The prophet complains of the sins of Juda and Jerusalem, and exhorts them to a sincere conversion.

[1] The vision of Isaias the son of Amos I which he saw concerning Juda and Jerusalem in the days of Ozias, Joathan, Achaz, and Ezechias, kings of Juda. [2] Hear, O ye heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord hath spoken. I have brought up children, and exalted them: but they have despised me. [3] The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master' s crib: but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood. [4] Woe to the sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a wicked seed, ungracious children: they have forsaken the Lord, they have blasphemed the Holy One of Israel, they are gone away backwards. [5] For what shall I strike you any more, you that increase transgression? the whole head is sick, and the whole heart is sad.

[6] From the sole of the foot unto the top of the head, there is no soundness therein: wounds and bruises and swelling sores: they are not bound up, nor dressed, nor fomented with oil. [7] Your land is desolate, your cities are burnt with fire: your country strangers devour before your face, and it shall be desolate as when wasted by enemies. [8] And the daughter of Sion shall be left as a covert in a vineyard, and as a lodge in a garden of cucuмbers, and as a city that is laid waste. [9] Except the Lord of hosts had left us seed, we had been as Sodom, and we should have been like to Gomorrha.

Psalms {Laudes:2 from the Psalter for the day of the week}

Ant. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies Psalm 50 [1]

50:1 Have mercy on me, O God, * according to thy great mercy.
50:2 And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies * blot out my iniquity.
50:3 Wash me yet more from my iniquity, * and cleanse me from my sin.
50:4 For I know my iniquity, * and my sin is always before me.
50:5 To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: * that thou mayst be justified in thy words, and mayst overcome when thou art judged.
50:6 For behold I was conceived in iniquities; * and in sins did my mother conceive me.
50:7 For behold thou hast loved truth: * the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.
50:8 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: * thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.
50:9 To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: * and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.
50:10 Turn away thy face from my sins, * and blot out all my iniquities.
50:11 Create a clean heart in me, O God: * and renew a right spirit within my bowels.
50:12 Cast me not away from thy face; * and take not thy holy spirit from me.
50:13 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, * and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.
50:14 I will teach the unjust thy ways: * and the wicked shall be converted to thee.
50:15 Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: * and my tongue shall extol thy justice.
50:16 O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: * and my mouth shall declare thy praise.
50:17 For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: * with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.
50:18 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: * a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
50:19 Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; * that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.
50:20 Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: * then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, * and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Ant. According to the multitude of thy tender mercies * blot out my iniquity.

Chapter Hymn Verse {from the Psalter for the day of the week}
Isa 2:3
Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall come forth from Sion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
R. Thanks be to God.

Hymn
Hark, a herald voice is calling;
“Christ is nigh,” it seems to say;
“Cast away the dreams of darkness,
 O ye children of the day.”

Startled at the solemn warning,
 Let the earth-bound soul arise;
 Christ, her sun, all sloth dispelling,
 Shines upon the morning skies.

 Lo, the Lamb, so long expected,
 Comes with pardon down from heaven;
 Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
 One and all to be forgiven.

 So when next he comes with glory,
 Wrapping all the earth in fear,
 May he then as our defender
 On the clouds of heaven appear.

 Honour, glory, virtue, merit,
 To the Father and the Son,
 With the co-eternal Spirit,
 While eternal ages run.
 Amen.

V. A voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord.
R. Make straight his paths.

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