When Israel was a child, I loved him,
like a son, I called him out of Egypt,
but the more I called him,
the further he strayed from me.
He did not see that all my care was for him.
Israel, Israel
I taught Ephraim how to take his first steps,
I guided him straight, using reins of kindness,
To him I was like one
who holds a baby close to his cheek.
He did not see...
You will return to the land of Egypt,
the Assyrian king will destroy all your sons,
because my people
refused to convert.
He did not see...
O Ephraim, how could I abandon you,
my heart is moved at the thought of parting from you,
I will not destroy you,
for I am God, not man.
He did not see...
I will roar, and his sons will come from the sea,
swiftly flying, like a bird, out of Egypt
they will come back,
from Assyria like a dove.
He did not see...

O Lord our God,
how great is your name,
throughout the earth is your name;
above the heavens rises your love.
Through the mouths of babies and of infants,
you affirm your power, O Lord,
to reduce to silence enemies and rebels.
O Lord our God…
If I look at the heavens, the work of your hands,
the moon and the stars which you have set in place:
what is man that you should care for him?,
the son of man that you keep him in mind?
And yet, and yet, you have made him little less than the angels,
with glory and honour you have crowned him,
you have put all things under his feet.
O Lord our God…

To you, O Lord, with my voice I cry for help,
Lord in my pleading I entreat you;
to you, O Lord, I pour out my lamentation,
to you my anguish I unfold.
I feel that my spirit is fainting,
but you know my path.
Look, Lord, in my path,
look, they have laid a snare for me,
look, at my right hand there is no one,
no one who knows me;
every comfort escapes me
because there is no one who cares for my soul.
To you I cry, O Lord,
to you I say:
"You alone are my refuge,
you are my portion on this earth,
my only happiness."
Listen, Lord, I am crying,
because my spirit is broken.
Free me, Lord, from my enemies,
because they are stronger than me.
Take my soul from this prison
that I may give thanks to your name;
then, the saints will gather round me,
they will rejoice because of your love for me.
To you, O Lord, with my voice I cry for help,
Lord in my pleading I entreat you;
to you, O Lord, I pour out my lamentation,
to you my anguish I unfold.
To you I cry, O Lord,
to you I say:
"You alone are my refuge,
you are my portion on this earth,
my only happiness."