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…

Blessed be the Lord,
the God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people,
raising up for us a power of salvation
in the house of his servant David.
According to the promise made from ancient times,
through the mouths of his holy prophets,
that he would save us from our enemies
and from the hands of all those who hate us.
Fulfilling in this way the mercy
he had with our fathers,
remembering his holy Covenant,
and the oath he swore to our father, Abraham,
that he would set us free from fear
to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,
to serve him in holiness and virtue
in his presence all our days.
Blessed be the Lord...
And you, little child,
you shall be called Prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare a way for him,
announcing to his people salvation
and forgiveness of their sins.
Because of the tender mercy of our God,
a sun, rising from on high, will visit us,
to give light to those who live in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Blessed be the Lord…

Beside the rivers of Babylon,
remembering Jerusalem, we sat down to weep.
On the willows we hung up our guitars,
remembering Jerusalem, we sat down to weep.
"Sing" – our enemies told us;
"sing" – our oppressors told us;
they wanted us to sing songs of joy.
How could we sing
the Lord’s song in a foreign land?
If I forget you Jerusalem,
may my right hand wither;
may my tongue cleave to my mouth
if I don’t remember you, Jerusalem,
above all my joys.
Lord, ask account of our enemies,
Lord, ask account of our oppressors,
when they say to each other:
"Raze it to its foundations."
Capital
of criminal Babylon!
Who could repay you the evil
you have done to us?
Who could crush your little ones against the rock?
Beside the rivers of Babylon,
remembering Jerusalem, we sat down to weep.
On the willows we hung up our guitars,
remembering Jerusalem, we sat down to weep.

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…

When I awake, I’ll be satisfied with your face, O Lord,
When I awake, I’ll be satisfied with your face, O Lord.
Listen, Lord, to my prayer,
be attentive, Lord to my cry,
listen to my plea:
my lips do not betray you, O Lord,
let judgement come from you,
let your eyes see,
let your eyes see righteousness.
When I awake...
Search, Lord, my heart,
search me at night, O Lord.
test me in the crucible, test me in the crucible,
because you know there is no malice in me,
my mouth does not speak as men do;
because I have kept your Word,
I have avoided the way of the violent one;
I’ve kept my feet firmly on your path,
and I will not stumble, I will not stumble.
When I awake...
I cry to you, Lord, answer me,
listen, Lord, to my voice,
show me the wonders of your love,
for you save whoever entrusts himself to you,
for you help whoever relies on your right hand;
guard me as the apple of your eye,
in the shadow of your wings, hide me.
Look! They want to kill me!
When I awake...
Look at them, they are closed in their pride,
their mouths speak with arrogance,
they advance against me, they advance against me!
Help me, O Lord!
Rescue me from the men of this world,
from men who believe only in this life;
fill them with good things, O Lord,
let their children have all they desire,
let them be satisfied with your riches.
because when I awake, when I awake,
I’ll be satisfied with your face, O Lord!

O God, you are my God,
I seek you from the dawn;
for you my soul is thirsting.
For you my soul is thirsting,
my flesh is longing for you
like a dry weary land,
like a dry weary land without water.
O God, you are my God...
Your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
O God, you are my God...
My soul clings to you,
your right hand holds me with strength;
on my bed I think of you,
on you I muse through the night.
O God, you are my God...
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
O God, you are my God…

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...

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…

A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,
a scion from his roots;
upon him rests the spirit of the Lord,
Spirit of wisdom and of intelligence,
Spirit of counsel and of strength,
Spirit of knowledge and of piety,
Spirit of the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by hearsay,
but he will help all the oppressed.
His word will be a rod for the violent
and with the breath of his mouth he will kill the wicked.
The wolf will dwell with the lamb,
the panther will lie down with the kid,
the lion and the calf will pasture together,
and a little child will guide them,
and a little child will guide them.
A shoot springs…
The cow and the bear will stay together,
the lion will eat straw like the ox,
the infant will play over the lair of the viper,
the child will put his hand into the den of poisonous snakes;
no more evil will be done.
Because the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth.
Because the knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth.
Because on that day the root of Jesse,
will be raised as a standard for the peoples
and the nations will follow him with eagerness.
On that day the Lord will stretch out His hand.
And a road will be opened,
a way for the nations,
that the Virgin will show.
A shoot springs…

I am calling you, I am calling you, O Lord;
come, hurry to me,
listen to my voice, for I cry to you.
Let my prayer be like incense,
the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
Set, O Lord, a guard at my mouth,
a watchman at the gate of my lips;
lest my heart incline to evil,
or commit wicked deeds.
Let the just man strike me out of love
and correct me
lest the oil of the wicked anoint my head:
and I fall into the vice of his sins,
and I fall into the vice of his sins.
I am calling you…
To you, O Lord, I turn my eyes,
in you I take refuge, do not abandon my soul!
Guard me from the snares
they have laid for me,
from the traps of my enemies.
Let them fall into their own nets,
for, united to you, I go unharmed,
for, united to you, I go unharmed.
I am calling you…

Exult, you just, in the Lord;
praise is fitting for the Saints.
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre,
sing to him with the ten-stringed harp.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
play the lyre with skill
and acclaim him;
for the Word of the Lord is right,
all his works are truth.
In him are righteousness and justice,
the earth is full of his love.
Exult, you just, in the Lord…
The word of the Lord made the heavens,
the breath of his mouth,
all his hosts.
He brings to nothing the designs of the nations
and defeats the plans of the peoples.
But the plan of the Lord,
the plan of the Lord stands for ever.
Exult, you just, in the Lord…

O God, by your name save me,
by your great power see justice done to me.
O God, pay heed to my prayer,
listen to the words of my mouth.
For arrogant men have risen against me
and ruthless men seek my life.
They do not set God before them,
they do not set God before them.
Behold, God is my help,
the Lord, the Lord upholds me.
With all my heart I will offer you a sacrifice,
I will praise your name for it is good.
From all my anguish you have delivered me,
from all my anguish you have delivered me,
from all my anguish you have delivered me.
O God, by your name save me...

God, God
has led me, has led me
into darkness.
He has made for me a yoke
and he has pressed my head, my head
and my jaw.
God has bent his bow,
making me the target
for his arrows.
Though I call and cry,
he stifles, he stifles
my prayer.
When I see where he has brought me
in my wandering life,
this is wormwood and gall.
What will I do
if hope fails within me,
the hope
that comes from the Lord,
that comes from the Lord.
Sit down alone and in silence,
because God has laid it upon you.
Put your mouth in the dust,
there may yet be hope.
Offer your cheek to him who strikes you,
for the Lord does not reject you forever:
even if he afflicts you, he will then be merciful.
For the Lord does not reject you forever,
even if he afflicts you, he will then be merciful,
according to the abundance of his love.

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…

I see the heavens open
and a white horse;
he who rides it wears a cloak
soaked in blood, soaked in blood.
His eyes,
flames of fire:
in his mouth there is a sword,
to strike, to strike.
What is his Name?
What is his Name?
His Name is,
his Name is
'Word of God.'
I see a beast
and a prophet,
gather together,
for a battle, for a battle
against him
who rides the horse
and wears a cloak
soaked in blood, soaked in blood.
He alone treads the winepress
of the furious wrath of God.
He alone treads the winepress,
of the furious wrath of God.
Behold, the beast is captured,
and with it his prophet,
by him who rides the horse
and wears a cloak soaked in blood.
Alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia!
What is his Name?…

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."

Let him kiss me
with the kisses of his mouth;
your love is sweeter than wine.
Your name is the fragrance of your perfume:
that’s why
the maidens love you.
Take me with you, let us go out:
draw me towards you, let us run!
We shall praise your love more than wine,
how wonderful it is to love you!
Tell me then, beloved of my heart,
where do you lead your flock to pasture,
so that I may not wander as a vagabond
behind other shepherds?
Tell me then, beloved of my heart,
where do you lead your flock to pasture,
so that I may not wander as a vagabond
behind other shepherds?
If you don’t know this,
O loveliest of women,
follow the tracks of my flock
and take your kids to graze
close by the shepherds’ tents.
Take me with you, let us go out…

Like honey flowing from the comb
and milk from the breast of a woman
who loves her babies,
as a spring pours out its peaceful waters,
so my heart pours out its praise.
And from my lips springs forth praise for him
and my mouth is full of the sweetness of his name
and my limbs delight in his songs.
Because his light eases my pain,
because his simple and loving gaze
heals my heart,
because immortal life
has made its home within us.
Alleluia, alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!
Like honey flowing from the comb
and milk from the breast of a woman
who loves her babies,
as a spring pours out its peaceful waters,
so my heart pours out its praise.
And my face lights up with his joy
and my spirit rejoices in his love
and my heart, filled with his serene light,
feels the love of his gaze.
Because in him fear becomes trust.
Because in him fear becomes trust.
Because in him salvation is secure.
Because in him salvation is secure.
Because immortal life
has made its home within us.
Alleluia, alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, allelu, allelu, alleluia!

You are my hope, O Lord,
and I shall not be disappointed.
With your glory you have created us;
in your mercy you have raised us up.
You have pulled me out of the depth of Sheol,
from the mouth of death you have snatched me.
You have pulled me out of the depth of Sheol,
from the mouth of death you have snatched me
because I have believed in your Messiah
and that he is the Lord, I have confessed.
You have given us the great sign,
the mystery hidden from the angels,
to make war by your word
and to come back victorious from the nations.
You have pulled me out…
You are my hope, O Lord,
and I shall not be disappointed.
You are my hope, O Lord,
and I shall not be disappointed!

You have covered death with shame,
you have thrown hell into mourning,
you have struck iniquity,
you have deprived injustice of her children,
as Moses did to Pharaoh,
as Moses did to Pharaoh.
You have brought us from slavery to freedom,
from darkness to light, from death to life.
You are the passover of our salvation,
you are the lamb born of Mary.
Mary, she-lamb without blemish,
Mary, the innocent she-lamb.
You have been slain in Abel,
you have been bound in Isaac,
sold in Joseph,
abandoned on the waters in Moses,
persecuted in David,
mocked and despised in all the prophets.
You are the lamb who does not open his mouth,
you are the lamb born of Mary.
Mary, she-lamb without blemish…
You were taken from the flock,
led to sacrifice,
slaughtered in the evening,
buried in the night,
your blessed body did not experience corruption.
You rose from death,
and made mankind rise
from the depths of the tomb.
You are the lamb who does not open his mouth,
you are the lamb born of Mary.
Mary, she-lamb without blemish…