Blessed are the Blameless
Note: This text is
to designed to be used in the following manner: at a Saturday evening vigil in
which the polyeleos is not appointed, the choir chants the following three
verses which are in bold type, the reader then reads the portion of Psalm 118
that corresponds to the tone of the week, and then at the end of that section,
the choir begins singing the Evlogitaria.
This is merely a suggested abbreviation which a parish might find
useful. All the psalms are from The Psalter According to the Seventy,
© Copyright Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, used by permission.
All rights reserved. These works may not be further reproduced, beyond printing
out a single copy for personal non-commercial use, without the prior written
authorization of Holy Transfiguration Monastery.
Blessed are the blameless in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that search out His
testimonies; with their whole heart shall they seek after Him. For they that work iniquity have not walked
in His ways.
Tone 1
Thou hast enjoined Thy commandments,
that we should keep them most diligently. Would that my ways were
directed to keep Thy statutes.
Then shall I not be ashamed, when I look on all Thy commandments. I will confess Thee with uprightness of
heart, when I have learned the judgments of Thy righteousness. I will keep thy statutes; do not utterly
forsake me. Wherewithal shall a young
man correct his way? By keeping Thy words. With my whole heart have I sought after Thee,
cast me not away from Thy commandments.
In my heart have I hid Thy sayings that I might not sin against Thee. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me Thy
statutes. With my lips have I declared
all the judgments of Thy mouth. In the way of Thy testimonies have I found
delight, as much as in all riches. On Thy commandments will I ponder, and I will
understand Thy ways. On Thy statutes
will I meditate; I will not forget Thy words.
Give reward unto Thy servant, quicken me and I will keep Thy words. O unveil mine eyes,
and I shall perceive wondrous things out of Thy law. I am a sojourner on the earth,
hide not from me Thy commandments. My
soul hath longed to desire Thy judgments at all times. Thou hast rebuked the proud; cursed are they
that decline from Thy commandments.
Remove from me reproach and contempt, for after Thy testimonies have I
sought. For princes sat and they spake
against me, but Thy servant pondered on Thy statutes. For Thy testimonies are my
meditation, and Thy statutes are my counselors.
Tone 2
My soul hath cleaved unto the earth; quicken me
according to Thy word. My ways have I
declared, and Thou hast heard me; teach me Thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of Thy statutes,
and I will ponder on Thy wondrous works.
My soul hath slumbered from despondency, strengthen me with Thy
words. Remove from me the way of
unrighteousness, and with Thy law have mercy on me. I have chosen the way of truth, and Thy
judgments have I not forgotten. I have
cleaved to Thy testimonies, O Lord; put me not to shame. The way of Thy commandments have I run, when
Thou didst enlarge my heart. Set before me for a law, O Lord, the way of
Thy statutes, and I will seek after it continually. Give me understanding, and I will search out
Thy law, and I will keep it with my whole heart. Guide me in the path of Thy commandments, for
I have desired it. Incline my heart unto
Thy testimonies and not unto covetousness.
Turn away mine eyes that I may not see vanity, quicken Thou me in Thy
way. Establish for Thy servant Thine
oracle unto fear of Thee. Remove my
reproach which I have feared, for Thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after Thy commandments;
in Thy righteousness quicken me.
Tone 3
Let Thy mercy come also upon me, O Lord, even Thy
salvation according to Thy word. So
shall I give an answer to them that reproach me, for I have hoped in Thy words. And take not
utterly out of my mouth the word of truth, for in Thy judgments have I
hoped. So shall I keep Thy law
continually, for ever, and unto the ages of ages. And I walked in
spaciousness, for after Thy commandments have I sought. And I spake of Thy testimonies before kings,
and I was not ashamed. And I meditated
on Thy commandments which I have greatly loved.
And I lifted up my hands to Thy commandments which I have loved, and I
pondered on Thy statutes. Remember Thy
words to Thy servant, wherein Thou hast made me to hope. This hath comforted me in my humiliation, for
Thine oracle hath quickened me. The
proud have transgressed exceedingly, but from Thy law have I not declined. I remembered Thy judgments of old, O Lord,
and was comforted. Despondency took hold
upon me because of the sinners who forsake Thy law. Thy statutes were my songs in the place of my
sojourning. I remembered Thy name in the
night, O Lord, and I kept Thy law. This
hath happened unto me because I sought after Thy statutes. Thou art my portion, O Lord; I said that I
would keep Thy law. I entreated Thy
countenance with my whole heart: Have mercy on me according to Thy word. I have thought on Thy ways, and I have turned
my feet back to Thy testimonies. I made
ready, and I was not troubled, that I might keep Thy commandments. The cords of sinners have entangled me, but
Thy law have I not forgotten. At
midnight I arose to give thanks unto Thee for the judgments of Thy
righteousness. I am a partaker with all
them that fear Thee, and with them that keep Thy commandments. The earth, O Lord, is full of Thy mercy;
teach me Thy statutes.
Tone 4
Thou hast dealt graciously with Thy servant, O Lord,
according to Thy word. Goodness and
discipline and knowledge teach Thou me, for in Thy commandments have I
believed. Before I was humbled, I
transgressed; therefore Thy saying have I kept.
Thou art good, O Lord, and in Thy goodness teach me Thy statutes. Multiplied against me hath been the
unrighteousness of the proud; but as for me, with my whole heart will I search
out Thy commandments. Curdled like milk
is their heart; but as for me, in Thy law have I meditated. It is good for me that Thou hast humbled me,
that I might learn Thy statutes. The law
of Thy mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give
me understanding and I will learn Thy commandments. They that fear Thee shall see me and be glad,
for on Thy words have I set my hope. I
have known, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteousness, and with truth hast
Thou humbled me. Let now Thy mercy be my
comfort, according to Thy saying unto Thy servant. Let Thy compassions come upon me and I shall
live, for Thy law is my meditation. Let
the proud be put to shame, for unjustly have they transgressed against me; but
as for me, I will ponder on Thy commandments.
Let those that fear Thee return unto me, and those that know Thy
testimonies. Let my heart be blameless
in Thy statutes, that I may not be put to shame. My soul fainteth for Thy salvation; on Thy
words have I set my hope. Mine eyes are
grown dim with waiting for Thine oracle; they say: When wilt Thou comfort
me? For I am become like a wine-skin in
the frost; yet Thy statutes have I not forgotten. How many are the days of Thy servant? When
wilt Thou execute judgment for me on them that persecute me? Transgressors have told me fables, but they
are not like Thy law, O Lord. All Thy
commandments are truth. Without a cause have men persecuted me; do Thou help
me. They well nigh
made an end of me on the earth; but as for me, I forsook not Thy
commandments. According to Thy mercy
quicken me, and I will keep the testimonies of Thy mouth.
Tone 5
For ever, O Lord, Thy word abideth
in heaven. Unto generation and
generation is Thy truth; Thou hast laid the foundation of the earth, and it abideth. By Thine ordinance doth the day abide, for
all things are Thy servants. If Thy law
had not been my meditation, then should I have perished in my humiliation. I will
never forget Thy statutes, for in them hast Thou quickened me. I am Thine, save me; for after Thy statutes
have I sought. Sinners have waited for
me to destroy me; but Thy testimonies have I understood. Of all perfection have I seen the outcome;
exceeding spacious is Thy commandment. O
how I have loved Thy law, O Lord! the whole day long
it is my meditation. Above mine enemies
hast Thou made me wise in Thy commandment, for it is mine for
ever. Above all that teach me have I gained
understanding, for Thy testimonies are my meditation. Above mine elders have I received
understanding, for after Thy
commandments have I sought.
From every way that is evil have I restrained my feet that I might keep
Thy words. From
Thy judgments have I not declined, for Thou hast set a law for me. How sweet to my
palate are Thy sayings! more sweet than honey to my
mouth. From Thy commandments have I
gained understanding; therefore have I hated every way of unrighteousness.
Tone 6
Thy law is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my
paths. I have sworn and resolved that I will
keep the judgments of Thy righteousness.
I was humbled exceedingly; O Lord, quicken me according to Thy
word. The free-will offerings of my
mouth be Thou now pleased to receive, O Lord, and
teach me Thy judgments. My soul is in
Thy hands continually, and Thy law have I not forgotten. Sinners have set a snare for me, yet from Thy
commandment have I not strayed. I have
inherited Thy testimonies for ever, for they are the
rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined
my heart to perform Thy statutes for ever for a recompense. Transgressors have I hated, but Thy law have
I loved. My helper and my protector art
Thou; on Thy words have I set my hope.
Depart from me, ye evil-doers, and I will search out the commandments of
my God. Uphold me according to Thy
saying and quicken me, and turn me not away in shame from mine
expectation. Help me, and I shall be
saved; and I will meditate on Thy statutes continually. Thou hast set at nought all that depart from
Thy statutes, for unrighteous is their inward thought. I have reckoned as transgressors all the
sinners of the earth, therefore have I loved Thy testimonies. Nail down my flesh with the fear of Thee, for
of Thy judgments am I afraid. I have
wrought judgment and righteousness; O give me not up
to them that wrong me. Receive Thy
servant unto good, let not the proud falsely accuse
me. Mine eyes have failed with waiting
for Thy salvation, and for the word of Thy righteousness. Deal with Thy servant according to Thy mercy,
and teach me Thy statutes. I am Thy
servant; give me understanding, and I shall know Thy testimonies. It is time for the Lord to act; for they have
dispersed Thy law. Therefore have I
loved Thy commandments more than gold and topaz. Therefore I directed myself according to all
Thy commandments; every way that is unrighteous have I hated.
Tone 7
Wonderful are Thy testimonies; therefore hath my
soul searched them out. The unfolding of
Thy words will give light and understanding unto babes. I opened my mouth and drew in my breath, for
I longed for Thy commandments.
Look upon me and have mercy on me, according to the judgment of
them that love Thy name. My steps do
Thou direct according to Thy saying, and let no iniquity have dominion over
me. Deliver me from the false accusation
of men, and I will keep Thy commandments.
Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, and teach me Thy statutes. Mine eyes have poured forth streams of
waters, because I kept not Thy law.
Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and upright are Thy judgments. Thou hast ordained as Thy testimonies
exceeding righteousness and truth. My
zeal for Thee hath made me to pine away, because mine enemies have forgotten
Thy words. Thine oracle is tried with
fire to the uttermost, and Thy servant hath loved it. I am young and accounted as nothing, yet Thy
statutes have I not forgotten. Thy
righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is truth. Tribulations and necessities have found me, Thy
commandments are my meditation. Thy
testimonies are righteousness for ever; give me
understanding and I shall live. I have
cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord, and I will seek after Thy
statutes. I have cried unto Thee; save
me, and I will keep Thy testimonies. I
arose in the dead of night and I cried; on Thy words have I set my hope. Mine eyes woke before the morning that I
might meditate on Thy sayings. Hear my
voice, O Lord, according to Thy mercy; according to Thy judgment, quicken me. They have drawn nigh that lawlessly persecute
me, but from Thy law are they far removed.
Near art Thou, O Lord, and all Thy ways are truth. From the beginning I
have known from Thy testimonies that Thou hast founded them for
ever.
Tone 8
Behold my humiliation and rescue me, for Thy law have I not forgotten. Judge my cause and redeem me; for Thy word's sake quicken me. Far from sinners is salvation, for they have not sought after Thy statutes. Thy compassions are many, O Lord; according to Thy judgment quicken me. Many are they that persecute me and afflict me; from Thy testimonies have I not declined. I beheld men acting foolishly and I pined away, because they kept not Thy sayings. Behold, how I have loved Thy commandments; O Lord, in Thy mercy, quicken me. The beginning of Thy words is truth, and all the judgments of Thy righteousness endure for ever. Princes have persecuted me without a cause, and because of Thy words my heart hath been afraid. I will rejoice in Thy sayings as one that findeth great spoil. Unrighteousness have I hated and abhorred, but Thy law have I loved. Seven times a day have I praised Thee for the judgments of Thy righteousness. Much peace have they that love Thy law, and for them there is no stumbling-block. I awaited Thy salvation, O Lord, and Thy commandments have I loved. My soul hath kept Thy testimonies and hath loved them exceedingly. I have kept Thy commandments and Thy testimonies, for all my ways are before Thee, O Lord. Let my supplication draw nigh before Thee, O Lord; according to Thine oracle give me understanding. Let my petition come before Thee, O Lord; according to Thine oracle deliver me. My lips shall pour forth a hymn when Thou hast taught me Thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of Thy sayings, for all Thy commandments are righteousness. Let Thy hand be for saving me, for I have chosen Thy commandments. I have longed for Thy salvation, O Lord, and Thy law is my meditation. My soul shall live and shall praise Thee, and Thy judgments will help me. I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost; O seek Thy servant, for I have not forgotten Thy commandments.