Created for the glory of your Name,
redeemed by the blood of your cross,
marked by the seal of your Spirit,
we implore you: ‘Save us, O Lord.’
Break the chains of sin,
protect the humble, free the oppressed;
lead to heaven to the peaceful pastures
the people who believe in your love.
Honour and praise to you, Good Shepherd,
radiant light of eternal splendour;
you, who reign with the Father and the Spirit,
glorious for ever and ever. Amen.

If today you listen to his voice,
do not harden your hearts.
Come, ring out our joy to the Lord,
acclaiming the rock who saves us.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving,
acclaiming him with psalms and songs.
If today…
A mighty God is the Lord,
a great king above all gods.
In his hands are the depths of the earth,
the sea belongs to him, so does the land.
If today…
Come let us bow low before him,
and kneel before the Lord
who made us.
For he is our God and we are his people;
the people that he pastures,
the flock that he guides.
If today…
If only, if only
you would listen to his voice today and not harden your hearts
as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert,
when your fathers tested me,
when they tried me
though they had seen my deeds.
For forty years I was wearied of that generation
and I said: "They are a people with a crooked heart,
they don't know my ways,
they shall not enter my rest."
If today…

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…

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…