O Lord, you are my God, I will exalt you!
O Lord, you are my God, I will exalt you!
I will bless your Name,
I will bless your Name,
I will bless your Name!
O Lord, you are my God…
You will destroy death forever,
you will wipe away the tears
from all our faces, from all our faces.
O Lord, you are my God…
Now we hear the footsteps of the poor,
the footsteps of the lowly, the footsteps of the lowly,
the remnant of Jacob.
O Lord, you are my God…

O heavens,
rain from above,
O clouds,
send us the Holy One;
O earth,
open up, you earth,
and let the Saviour spring up.
We are the desert,
we are the drought:
Maranatha! Maranatha!
We are the wind, nobody hears us:
Maranatha! Maranatha!
O heavens, rain from above…
We are the darkness,
nobody guides us:
Maranatha! Maranatha!
We are the chains,
nobody loosens us:
Maranatha! Maranatha!
O heavens, rain from above…
We are the cold,
nobody covers us:
Maranatha! Maranatha!
We are hunger,
nobody feeds us:
Maranatha! Maranatha!
O heavens, rain from above…
We are tears,
nobody dries us:
Maranatha! Maranatha!
We are suffering,
nobody looks at us:
Maranatha! Maranatha!
O heavens, rain from above…

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help,
with a spirit of fervour sustain me
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
Rescue me, O God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse;
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit
a humbled contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness show favour to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar.

Have mercy on me, have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me.
Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me.
My offences truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done. *
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help,
with a spirit of fervour sustain me
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
Rescue me, O God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse;
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit,
a humbled contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness show favour to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar.
Have mercy on me…

Taste and see,
how good is the Lord.
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips.
I glory in the Lord,
let the humble hear and rejoice.
Taste and see…
Sing with me to the Lord,
together let us sing to his Name.
For I sought the Lord and he answered me,
and he freed me from all my fears.
Taste and see…
Many trials lie in wait for the just man,
but from them all the Lord frees him.
This poor man calls out, the Lord hears him,
and frees him from all his anguish.
Taste and see…

I hoped, I hoped in the Lord
and he has stooped down to me;
he heard my cry for help,
he has pulled me out of the pit of death.
He has pulled me out of the pit of death,
from the mire of the marsh
he set my feet on a rock
and put me on a way of salvation.
I hoped, I hoped in the Lord…
He has put a new song on my lips,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
they will trust in the Lord.
I hoped, I hoped in the Lord…
Happy the man who trusts in the Lord,
who does not side with the proud
nor join those who follow false gods;
happy the man who trusts in the Lord.
I hoped, I hoped in the Lord…
How many wonders have you done, O my Lord,
how many plans have you made for us?
No one can be compared with you,
should I proclaim them,
they are too many to be counted.
I hoped, I hoped in the Lord…
Sacrifice and offering you do not want,
instead you have opened my ear.
You did not want sacrifice for sin,
then I said, "Here I am,
I'm coming to do your will."
Sacrifice and offering you do not want,
instead you have opened my ear.
You did not want sacrifice for sin,
then I said, "Here I am,
I'm coming to do your will."
I hoped, I hoped in the Lord…
In the scroll of the book it is written
that I should do, O Lord, your will;
my God, this is what I want:
your law in the depth of my heart.
I hoped, I hoped in the Lord…

From Aram, Balak made me come,
the King of Moab,
from the Eastern Mountains:
"Come, curse Jacob for me,
come, prophesy against Israel."
How shall I curse if God does not let me?
How shall I prophesy if God does not want it?
From the top of these crags I see them,
from the top of this peak I observe them:
this is a people different from all nations!
How beautiful are your tents,
how beautiful, O Israel!
How beautiful are your tents,
how beautiful, O Israel!
La la la la…
Who shall count your multitudes?
Jacob, O Jacob,
Jacob, O Jacob?
How beautiful are your tents…
"But what are you doing?
You are blessing them!
Come see from another place,
maybe from there God will curse them."
"Listen, son of Zippor,
hear me, King Balak.
God is not a man
who speaks and then repents.
A star is rising from Jacob;
I hear acclamations for a King,
God, God is his father:
he crouches like a lion,
he lies down like a lioness,
no one will make him rise."
How beautiful are your tents…
"Let my death be
like the death of your Just One,
let my life be where he is."
How beautiful are your tents...

Before the angels to you I want to sing,
before the angels I want to sing psalms;
I give thanks to your Name,
for your faithfulness and your love.
I give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart,
because your promise has surpassed your fame.
On the day I cried to you, you answered me,
you gave strength and vigour to my soul.
Before the angels…
All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O Lord,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
And singing on the way of the Lord,
they will say: "How great is your love."
Before the angels…
The Lord is sublime and looks upon the humble.
He knows the proud man and looks on him from afar.
When I walk in affliction,
you stretch out your hand, your right hand saves me.
Before the angels…
The Lord will complete in me what he has started,
for his love is great and everlasting.
He does not abandon the work of his hands:
"O Lord, do not abandon us!"
Before the angels...

To you, O Lord, praise is due in Zion,
to you the vow is fulfilled in Jerusalem.
To you who hear our prayer
every mortal comes,
every mortal comes.
To you who hear our prayer
every mortal comes,
every mortal comes.
Our faults burden us,
but you forgive our sins.
Blessed is the one you’ve chosen and called near;
he will dwell in your courts.
To you who hear our prayer
every mortal comes,
every mortal comes.
To you who hear our prayer
every mortal comes,
every mortal comes.
We shall be filled with the good things of your house,
with the holiness of your temple.
You speak to us through the wonders of your love,
you answer us through the wonders of your justice.
To you who hear our prayer…

Blessed are you, Mary,
among all women, Mary!
Blessed is the fruit, Mary,
the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Mary, you have believed!
And how is it that the mother of the Lord
is coming to me? How is this?
As soon as I heard your voice,
something moved within me;
my child leapt for joy!
Mary, blessed Mary,
you have believed in the Word of the Lord.
And how is it that the mother of the Lord
is coming to me? How is this?

I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
I glory in the Lord,
let the humble hear and rejoice.
Sing with me to the Lord,
together let us sing to his name,
for I sought the Lord and he answered me,
and freed me from all my fears.
I will bless the Lord at all times…
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him and he rescues them;
this poor man cries out, the Lord hears him,
and frees him from all his anguish.
I will bless the Lord at all times…
Taste and see,
how good is the Lord.
Happy the man
who takes refuge in him.
Taste and see,
how good is the Lord.
Happy the man
who takes refuge in him.
I will bless the Lord at all times…
Many trials lie in wait for the just man
but from them all the Lord saves him.
This poor man cries out, the Lord hears him,
and frees him from all his anguish.
I will bless the Lord at all times…

Lord, do not punish me in your anger,
do not chastise me in your rage.
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O Lord,
I am fainting;
heal me O Lord,
all my bones are shaking.
My soul is very distressed.
But you, O Lord, how much longer?
But you, O Lord, how much longer?
Lord, do not punish me…
Turn to me, O Lord, rescue my soul,
save me, O Lord,
in your mercy.
For no one among the dead remembers you.
For no one among the dead remembers you.
Nor in Sheol do they sing your praise,
Nor in Sheol do they sing your praise,
Lord, do not punish me…
I am exhausted with my laments,
every night I drench my bed with tears
My eyes waste away with grief.
I grow old surrounded by my enemies.
Away from me, evildoers! –
for the Lord hears my lament,
for the Lord welcomes my prayer.
Lord, do not punish me…

I love you Lord, you are my rock,
you are my liberator, you are my God,
I love you, I love you, O Lord.
The waves of death were surrounding me,
I was frightened by the roarings of Belial,
I was entangled in the bonds of Sheol,
I was caught in the fetters of death.
I called to the Lord in my anguish,
to my God, to my God I cried out.
From his temple he heard my voice,
my cry came to his ear
and the earth quaked and shook,
the foundations of the mountains trembled,
for he lowered the heavens and came down.
And the bed of the sea appeared,
the foundations of the world were laid bare,
for he stretched out his hand and caught me,
he raised me from the depths of the waters.
I love you Lord…
The waves of death…

Hide me
in the depths of your tent,
set me high
on a rock.
The Lord is my light and my salvation:
whom need I fear?
The Lord is the fortress of my life:
of whom should I be afraid?
Hide me…
When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
they, my opponents, my enemies,
are the ones who stumble and fall.
Hide me…
Even if an army encamped against me,
my heart would not be afraid;
though war were waged against me,
my trust would still be firm.
Hide me…
One thing I ask of the Lord,
only one thing I seek:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life.
Hide me…
The Lord hides me under his shelter
in times of trouble.
The Lord stretches out his hand to me,
I shall walk in safety.
Hide me…
Hear O Lord my voice when I call to you;
have mercy on me and be attentive.
I seek your face, O Lord,
do not hide your face from me.
Hide me…

Thus speaks the Amen,
the faithful and trustworthy witness,
the beginning
of the creation of God.
“I know your behaviour:
you are neither hot nor cold.
I wish you were either hot or cold,
and not lukewarm,
because I am going to vomit you from my mouth. “
Thus speaks the Amen…
"You say: 'I am rich, I lack nothing'
and you do not realise that you are wretched,
you deserve compassion,
you are poor, blind and naked.
I advise you to buy from me
pure gold tested by the fire,
and white garments
and ointment for your eyes
that you may see."
Thus speaks the Amen…
"Those that I love, I correct;
then be zealous
and repent,
listen to my voice,
listen to my voice.
Behold: I stand at the door and knock,
if anyone hears my voice
and opens the door to me,
I will enter into his house
and I will eat with him
and he with me."
Thus speaks the Amen…

Listen to me, remotest islands, all the nations,
thus speaks the Lord, the Holy One of Israel
to him whose life is despised,
whom the nations loathe,
to the slave of the oppressors:
"The kings shall see you, they will stand up,
the princes of the earth
they will bow down,
I have chosen you, I’ve chosen you."
At the time of favour I will hear you,
on the day of salvation I will help you,
I have set you as a Covenant for the peoples.”
"The kings shall see you…
"You will say to prisoners: 'Come out!;'
you will say to the blind: 'See!;'
you will guide the peoples to the waters of life."
"The kings shall see you…
But Zion says:
"The Lord has abandoned me,
the Lord has forgotten me."
"Can a mother forget
the baby at her breast?
Or fail to cherish
the son of her womb?
Even if a mother
forget her baby
I will not forget you.
Look at me, I have branded you
on the palms of my hands.
Look at me, I have branded you
on the palms of my hands."
"The kings shall see you…

A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell on the road.
The birds came down, they ate it up,
they devoured it,
they devoured it.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell on the rock.
A sower went out to sow,
and some of the seed fell on the rock.
The sun came out and dried it up:
it had no soil,
it had no soil.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell among thorns.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell among thorns.
The seeds grew, the thorns grew,
they stifled it,
they stifled it.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell on the soil.
A sower went out to sow
and some of the seed fell on the soil.
It bore fruit, some thirtyfold,
some sixtyfold,
and some a hundred.
He who has ears
and wants to hear,
listen,
listen:
Don’t be the road,
don’t be the road,
don’t be the rock,
don’t be the rock,
don’t be the thorns,
don’t be the thorns,
but be the soil,
the good soil,
where Jesus
may grow,
where Jesus
may grow.

Blessed
be God,
the Father
of Jesus Christ,
for he has chosen us
before the creation of the world,
for he has blessed us
with every kind of love,
to be holy and blameless
in love.
To be
the praise of his glory,
the glory of his grace,
the grace of his love,
with which he loved us
in Jesus Christ.
Blessed…
In him
we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins
according to the richness of his love,
so that in the fullness of time,
all things would be united under Christ.
To be…
Blessed…
In him all of us,
who have heard the Word of truth,
the Good News
of our salvation,
have been sealed with the Holy Spirit,
making us his people.
To be…

Elí, Elí, lamá sabachtháni?
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
How far I feel you from my lamentation;
I call on you by day and you do not answer,
I call by night and there is no rest for me.
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?…
Yet you are the Holy One,
you dwell in the praises of my people;
in you my fathers have hoped,
they hoped in you and you have freed them;
they cried to you and they were saved,
they hoped in you and did not remain disappointed.
Then me? Why don’t you help me?
Perhaps I am not a man? Look, I am a worm!
Disgraced among men! Rejection of my people!
All those who see me curl their lips,
they mock me, shake their heads and say:
"He trusted in the Lord,
let him rescue him if he loves him so much."
Yes, you love me, yes, you cherish me!
You drew me out of my mother’s womb,
at my birth you picked me up,
from my mother’s womb you have been my God,
when I was being born I entrusted myself to you.
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?…
Do not be far from me;
look! anguish is near and no one helps me.
Many bullocks surround me,
bulls of Bashan besiege me,
against me they open wide their mouths,
like a lion raging and roaring.
I am dirty water which is thrown away,
all my bones are racked;
my heart is like wax,
melting away within my bosom;
dry as a pot-shard is my palate,
my tongue is stuck to my throat,
you have thrown me in the dust of death.
Eli…
A pack of dogs surrounds me,
a gang of evildoers besieges me;
they have pierced my hands and my feet,
I can count all my bones.
They stare at me, they observe me,
they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothes they cast lots.
But you, Lord, do not stay far away! –
my strength, my strength, run to my help!
Save me from the sword,
from the claws of the dogs, save my life,
save me, save me from the mouth of the lion,
and from the horns of the bulls!
Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?…
I will announce your name to my brothers,
I will praise you in the midst of the assembly:
I will say: Praise the Lord you who fear him,
sing to the Lord, descendants of Jacob!
let the race of Israel give him glory;
because he was not disgusted with this poor man,
the only one who was not scandalised at me.
He did not despise this wretched man,
he did not hide his face from him,
but at his cry for help he answered him,
at his cry he heard him.
Eli…
Now I know that the poor will be saved,
that everyone who looks for you will find you,
that their hearts, their hearts will live,
will live forever, will live eternally.
All the ends of the earth will return to the Lord,
all the families of nations shall bow down before him.
Because the kingdom, the kingdom is the Lord’s;
he is the ruler of all the nations,
all those who prosper on the earth will bow down before him,
to him will bow all those who go down to the dust.
And I, I will live, will live for him,
my descendants shall serve him.
The Lord will be spoken of to the coming generations,
they will announce to them what he has done for me;
to the people yet to be born they will say: "Behold the work of the Lord."

This is my servant, whom I have chosen.
This is my servant, whom I have chosen.
My beloved, in whom my soul takes delight;
my beloved, whom I have chosen.
My Spirit will rest upon him
and he will announce justice to all the nations;
and he will announce justice to all the nations.
He will not raise his voice nor cry out,
no one will hear his voice in the street.
The crushed reed he will not break,
the wavering flame he will not quench,
until he wins the victory for justice,
until he wins the victory for justice.
And in his name, in his name
all the nations will put their hope.
The crushed reed he will not break...

You have heard that it was said:
"An eye for eye, a tooth for a tooth."
But I say to you, I say to you:
Do not resist evil,
do not resist evil,
do not resist evil
do not resist evil.
And if anyone strikes you
on the right cheek,
offer him the other one as well.
And if anyone takes you to court
to have your clothes,
give him your cloak as well.
And if anyone forces you to walk one mile,
walk two miles with him.
If anyone deprives you of what’s yours,
do not claim it back.
Do not resist evil…
You have heard that it was said:
"You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy."
But I say to you, I say to you:
love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
pray for those who persecute you,
bless those who curse you.
Be perfect,
as your Father in Heaven is perfect,
because he is good towards the wicked,
because he is good towards sinners.
Do not resist evil…
And you will be sons of your heavenly Father,
who makes the sun rise
on the good and bad alike,
and sends his rain
also on the wicked.
Do not resist evil…

Come from Lebanon, my bride,
come from Lebanon, come.
You will have for a crown the mountains,
the high crests of Hermon.
You have ravished, ravished my heart,
O my sister, my bride.
Come from Lebanon, my bride,
come from Lebanon, come!
I have searched for the love of my heart,
I searched but I didn’t find it;
I have found the love of my heart,
I’ve embraced him and I’ll not let him go.
I belong to my beloved,
and his whole desire is for me.
Come let us go out into the fields,
let us lodge in the villages.
Let’s go out at dawn to the vineyards,
let us pick the grapes.
I belong to my beloved,
and his whole desire is for me.
I have searched for the love of my heart…
Get up quickly, get up my beloved,
come away my dove.
Winter time has already passed,
the voice of the turtle dove is heard.
The flowers appear again on the earth,
the rain is over and gone.
Get up quickly, get up my beloved,
come away my dove.
I have searched for the love of my heart…
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
love no flood can drown.
To give for it all the wealth of the house
would be to despise it.
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm.
I have searched for the love of my heart…

While I was asleep, my heart was awake,
the voice of my beloved I heard:
"Open to me, my sister,
open to me, my dove,
for my head is wet with dew,
my locks with the drops of the night."
He put his hand through the latch of the door,
my heart stirred within me.
I arose, running,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
the purest myrrh from my fingers
onto the bolt of the door.
I implore you, daughters of Jerusalem,
if you find my beloved,
tell him I’m dying of love.
I opened to my beloved
but he was not there, he had already gone.
My soul fainted at his flight.
I sought him, but I did not find him,
I called him, I called him, but he did not answer.
The watchmen met me
going the rounds of the city,
they undressed me, they beat me,
the watchmen of the walls.
I implore you, daughters of Jerusalem …
Ay! If you were my brother,
I could kiss you,
without anyone being scandalised.
I implore you daughters of Jerusalem…

You who dwell in the gardens,
where my companions are listening,
let me hear your voice,
let me hear your voice.
Flee, my beloved,
like a gazelle,
like a young stag,
on the sweet scented mountains.
I am in his eyes
as one who has found peace,
my vineyard is here in front of me,
my vineyard is here in front of me,
Flee, my beloved,
like a gazelle,
like a young stag,
on the sweet scented mountains.
You who dwell in the gardens…
The Church through Baptism has been introduced into the gardens of the Kingdom "where the
companions are listening."
There, as she has been made mother and teacher of all nations because of the experience of
love she has received and because of the suffering, the joys, the failures, the recoveries and – we
could say – because of the history of salvation that the Song of Songs expresses, the Church is
invited by the Bridegroom to let her voice be heard in a final yearning.
The Church answers with an eschatological paschal cry: what she has come to know and
experienced of the Bridegroom makes her desire to flee with him in a final exodus "to the sweet
scented mountains," which is Heaven, forever free.

The Virgin Mary was betrothed to Joseph
when, before they came to live together,
she was found to be with child
through the Holy Spirit.
And Joseph, who was just,
did not want to repudiate her.
He decided to send her away in secret.
How bitter are the waters, Mary!
She-lamb of God, humble lamb,
you, who don’t resist evil,
Mother of Jesus and our Mother,
pray for us, pray for us!
And Mary gave birth to her son,
swaddled him and put him in a manger
because there was no room for them at the inn.
How bitter are the waters, Mary!
She-lamb of God…
Then Joseph woke up,
took with him the child and his mother,
and in the night fled to Egypt
because Herod was looking for the child
to kill him.
How bitter are the waters, Mary!
She-lamb of God…
A cry is heard in Ramah: "ay, ay, ay, ay, ay, ay"
– a cry and a great lamentation:
it is Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be consoled
because they are no more.
How bitter are the waters, Mary!
She-lamb of God…
And the angel of the Lord said to Joseph in Egypt:
"Get up and take with you the child and his mother
and go back to the land of Israel;
because from Egypt I have called my son."
She-lamb of God…

The voice of my beloved: Behold! Here he comes,
leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
My beloved is like a gazelle,
like a young deer,
my beloved is like a gazelle.
Behold! He stands behind our wall
and looks in at the window, he peers through the lattice.
Now my beloved speaks and says to me:
"Arise, my beloved!
Arise my love, arise and come!"
"Arise, my beloved,
Arise my love, arise and come!"
Look, winter has already passed,
the rains are over, they have gone away,
the flowers have appeared on the earth,
the time for singing has come again
and the voice of the turtle dove has returned,
the fig-tree has blossomed with first fruits
and the grape vine gives off its scent.
"Arise, my beloved…
O my dove in the cleft of the rock,
in the hiding places of the cliffs,
let me hear your voice,
let me hear your voice.
Chase away the foxes, the little foxes
who spoil the vineyard.
For our vineyard is in blossom!
For our vineyard is in blossom!
My beloved is for me,
and I am for him.
Before the breeze blows
and the shadows of death grow longer,
return, return, return!
Return, return, return!

The dove hovered over the head of the Lord
and sang psalms above him.
and the Lord revealed his designs of love,
works of art ineffable, for every man.
The chasms opened up
and dreadful cries were heard –
like women giving birth,
but the Lord dispelled the darkness
with his piercing look.
The dove hovered over the head of the Lord
and sang psalms above him.
and the Lord revealed his designs of love,
works of art ineffable, for every man.
The designs were foiled
and the angels of heaven were weeping,
the designs for all those
who did not follow his truth.
Because the Lord has shown his way
and has showered his grace
on all those who follow him;
he has given them power
to be adorned with his holiness.
The dove hovered over the head of the Lord
and sang psalms above him.
and the Lord revealed his designs of love,
works of art ineffable, for every man.