The Psalter is divided into twenty sections called kathismata, read in order through the week at Vespers and Matins. Kathisma 1 contains Psalms 1–8 (Septuagint numbering).
Psalm 1
1Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of evil men.
2But his pleasure is in the law of the Lord; and in his law will he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be as a tree planted by the brooks of waters, which shall yield its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not fall off; and whatsoever he shall do shall be prospered.
4Not so the ungodly;—not so: but rather as the chaff which the wind scatters away from the face of the earth.
5Therefore the ungodly shall not rise in judgment, nor sinners in the counsel of the just.
6For the Lord knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 2
1Wherefore did the heathen rage, and the nations imagine vain things?
2The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers gathered themselves together, against the Lord, and against his Christ;
3saying, Let us break through their bonds, and cast away their yoke from us.
4He that dwells in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn, and the Lord shall mock them.
5Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his fury.
6But I have been made king by him on Sion his holy mountain,
7declaring the ordinance of the Lord: the Lord said to me, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee.
8Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for thy possession.
9Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces as a potter’s vessel.
10Now therefore understand, ye kings: be instructed, all ye that judge the earth.
11Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice in him with trembling.
12Accept correction, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and ye should perish from the righteous way: whensoever his wrath shall be suddenly kindled, blessed are all they that trust in him.
Psalm 3
A Psalm of David, when he fled from the presence of his son Abessalom.
2O Lord, why are they that afflict me multiplied? many rise up against me.
3Many say concerning my soul, There is no deliverance for him in his God. Pause.
4But thou, O Lord, art my helper: my glory, and the one that lifts up my head.
5I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy mountain. Pause.
6I lay down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord will help me.
7I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, who beset me round about.
8Arise, Lord; deliver me, my God: for thou hast smitten all who were without cause mine enemies; thou hast broken the teeth of sinners.
9Deliverance is the Lord’s, and thy blessing is upon thy people.
Psalm 4
For the end, a Song of David among the Psalms.
2When I called upon him, the God of my righteousness heard me: thou hast made room for me in tribulation; pity me, and hearken to my prayer.
3O ye sons of men, how long will ye be slow of heart? wherefore do ye love vanity, and seek falsehood? Pause.
4But know ye that the Lord has done wondrous things for his holy one: the Lord will hear me when I cry to him.
5Be ye angry, and sin not; feel compunction upon your beds for what ye say in your hearts. Pause.
6Offer the sacrifice of righteousness, and trust in the Lord.
7Many say, Who will shew us good things? the light of thy countenance, O Lord, has been manifested towards us.
8Thou hast put gladness into my heart: they have been satisfied with the fruit of their corn and wine and oil.
9I will both lie down in peace and sleep: for thou, Lord, only hast caused me to dwell securely.
Psalm 5
For the end, a Psalm of David, concerning her that inherits.
2Hearken to my words, O Lord, attend to my cry.
3Attend to the voice of my supplication, my King, and my God: for to thee, O Lord, will I pray.
4In the morning thou shalt hear my voice: in the morning will I wait upon thee, and will look up.
5For thou art not a God that desires iniquity; neither shall the worker of wickedness dwell with thee.
6Neither shall the transgressors continue in thy sight: thou hatest, O Lord, all them that work iniquity.
7Thou wilt destroy all that speak falsehood: the Lord abhors the bloody and deceitful man.
8But I will enter into thine house in the multitude of thy mercy: I will worship in thy fear toward thy holy temple.
9Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make my way plain before thy face.
10For there is no truth in their mouth; their heart is vain; their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit.
11Judge them, O God; let them fail of their counsels: cast them out according to the abundance of their ungodliness; for they have provoked thee, O Lord.
12But let all that trust on thee be glad in thee: they shall exult for ever, and thou shalt dwell among them; and all that love thy name shall rejoice in thee.
13For thou, Lord, shalt bless the righteous: thou hast compassed us as with a shield of favour.
Psalm 6
For the end, a Psalm of David among the Hymns for the eighth.
2O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath, neither chasten me in thine anger.
3Pity me, O Lord; for I am weak: heal me, O Lord; for my bones are vexed.
4My soul also is grievously vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?
5Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: save me for thy mercy’s sake.
6For in death no man remembers thee: and who will give thee thanks in Hades?
7I am wearied with my groaning; I shall wash my bed every night; I shall water my couch with my tears.
8Mine eye is troubled because of my wrath; I am worn out because of all my enemies.
9Depart from me, all ye that work iniquity; for the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
10The Lord has hearkened to my petition; the Lord has accepted my prayer.
11Let all mine enemies be put to shame and sore troubled: let them be turned back and grievously put to shame speedily.
Psalm 7
A Psalm of David, which he sang to the Lord because of the words of Chusi the Benjamite.
2O Lord my God, in thee have I trusted: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me.
3Lest at any time the enemy seize my soul as a lion, while there is none to ransom, nor to save.
4O Lord my God, if I have done this; (if there is unrighteousness in my hands;)
5if I have requited with evil those who requited me with good; may I then perish empty by means of my enemies.
6Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; and let him trample my life on the ground, and lay my glory in the dust. Pause.
7Arise, O Lord, in thy wrath; be exalted in the utmost boundaries of mine enemies: awake, O Lord my God, according to the decree which thou didst command.
8And the congregation of the nations shall compass thee: and for this cause do thou return on high.
9The Lord shall judge the nations: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my innocence that is in me.
10Oh let the wickedness of sinners come to an end; and then thou shalt direct the righteous, O God that searchest the hearts and reins.
11My help is righteous, coming from God who saves the upright in heart.
12God is a righteous judge, and strong, and patient, not inflicting vengeance every day.
13If ye will not repent, he will furbish his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
14And on it he has fitted the instruments of death; he has completed his arrows for the raging ones.
15Behold, he has travailed with unrighteousness, he has conceived trouble, and brought forth iniquity.
16He has opened a pit, and dug it up, and he shall fall into the ditch which he has made.
17His trouble shall return on his own head, and his unrighteousness shall come down on his own crown.
18I will give thanks to the Lord according to his righteousness; I will sing to the name of the Lord most high.
Psalm 8
For the end, concerning the wine-presses, a Psalm of David.
2O Lord, our Lord, how wonderful is thy name in all the earth! for thy magnificence is exalted above the heavens.
3Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou perfected praise, because of thine enemies; that thou mightest put down the enemy and avenger.
4For I will regard the heavens, the work of thy fingers; the moon and stars, which thou hast established.
5What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
6Thou madest him a little less than angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour;
7and thou hast set him over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things under his feet:
8sheep and all oxen, yea, and the cattle of the field;
9the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea, the creatures passing through the paths of the sea.
10O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is thy name in all the earth!
Text: The Septuagint Psalter, translated by Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton (1851). Public domain.