ᾨδὴ Ζʹ
A Confession of Sin
The soul acknowledges its transgressions and pleads for divine mercy.
We have sinned, we have done wrong, and we have acted unjustly before you; we haven't kept your commandments or done what you commanded us. But do not hand us over to the end, O God of our Fathers. I have sinned, I have erred, and I have rejected your command; I have been led into sin and added a scar to my wounds. But have mercy on me, O God of our fathers, as you are compassionate. I have revealed the secrets of my heart to You, my Judge; look upon my humility, see my affliction, and now attend to my judgment; and have mercy on me, O God of the Fathers, for You are compassionate.
Lessons from the Kings
Reflections on the failures of Saul, David, Solomon, and others as warnings for the soul.
Once Saul lost his father's donkeys, he found himself seeking something beyond his kingdom. But be careful not to lose yourself by prioritizing your animalistic desires over the kingdom of Christ. David, the father of the family, even though he sinned in two ways, my soul, desires to be struck by the arrows of adultery, but to be caught by the spear of the punishment for murder. But she suffers from the heavier burdens of actions driven by her own opinions. David once linked his sin with lawlessness; for he mixed murder with adultery, showing repentance immediately in a twofold manner. But she will act even more wickedly, my soul, not recognizing God. Once, David raised a hymn, composing it as if in a picture, by which he reproves the deed he committed, crying out, "Have mercy on me; for against you alone have I sinned, O God of all; cleanse me yourself." The Ark was carried with great reverence, much like that time when, after the calf was overturned, it was touched only by the anger of God. But, fleeing from his arrogance, O soul, honor the divine things well. You’ve heard of Absalom and how he rebelled against nature; you’ve learned of his wicked deeds, by which he dishonored his father David's bed. But I will imitate his passionate and lustful impulses. You have subjected your unenslaved dignity to your body; for having found another Ahithophel, you, my soul, have joined in his schemes. But Christ himself scattered them, so that you may be saved. The remarkable Solomon, who was full of the grace of wisdom, once turned away from God after doing something wicked; you, my soul, have conformed yourself to the very one who led your life to destruction. He was overwhelmed, drawn away by the pleasures of his passions; what a tragedy! The lover of wisdom became a lover of harlots, a womanizer, and a stranger to God; whom I will imitate in thought, O soul, with shameful pleasures.
The Call to Repentance
A stern warning against imitating the wickedness of Ahab and Manasseh, urging a return to God.
My soul, you’ve envied Rehoboam for ignoring his ancestors' counsel, while at the same time admiring the wicked servant Jeroboam, that former rebel. But flee from such imitation and cry out to God: "I have sinned; have mercy on me!" My soul, you have envied Ahab and his corruptions; woe to you! You have become a dwelling place for fleshly impurities and a vile vessel of passions. But from the depths of your heart, groan and confess your sins to God. Once, Elijah burned down fifty of Jezebel's men, when he consumed the prophets of shame as a rebuke to Ahab. But flee from imitating those two, my soul, and find your strength. The heavens were closed to you, O soul, and the famine of God overtook you when you once obeyed the words of Elijah the Tishbite, just as Ahab did. But imitate the widow of Zarephath and nourish the soul of the prophet. You have heaped up the sins of Manasseh through your own choice, setting up passions like abominations and increasing, O soul, your burdens. But fervently desiring his repentance, strive to attain contrition.
The Tears of the Soul
The soul offers its tears and prayers, seeking restoration like the repentant figures of old.
I fall down before you and bring my words to you like tears. I have sinned like the sinful woman and have acted wrongly like no one else on earth. I have tarnished your image and corrupted your command; all beauty has faded away, and the lamp has been extinguished by my passions, O Savior. But have mercy on me and restore my joy, just as David sings. Turn back, repent, and uncover what is hidden. Tell God, who knows all things: "You know my secrets, my only Savior; have mercy on me, as David sings, according to your mercy." My days have slipped away like a dream when you wake up; so, like Hezekiah, I weep on my bed, asking you to add to my days of life. But who will stand by you, my soul, if not God, the Lord of all?
Doxology and Theotokos
The canon concludes with praise to the Holy Trinity and honor to the Mother of God.
The Trinity is simple, undivided, and of one essence—light and illumination—and the three holy ones are praised as one holy God. But, O soul, sing praises and give glory to the God of all life and living beings. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, O Mother of God, because you gave birth to the one Son and God of the inseparable Trinity; and you have opened to us the heavenly things for those on earth.
Read the original Latin
Ἡμάρτομεν, ἠνομήσαμεν, ἠδικήσαμεν ἐνώπιόν σου· οὐδὲ συνετηρήσαμεν, οὐδὲ ἐποιήσαμεν, καθὼς ἐνετείλω ἡμῖν. Ἀλλὰ μὴ παραδῴης ἡμᾶς εἰς τέλος, ὁ τῶν Πατέρων Θεός.
Ἡμάρτηκα, ἐπλημμέλησα καὶ ἠθέτησα τὴν ἐντολήν σου· ὅτι ἐν ἁμαρτίαις προήχθην καὶ προσέθηκα τοῖς μώλωψι τραῦμα ἐμοί. Ἀλλ᾿ αὐτός με ἐλέησον ὡς εὔσπλαγχνος, ὁ τῶν Πατέρων Θεός.
Τὰ κρύφια τῆς καρδίας μου ἐξηγόρευσά σοι τῷ Κριτῇ μου· ἴδε μου τὴν ταπείνωσιν, ἴδε καὶ τὴν θλῖψίν μου καὶ πρόσχες τῇ κρίσει μου νῦν· καὶ αὐτός με ἐλέησον ὡς εὔσπλαγχνος, ὁ τῶν Πατέρων Θεός.
Σαούλ ποτε ὡς ἀπώλεσε τοῦ πατρὸς αὐτοῦ, ψυχή, τὰς ὄνους, πάρεργον τὸ βασίλειον εὗρε πρὸς ἀνάρρησιν. Ἀλλ᾿ ὅρα μὴ λάθῃς σαυτήν, τὰς κτηνώδεις ὀρέξεις σου προκρίνουσα τῆς βασιλείας Χριστοῦ.
Δαυΐδ ποτε ὁ πατρόθεος εἰ καὶ ἥμαρτε διττῶς, ψυχή μου, βέλει μὲν τοξευθεὶς τῆς μοιχείας, τῷ δὲ δόρατι ἁλοὺς τῆς τοῦ φόνου ποινῆς. Ἀλλ᾿ αὐτὴ τὰ βαρύτερα τῶν ἔργων νοσεῖς ταῖς κατὰ γνώμην ὁρμαῖς.
Συνῆψε μὲν ὁ Δαυΐδ ποτε ἀνομήματι τὴν ἀνομίαν· φόνῳ γὰρ τὴν μοιχείαν ἐκίρνα, τὴν μετάνοιαν εὐθὺς παραδείξας διπλῆν. Ἀλλ᾿ αὐτὴ πονηρότερα εἰργάσω, ψυχή, μὴ μεταγνοῦσα Θεῷ.
Δαυΐδ ποτε ἀνεστήλωσε συγγραψάμενος ὡς ἐν εἰκόνι ὕμνον, δι᾿ οὗ τὴν πρᾶξιν ἐλέγχει, ἣν εἰργάσατο κραυγάζων, Ἐλέησόν με· σοὶ γὰρ μόνῳ ἐξήμαρτον τῷ πάντων Θεῷ· αὐτὸς καθάρισόν με.
Ἡ Κιβωτὸς ὡς ἐφέρετο ἐπιδίφριος, ὁ Ζᾶν ἐκεῖνος ὅτε, ἀνατραπέντος τοῦ μόσχου, μόνον ἥψατο Θεοῦ ἐπειράθη ὀργῆς. Ἀλλ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὴν αὐθάδειαν φυγοῦσα, ψυχή, σέβου τὰ θεῖα καλῶς.
Ἀκήκοας τοῦ Ἀβεσσαλὼμ πῶς τῆς φύσεως ἀντεξανέστη· ἔγνως τὰς ἐναγεῖς αὐτοῦ πράξεις, αἷς ἐξύβρισε τὴν κοίτην Δαυῒδ τοῦ πατρός. Ἀλλ᾿ αὐτὴ ἐμιμήσω τὰς αὐτοῦ ἐμπαθεῖς καὶ φιληδόνους ὁρμάς.
Ὑπέταξας τὸ ἀδούλωτον σοῦ ἀξίωμα τῷ σώματί σου· ἄλλον γὰρ Ἀχιτόφελ εὑροῦσα τὸν ἐχθρόν, ψυχή, συνῆλθες ταῖς τούτου βουλαῖς· ἀλλ᾿ αὐτὰς διεσκέδασεν αὐτὸς ὁ Χριστός, ἵνα σὺ πάντως σωθῇς.
Ὁ Σολομὼν ὁ θαυμάσιος, ὁ καὶ χάριτος σοφίας πλήρης, οὗτος τὸ πονηρὸν ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ ποτε ποιήσας ἀπέστη αὐτοῦ· ᾧ αὐτὴ τὸν ἐπάρατόν σου βίον, ψυχή, προσαφωμοίωσας.
Ταῖς ἡδοναῖς ἐξελκόμενος τῶν παθῶν αὐτοῦ κατερρυποῦτο· οἴμοι! ὁ ἐραστὴς τῆς σοφίας ἐραστὴς πορνῶν γυναικῶν καὶ ξένος Θεοῦ· ὃν αὐτὴ ἐμιμήσω κατὰ νοῦν, ὦ ψυχή, ἡδυπαθείαις αἰσχραῖς.
Τὸν Ροβοὰμ παρεζήλωσας ἀλογήσαντα βουλῆς πατρῴας, ἅμα δὲ καὶ τὸν κάκιστον δοῦλον Ἱεροβοὰμ τὸν πρὶν ἀποστάτην, ψυχή. Ἀλλὰ φεῦγε τὴν μίμησιν καὶ κράζε Θεῷ· Ἥμαρτον, οἴκτειρόν με.
Τὸν Ἀχαὰβ παρεζήλωσας τοῖς μιάσμασι, ψυχή μου· οἴμοι! γέγονας σαρκικῶν μολυσμάτων καταγώγιον καὶ σκεῦος αἰσχρὸν τῶν παθῶν. Ἀλλ᾿ ἐκ βάθους σου στέναξον καὶ λέγε Θεῷ τὰς ἁμαρτίας σου.
Ἐνέπρησεν Ἠλιού ποτε δὶς πεντήκοντα τῆς Ἰεζάβελ, ὅτε τοὺς τῆς αἰσχύνης προφήτας κατηνάλωσεν εἰς ἔλεγχον τοῦ Ἀχαάβ. Ἀλλὰ φεῦγε τὴν μίμησιν τῶν δύο, ψυχή, καὶ κραταιώθητι.
Ἐκλείσθη σοι οὐρανός, ψυχή, καὶ λιμὸς Θεοῦ κατέλαβέ σε, ὅτε τοῖς Ἠλιοὺ τοῦ Θεσβίτου ὡς ὁ Ἀχαὰβ ἠπείθησας λόγοις ποτέ. Ἀλλὰ τὴν Σαραφθίαν μιμουμένη θρέψον Προφήτου ψυχήν.
Τοῦ Μανασσῆ ἐπεσώρευσας τὰ ἐγκλήματα τῇ προαιρέσει, στήσασα ὡς βδελύγματα πάθη καὶ πληθύνουσα, ψυχή, προσοχθίσματα· Ἀλλ᾿ αὐτοῦ τὴν μετάνοιαν ζηλοῦσα θερμῶς κτῆσαι κατάνυξιν.
Προσπίπτω σοι καὶ προσάγω σοι ὥσπερ δάκρυα τὰ ρήματά μου· Ἥμαρτον ὡς ἥμαρτε Πόρνη καὶ ἠνόμησα ὡς ἄλλος οὐδεὶς ἐπὶ γῆς. Ἀλλ᾿ οἰκτείρησον, Δέσποτα, τὸ ποίημά σου καὶ ἀνακάλεσαί με.
Κατέχρωσα τὴν εἰκόνα σου καὶ παρέφθειρα τὴν ἐντολήν σου· ὅλον ἀπημαυρώθη τὸ κάλλος καὶ τοῖς πάθεσιν ἐσβέσθη, Σωτήρ, ἡ λαμπάς. Ἀλλ᾿ οἰκτείρας ἀπόδος μοι, ὡς ψάλλει Δαυΐδ, τὴν ἀγαλλίασιν.
Ἐπίστρεψον, μετανόησον, ἀνακάλυψον τὰ κεκρυμμένα· λέγε Θεῷ τῷ τὰ πάντα εἰδότι· Σὺ γινώσκεις μου τὰ κρύφια, μόνε Σωτήρ· καὶ αὐτός με ἐλέησον, ὡς ψάλλει Δαυΐδ, κατὰ τὸ ἔλεός σου.
Ἐξέλιπον αἱ ἡμέραι μου ὡς ἐνύπνιον ἐγειρομένου· ὅθεν ὡς Ἐζεκίας δακρύω ἐπὶ κλίνης μου, προσθεῖναί μοι χρόνους ζωῆς. Ἀλλὰ τίς Ἡσαΐας παραστήσεταί σοι, ψυχή, εἰ μὴ ὁ πάντων Θεός;
Τριὰς ἁπλῆ, ἀδιαίρετε, ὁμοούσιε καὶ φύσις μία, φῶτα καὶ φῶς, καὶ ἅγια τρία, καὶ ἓν ἅγιον ὑμνεῖται Θεὸς ἡ Τριάς. Ἀλλ᾿ ἀνύμνησον, δόξασον ζωὴν καὶ ζωάς, ψυχή, τὸν πάντων Θεόν.
Ὑμνοῦμέν σε, εὐλογοῦμέν σε, προσκυνοῦμέν σε, Θεογεννῆτορ, ὅτι τῆς ἀχωρίστου Τριάδος ἀπεκύησας τὸν ἕνα Υἱὸν καὶ Θεόν· καὶ αὐτὴ προανέῳξας ἡμῖν τοῖς ἐν γῇ τὰ ἐπουράνια.
The Great Canon companion
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Chosen Portion is a modern Book of Hours: it turns the fixed-hour structure this collection preserves into scheduled, tappable daily prayer on your phone.
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