and art trubilit about full mony thingis: Bot a thing is necessarie: Marie has chosen the best part, quhilk sal nocht be takin away fra hir."

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

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

First reading

Deuteronomy 30: 10-14

[Moses said tae Israel:] Gin ye tak tent the vyce o the Laird yer God, haudin his orders an his laws as recordit in this beuk o the law an turnin tae the Laird yer God wi aw yer hert an saul.

For thir orders A hae gien yer the day isna fremmit or hidlin an isna hyne awa. Thay arna in heiven for ye tae say, Wha will gang up tae heiven for us an lat us ken thaim till we dae thaim? An thay arna athort the sea for ye tae say, Wha will gang ower the sea for us an gie us newins o thaim till we dae thaim? But the wird is unco nearhaund ye, in yer mou an in yer hert, sae that ye can dae't.

[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 68: 14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37 (resp. v.33)

The lawlie sall see this, an' be gladsume: 

an' your hairts sall læive that seik God. 

But as for me, my præyer is untill thee, O Lord, 

in ane akseptabil time: 

O God, in the multitud o' thy mercie, heær me 

in the trouth o' thy salvatione. 

Heær me, O Lord, for thy loein-kindniss is guid; 

turn untill me akordin' til the multitud o' thy tendir mercies.

The lawlie sall see this, an' be gladsume: 

an' your hairts sall læive that seik God. 

But I am puir an' fu' o' sorra: 

let thy salvatione, O God, sett me up on hie. 

I wull prayse the nseme o' God wi' ane sang, 

an' wull magnifie him wi' thanksgiein'.

The lawlie sall see this, an' be gladsume: 

an' your hairts sall læive that seik God. 

The lawlie sail see this, an' be gladsume: 

an' your hairts sall læive that seik God. 

For the Lord heærs the puir, 

an' despisæesna his prisenirs. 

The lawlie sall see this, an' be gladsume: 

an' your hairts sall læive that seik God. 

For God wull saufe Zion, 

an' wull bigg the cities o' Judah ; 

that thaye maye dwall ther, an' hae it in haudin. 

The affspring alsua o' his servents sall inheerit it, 

an' thaye that loe his næme sall dwall therin. 

The lawlie sall see this, an' be gladsume: 

an' your hairts sall læive that seik God. 

[From Psalm 69, The Book of Psalms in Lowland Scots Henry Scott Riddell (1857) here]

Second reading

Colossians 1: 15-20

[Christ Jesus is] e eemage o e God we canna see.

He's e aulest Sin, comin afore aa mortal thing.

Throw him aa mortal thing wis created,

in hivven an on earth,

things we can see an things we canna see,

pooer, dominion, aathority, rowle.

Aa creation wis made throw him an for him.

Noo he's e heid o e body

made up o aa Christian fowk.

Life startit oot fae naething throw him.

He's e aulest Sin reesed fae e deid

sae att he mith be eemaist abeen aa.

It wis God's ain deein att e Sin his in himsel e full netter o God.

Throw e Sin,

God socht tae fess e hale o creation back till himsel,

bi e bleed o his cross.

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

Gospel reading
Luke 10: 25-37

And, lo, a wiseman of the law raase vp, temptand him, and sayand, "Maistire, quhat thing sal I do to haue euirlasting lif?" And he said to him, "Quhat is writtin in the law? how redis thou?" He ansuerd and saide, "Thou sal luf thi Lorde God of al thi hart, and of al thi saule, and of al thi strenthe, and of al thi mynd; and thi nechbour as thi self." And Jesus said to him, "Thou has ansuerde richtlie: do this thing, and thou sal leeue."

Bot he, willand to iustifie him self, said to Jesu, "And quha is my nechbour?" And Jesus beheld and said, "A man com doun fra Jerusalem into Jerico, and fell amang theues, and thai rubbit him, and wonndit him, and went away, and left the man half on lif. And it befell that a prest com doun the sammin way, and past furth quhen he had seen him. Alsa a deken, quhen he was beside the place and saw him, passit furthe. Bot a Samaritan, gangand be the way, com beside him: and he saw him, and had reuth on him. And com to him, and band to giddire his wonndis, and held in oile and wyne, and laid him on his beest, and ledde into ane ostrie, and did the cure of him. And ane vthir day he broucht furth twa pennyis, and gave to the ostlare, and said, 'Haue the cure of him; and quhat euir thou sal geue atoure, I sal yeld to thee quhen I cum agane.' Quha of thir thre, semes to thee, was nechbour to him that fell amang theeues?" And he said, "He that did mercy in to him. And Jesus said to him, Ga thou, and do thou on like maner."

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