It was night
when Jacob arose,
took his wives
and all his sons
and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
He took them
and sent them across the stream,
sending with them all his possessions:
and Jacob remained alone.
And someone fought with him.
And someone fought with him.
And someone wrestled with him until the dawn.
And since
he could not overcome Jacob,
he struck the hollow of his hip:
and Jacob’s hip was dislocated
as he wrestled with him.
"Let me go, for the dawn is coming."
"Let me go, for the dawn is coming."
"Let me go, for the dawn is coming."
"I will not let you go,
unless you bless me."
Then God asked him:
"What is your name? What is your name?"
"Jacob" – he replied, "Jacob" – he replied.
"You shall no more be called Jacob."
"Israel, Israel,
Israel, shall be your name!
Israel, you have discovered your weakness.
Israel, you shall lean on God.
Israel, strong with God,
Israel, you shall win!
Israel, you have discovered your weakness.
Israel, you shall lean on God.
Israel, Israel,
Israel, Israel shall be your name!"

When Israel gathers the assembly,
when the people offer themselves as volunteers:
Bless the Lord, bless the Lord,
bless the Lord, to the Lord I want to sing.
Awake, Deborah,
awake, Deborah,
strike up the song!
Awake, Deborah,
awake, Deborah,
arise Barak!
In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath,
in the days of Jael,
there were no caravans,
no one could walk the streets,
since Israel had gone after other gods
and war was at the gates.
No warrior could be found in Israel,
not one lance could be found among ten thousand men.
Bless the Lord…
When you came out of Seir, O Lord my God,
when you advanced over the fields of Edom,
the earth trembled, heaven shook,
the clouds dissolved into water,
before you the mountains melted,
before you, O God of Israel.
From heaven above the stars came out to fight.
From heaven above the stars came out to fight.
From heaven above they fought against Sisera.
From heaven above they fought against Sisera.
The Kishon torrent, the sacred torrent swept them away.
Bless the Lord…

The Lord has given me a disciple’s tongue
so that I may bring to the weary
a word of consolation.
Morning after morning
you open my ear
so that I may listen
as a disciple.
The Lord, the Lord, the Lord
has opened my ear.
So I offered no resistance,
I offered no resistance.
I gave my back to those who struck me.
So I offered no resistance,
I offered no resistance.
I offered my cheek
to those who tore my beard.
So I offered no resistance,
I offered no resistance.
I did not cover my face
against insult and spittle.
Because I already knew
that you would come to my help,
I have set my face as hard as a flint;
I was sure that you would come to my help.
If you are, if you are near,
if you save me, who will fight against me?
If you help, if you help me,
if you save me, who will dare to condemn me?
All of you who fear the Lord,
listen to the voice of his Servant;
if you find yourselves in darkness,
trust in the Lord,
trust in his holy Name.
If you are…