When the Lord
brought home
the captives
of Zion,
it seemed to us like a dream.
Our mouths
were filled with laughter,
on our lips
were songs.
For those who are sowing,
in tears are going,
carrying
the seed.
But coming back,
they come back singing,
carrying
the sheaves.
What great things,
what marvels
has the Lord done for us;
for this
we are full of joy.
For those who are sowing…
Those who go sowing,
they are
in sadness,
but when they reap,
they shout for joy.
For those who are sowing…

Console my people
and speak to the heart of Jerusalem,
and shout that her slavery
is ended.
Console my people,
and speak to the heart of Jerusalem,
and shout that her slavery
is ended.
"Oh-ay," a voice in the desert
shouts:
"Prepare the way,
the path to the Lord."
Because the Lord is coming with power,
he brings with him the reward;
like a shepherd gathers the flock,
carrying the lambs on his breast.
Like a shepherd he leads slowly, slowly
the mother ewes.
Like a shepherd, carries on his shoulders
the lost sheep.
Console my people
and speak to the heart of Jerusalem,
and shout that her slavery
is ended.

Clothe yourselves in the armour of God,
carrying the weapons of light.
Because our struggle
is not against creatures of flesh and blood,
but against the spirits of evil
which live in this world of darkness.
Gird your loins
with the truth,
clothe yourselves
with the justice of the cross,
which does not resist evil,
but takes on itself the sins of others.
Having shod your feet
with zeal to announce of the Gospel,
above all
carry the shield of faith –
That Christ really loves you,
that he died on the cross for you
when you were wicked and a sinner.
Carry the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God,
and the helmet
of salvation.
That Christ Jesus rose from death!
That he is the Lord,
that he will come again, he will come again
and will take us with him!
Alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

The same God who said:
'From darkness let the light shine,'
is he who shone into our hearts
to make the knowledge of his glory shine,
which is on the face of Christ,
which is on the face of Christ.
But we carry this treasure
in earthen vessels.
But we carry this treasure
in earthen vessels.
So that it may be shown
that the sublimity of this love comes from God,
comes from God and not from us.
Insulted on every side
but not distressed;
persecuted, but not forsaken;
cast down, but not destroyed.
Carrying always in our bodies
the death of Jesus,
so that
in us may be shown his resurrection.
And so while we die,
you are receiving life.
And so while we die,
you are receiving life.
Carrying always in our bodies
the death of Jesus,
so that
in us may be shown his resurrection.

Jesus went around all the towns,
passing from village to village;
he proclaimed the Kingdom.
When he saw the crowds following him, he had compassion
because they were tired,
because they were dejected,
like sheep without a shepherd.
Then Jesus said to his disciples:
"The harvest is large, is large indeed
but the workers are few.
Pray, then, to the Lord of the harvest
to send workers to his harvest.
And now, I am sending you out
like sheep among wolves:
so be cunning as serpents
and simple as doves,
simple as doves.
Do not carry purse or money,
knapsack or sandals,
but proclaim: the Kingdom is at hand,
Jesus is risen, he comes with us,
he comes with us.
Whoever loves his father or his mother more than me,
is not worthy of me, is not worthy of me.
Whoever loves his son or his daughter more than me,
is not worthy of me, is not worthy of me.
Whoever does not take his cross and follow me,
is not worthy of me, is not worthy of me.
And whoever seeks his life in this world,
he will lose it, he will lose it.
But whoever loses his life for my sake,
he will find it, he will find it.
He who listens to you,
listens to me.
He who welcomes you,
welcomes me.
He who welcomes me, welcomes God,
welcomes God!"