take

appears 72 times in 45 song(s)

take

appears 72 times in 45 song(s)
4

Glory to God in the highest

Glory to God in the highest
and peace on earth to people of good will.
We praise you, we bless you, we adore you;
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory.
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord, Only Begotten Son,
Jesus Christ!
Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us!
You take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us!
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father!
Amen, amen!
9

Consecration and Acclamation - a (E. P. II)

You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
the fount of all holiness.
Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
by sending down your Spirit upon them like the
dewfall,
so that they may become for us
the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time he was betrayed,
and entered willingly into his Passion,
he took bread
and, giving thanks, broke it,
and gave it to his disciples saying:
TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
In a similar way, when supper was ended,
he took the chalice
and, once more giving thanks,
he gave it to his disciples, saying:
TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW
AND ETERNAL COVENANT.
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU
AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
The mystery of faith:
We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection,
Maranatha! Maranatha! Maranatha!
Maranatha.
10

Consecration and Acclamation - b (E. P. II)

You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
the fount of all holiness.
Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
by sending down your Spirit upon them like the
dewfall,
so that they may become for us
the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time he was betrayed,
and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread
and, giving thanks, broke it,
and gave it to his disciples, saying:,
TAKE THIS ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
In a similar way, when supper was ended,
he took the chalice
and, once more giving thanks,
he gave it to his disciples saying:
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,
FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW
AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU
AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
The mystery of faith:
We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection,
Maranatha! Maranatha! Maranatha!
Maranatha.
Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God Almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
for ever and ever.
Amen, amen, amen,
amen, amen, amen,
amen, amen, amen!
14

Blessing of baptismal water

O God, who by invisible power
accomplish a wondrous effect through sacramental signs
and who in many ways have prepared water, your creation,
to show forth the grace of Baptism;
O God, whose Spirit, in the first moments of the world’s creation,
hovered over the waters,
so that the very substance of water
would even then take to itself the power to sanctify;
O God, who by the outpouring of the flood
foreshadowed regeneration,
so that from the mystery of one and the same element of water
would come an end to vice and a beginning of virtue;
O God, who caused the children of Abraham
to pass dry shod through the Red Sea,
so that the chosen people, set free from slavery to Pharaoh,
would prefigure the people of the baptized;
O God,
whose Son, baptised by John in the waters of the Jordan,
was anointed with the Holy Spirit,
and as he hung | upon the Cross,
gave forth from his side | blood and water,
and, after his Resurrection, commanded his disciples:
“Go forth, teach all nations, teach all nations,
look now, we pray, upon the face of your Church
and graciously unseal for her the fountain of Baptism.
May this water receive by the Holy Spirit
the grace of your Only Begotten Son,
so that human nature, created in your image,
and washed clean through the sacrament of Baptism
from all the squalor of the life of old,
may be found worthy to rise to the life of newborn children
through water and the Holy Spirit.
May the power of the Holy Spirit,
O Lord, we pray,
come down through your Son
into the fullness of this font,
so that, all who have been buried with Christ
by Baptism into his death
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
17

Eastertide Preface

The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right and just.
It is right and just.
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
at all times to acclaim you, O Lord,
but on this night / on this day / in this time
above all
to laud you yet more gloriously,
when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.
For he is the true Lamb
who has taken away the sins of the world;
by dying, he has destroyed our death,
and by rising, restored our life!
By dying, he’s destroyed our death,
by rising, he restored our life!
By dying, he’s destroyed our death,
by rising, he restored our life!
Therefore, overcome with paschal joy,
every land, every people exults in your praise
and even the heavenly Powers,
with the angelic hosts,
sing, sing, the unending hymn of your glory,
as they acclaim:
Holy, holy, holy…
18

From the abyss of death (Hymn for Lauds)

Lamb of God,
Lamb of God,
you take away the Sins of the World.
you take away the Sins of the World.
Have mercy on us.
Grant us peace, Grant us peace.
Agnus Dei,
Agnus Dei,
qui tollis peccata mundi.
qui tollis peccata mundi.
Miserere nobis.
Dona nobis pacem, Dona nobis pacem.
34

Song of Joshua

Down there beyond the river,
I chose your father Abraham,
and from an impotent old man
I multiplied your descendants.
Far be it from us to forsake
our God
who has worked marvels for us
before our very eyes.
A people enslaved
I rescued from Egypt
and with a mighty hand
I opened the Red Sea.
Far be it from us to forsake…
For years in the desert
I fed you with manna
and upon eagles’ wings
I took you beyond the mountains.
Far be it from us to forsake…
I gave you a land,
cities you did not build,
vineyards you did not plant,
springs of living water.
Far be it from us to forsake…
44

The Lord is my light and my salvation

The Lord is my light and my salvation:
whom need I fear?
The Lord is the fortress of my life:
of whom shall I be afraid?
I am sure I shall see
your goodness, O Lord.
Wait for the Lord, take courage,
wait for the Lord, take courage,
wait for the Lord, take courage,
wait for the Lord.
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.
I am sure I shall see…
The Lord hides me in His shelter
in times of trouble.
The Lord stretches out His hand to me;
I shall walk in safety.
I am sure I shall see…
48

I will take, I will lift up (The cup of salvation)

I had faith, even when I said:
"How wretched I am!"
I said in my affliction:
"No man can be trusted."
But the Lord pulled me out of death,
remembering his mercy,
and now, return to your rest,
O my soul.
What can I give back to the Lord
for the good he has done to me?
I will take, I will lift up,
I will take, I will lift up
the cup of salvation,
and I’ll invoke the name of the Lord.
I will offer you a sacrifice of praise,
crying out your name, O my Lord,
because you looked upon my state,
and you have saved me.
My prayer I lift up to you,
together with all your Church,
I shall walk in your presence,
among the living.
Precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his children.
I will take, I will lift up…
The snares of death fettered me,
distress and anguish forced me down;
I called upon the name of the Lord
and he has saved me.
My soul, return to your rest,
you will walk in the presence of the Lord,
in the courts of the house of your God,
the God of the living.
What can I give back to the Lord
for the good he has done to me?
I will take, I will lift up…
62

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness

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.
63

Have mercy on me, have mercy on me

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…
64

Christ Jesus is the Lord

With the same love, with the same spirit,
with the same feeling;
doing nothing out of rivalry, nor for boasting,
but everything with humility,
keeping in mind the desires of others,
considering others superior to oneself,
having the same feelings as Jesus:
who, being God,
did not cling to his dignity,
but emptied himself and became man;
and once made man, he took the condition of servant
obeying until death.
And what kind of death? Death of a criminal,
death of a sinner, death on a cross.
Because of this, God exalted him, raised him up,
and gave him the highest Name existing.
Christ Jesus is the Lord!
Alleluia!
Christ Jesus is the Lord!
Alleluia!
Christ Jesus is the Lord!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia!
Christ Jesus is the Lord!
Alleluia!
Christ Jesus is my Lord!
Alleluia!
Christ Jesus is your Lord!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia!
69

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord,
let us acclaim the rock
of our salvation!
Let us come before him
and give him thanks,
let us acclaim him
with songs of joy!
Because a mighty God is the Lord,
a great king above all other gods;
in his hands are the depths of the earth,
the heights of the mountains are his;
to him belongs the sea for he made it,
and the dry land shaped by his hands.
Come, ring out our joy to the Lord…
Come, let us bow low before him
and kneel before the God who made us;
he is the one who guides us in the desert.
Let us listen today to his voice;
let us not harden our hearts
as our fathers did before us.
Come, ring out our joy to the Lord…
In the desert your fathers tested me,
even though they had seen my deeds.
For forty years I was wearied
of that wicked generation;
then I took an oath in my anger:
"Never shall they enter my rest."
Come, ring out our joy to the Lord…
70

Dayenù

How many good things has the Almighty showered on us!
How many good things has the Almighty showered on us!
How many good things has the Almighty showered on us!
If Christ had taken us out of Egypt,
but without bringing judgement on Pharaoh,
this would have been good enough, good enough,
Dayenu, dayenu, dayenu!
If he had brought judgement on Pharaoh,
but without liberating us from all idols… *
If he had liberated us from all idols,
but without giving us their riches…
If he had given us their riches,
but without opening the sea for us…
If he had opened the sea for us,
but without drowning our oppressors…
If he had drowned our oppressors,
but without giving us a way across the desert.
If he had given us a way across the desert,
but without feeding us with the bread of life…
If he had fed us with the bread of life,
but without giving us the day of the Lord…
If he had given us the day of the Lord,
but without giving us the New Covenant…
If he had given us the New Covenant,
but without bringing us into his Church…
If he had brought us into his Church,
but without building in us his temple…
If he had built in us his holy temple,
but without filling it with the Holy Spirit …
So much more must we give thanks to the Lord!
So much more must we give thanks to the Lord!
So much more must we give thanks to the Lord!
Who has brought us out of Egypt…
Who has brought judgement on Pharaoh…
Who has freed us from all our oppressors…
Who has given us all their riches…
Who has opened the sea for us…
Who has drowned our oppressors…
Who has given us a way across the desert…
Who has nourished us with the bread of life…
Who has given us the day of the Lord…
Who has given to us the New Covenant…
Who has brought us into his Church…
Who has built in us his temple…
And has filled it with his Holy Spirit,
through forgiveness of sins!
Christ our Passover is risen for us!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
This would have been enough…
78

I want to sing

I want to sing, to you I want to sing;
awake, awake my heart,
awake, harp and zither!
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O God;
in you my soul takes refuge.
I take refuge in the shadow of your wings
until the danger is over.
I want to sing…
I call on God, I call on God the most high,
to God who has done great things for me;
may he send from heaven and save me
from the hands of my enemies.
I want to sing…
I lie as in the midst of lions,
lions who devour men;
their teeth are spears and arrows,
their tongues sharpened swords.
I want to sing…
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O God,
they laid a net for my feet,
they dug a pit for me
but fell into it themselves.
I want to sing…
My heart is ready, my heart is ready, O God,
to you I will sing praises;
awake lyre and harp,
I will awake the dawn!
I want to sing…
I will praise you, Lord, among the peoples,
to you I will sing hymns among the nations;
for your love is higher than the heavens,
your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
I want to sing…
79

I have anointed him my sovereign

Why do the nations conspire,
why do the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise in revolt,
and princes plot together
against the Lord and against his Messiah:
"Let us break their fetters of iron,
let us throw off the ropes that bind us,"
but the One who’s in heaven is laughing,
from on high the Lord derides them.
He speaks to them in his anger,
he frightens them with his fury:
"I have anointed him my sovereign
on Zion my holy mountain,
on Zion my holy mountain,
I have anointed him my sovereign
on Zion my holy mountain,
on Zion my holy mountain."
I will proclaim the decree of the Lord,
he has told me: "You are my son,
today I have begotten you.
Ask me, and to you I will give all the nations,
and the ends of the earth for your heritage.
You will break them with a sceptre of iron,
like vessels of clay you will shatter them."
"I have anointed him my sovereign…
And now, you kings, be wise,
learn wisdom, rulers of the earth;
serve the Lord, our God, with fear,
and rejoice with trembling;
lest he grow angry
and you lose your way,
for his anger is quick to blaze.
Happy the man who takes refuge in him.
"I have anointed him my sovereign…
84

I shall not die, but I shall live

I shall not die
but I shall live
to proclaim
the deeds of the Lord.
He has punished me,
he has punished me,
but he
has not abandoned me to death.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
his love is everlasting.
Let Israel say that he is good,
his love is everlasting.
Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love is everlasting."
Let those who fear the Lord say:
"His love is everlasting."
In my anguish I cried to the Lord,
he answered and saved me.
The Lord is at my side, I do not fear;
what can man do against me?
The Lord is with me, he is my helper;
I shall defy my foes.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in men.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in the powerful.
They surrounded me,
they surrounded me,
but in the name of the Lord
I overcame them.
I was pressed,
I was pressed,
but in the name of the Lord
I overcame them.
They swarmed around me like bees,
but in the name of the Lord I overcame them.
They blazed like a fire among thorns,
but in the name of the Lord I overcame them.
My strength and my song is the Lord;
he has been my salvation.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just.
The Lord's right hand is raised up
and has worked marvels for us.
I shall not die
but I shall live…
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gateway of the Lord
through which the just will enter.
I thank you for you have answered me;
you have been my salvation.
The stone rejected by the builders
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord;
a marvel in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and exult in it.
I shall not die
but I shall live…
O Lord, grant us salvation!
O Lord, grant us success!
Blessed, in the name of the Lord,
blessed is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
the Lord God is our light.
Go forward in procession with branches,
even to the altar.
You are my God, I thank you,
my God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love is everlasting.
91

When Israel was a child

When Israel was a child, I loved him,
like a son, I called him out of Egypt,
but the more I called him,
the further he strayed from me.
He did not see that all my care was for him.
Israel, Israel
I taught Ephraim how to take his first steps,
I guided him straight, using reins of kindness,
To him I was like one
who holds a baby close to his cheek.
He did not see...
You will return to the land of Egypt,
the Assyrian king will destroy all your sons,
because my people
refused to convert.
He did not see...
O Ephraim, how could I abandon you,
my heart is moved at the thought of parting from you,
I will not destroy you,
for I am God, not man.
He did not see...
I will roar, and his sons will come from the sea,
swiftly flying, like a bird, out of Egypt
they will come back,
from Assyria like a dove.
He did not see...
92

There is a time for everything

There is a time for everything,
every action has its moment under heaven.
A time for being born, a time for dying,
a time for sowing, a time for reaping;
a time for killing, a time for healing,
a time for destruction, a time for rebuilding.
A time to throw stones away, a time to gather them,
a time to embrace, a time to refuse.
A time for searching, a time for losing,
a time for keeping, a time for giving:
a time for tearing, a time for mending,
a time for speaking, a time for silence.
A time for loving, a time for hating,
a time for war, a time for peace.
What does a man gain from all his efforts?
What does he profit from all his labour?
What God has done to the son of man
is truly beautiful and comes at the right time.
He has placed in man's heart the sense of eternity,
but man cannot see the whole of God’s plan.
I know there is no happiness for man,
but to enjoy the fruits of his labour;
what he eats and drinks in his life,
is nothing but a gift from the Lord.
Nothing can be added, nothing taken away,
from what the Father had already ordained
at the beginning of time.
99

Come to me, all of you

Come to me, all of you
who are weary and overburdened
and I shall give you rest,
and I shall give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you
and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart
and you shall find rest for yourselves,
and you shall find rest for your souls.
Because my yoke is gentle,
because my yoke is gentle
and my burden light;
because my yoke is gentle
and my burden light.
101

If in the Lord I have taken my refuge

If in the Lord I have taken my refuge,
how can you say to me, how can you say to me:
flee like a bird to the mountain,
flee like a bird to the mountain?
I know that the wicked bend the bow,
and fit their arrows on the string,
to shoot in darkness the upright of heart,
but when the foundations quake,
what can the just man do?,
what can the just man do?
The Lord, the Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord has his throne in heaven,
his eyes look upon the world,
his gaze searches every man.
The Lord tests the just,
but the Lord tests the wicked as well,
the Lord does not love violence,
the Lord does not love violence.
If in the Lord I have taken my refuge…
113

I will bless the Lord at all times

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…
122

To you, O Lord, with my voice I cry for help

To you, O Lord, with my voice I cry for help,
Lord in my pleading I entreat you;
to you, O Lord, I pour out my lamentation,
to you my anguish I unfold.
I feel that my spirit is fainting,
but you know my path.
Look, Lord, in my path,
look, they have laid a snare for me,
look, at my right hand there is no one,
no one who knows me;
every comfort escapes me
because there is no one who cares for my soul.
To you I cry, O Lord,
to you I say:
"You alone are my refuge,
you are my portion on this earth,
my only happiness."
Listen, Lord, I am crying,
because my spirit is broken.
Free me, Lord, from my enemies,
because they are stronger than me.
Take my soul from this prison
that I may give thanks to your name;
then, the saints will gather round me,
they will rejoice because of your love for me.
To you, O Lord, with my voice I cry for help,
Lord in my pleading I entreat you;
to you, O Lord, I pour out my lamentation,
to you my anguish I unfold.
To you I cry, O Lord,
to you I say:
"You alone are my refuge,
you are my portion on this earth,
my only happiness."
125

I am calling you

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…
128

Glory, glory, glory

I come to gather,
I come to gather,
all the nations,
all the nations;
they’ll come and see my glory,
they’ll come and see my glory.
Glory, glory, glory!
Glory, glory, glory!
I will set a sign upon them
and I will send them to the distant nations
to announce my glory,
to announce my glory.
Glory…
And they shall bring your brothers
from all the nations
as an offering to the Lord,
as an offering to the Lord.
And from among them I will take priests for me –
priests, to announce my glory –
priests, to announce my glory.
Glory…
For as the new heavens and the new earth
I am making will endure forever,
so your descendants
will endure forever.
Glory…
135

You will show me the path of life

You will show me the path of life,
you will show me the path of life:
the fullness of joy in your presence,
happiness forever at your right hand.
Protect me, O God, in you I take refuge.
I said to God: "You are my Lord,
without you there is nothing good for me."
You will show me the path of life…
The Lord is my inheritance and my cup:
my life is in your hands.
My lot has fallen in delightful places,
my heritage is wonderful.
I bless the Lord who has given me counsel;
even at night my heart instructs me,
I keep the Lord always before me,
he is at my right hand, I shall not falter.
You will show me the path of life…
Therefore my heart is glad,
my soul rejoices:
my body also rests secure,
for you will not abandon my life to the grave,
nor let your Holy One know corruption,
know corruption.
You will show me the path of life…
140

I will take you from the nations

I will take you from the nations,
I will gather you from every land,
I will pour upon you clean water,
I will purify you.
I will give you a new heart,
I will put within you a new spirit
I will take away from you your heart of stone,
and I will give you a heart of flesh.
I will take you…
I will put my spirit
within you
and I will make you live according to my word
you will be my people and I will be your God.
I will take you…
204

Jacob

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!"
211

Like the impulse of rage

Like the impulse of rage against the enemy,
like the impulse of love towards the beloved,
so is my impulse towards you,
you, the Immortal One, fullness of the world!
You are the way! How marvellous it is!
You are the way! You are love!
You are the way! You are the path!
You are the way! You are the life!
You are the way! You are the truth!
You are the life!
You gave yourself to me without reservation,
and full of mildness, you diminished your greatness
that I might not tremble at your sight –
you, the Immortal One, fullness of the world!
You are the way…
You became like me, that I might learn to know you:
you took a form like mine, that I might receive you.
You became sin for me,
full of mercy,
that my sins
might not turn me away from you.
You are the way...
God, who created me when I was not,
knew everything that I would do;
So he took pity on me,
and in his mercy
he ordained that I beg him
for his nature.
You are the way…
220

Clothe yourselves in the armour of God

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!
223

Song of the Suffering Servant, 1st (This is my)

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...
262

Hymn to charity

Even if I speak with the eloquence of angels:
if I have no love, I am nothing!
Even if I have the gift of prophecy
and understand all the mysteries;
even if I have faith in its fullness
and I am able to move mountains:
if I have no love, I am nothing!
Even if I give away all my goods to the poor
and hand over my body to be burned:
if I have no love, I am nothing!
Because love, love, love,
is patient, is kind,
is not envious, is not boastful,
is not conceited,
is never rude;
does not seek its own interest,
does not get angry.
Does not take offence,
is not resentful,
takes no pleasure in injustice,
but rejoices in the truth.
Love believes everything,
excuses everything,
is always hoping:
endures everything,
endures everything.
Because love,
love,
because love:
is God, is God, is God.
265

Jesus went around all the towns

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!"
266

Do not resist evil

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…
267

Let him kiss me

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…
268

My beloved is for me

My beloved is for me
a rose of Sharon,
a lily of the valleys.
My beloved is for me
the perfume of myrrh,
as he rests on my breast.
My beloved is for me
as a lily among the thistles,
so is my beloved among the maidens.
My beloved is for me
a cluster of henna flowers
among the vines of En-gedi.
How beautiful are you, my love,
how beautiful, how beautiful!
Your eyes are doves,
your eyes are doves.
How beautiful are you, my beloved,
how delightful, how delightful!
Even our bed is verdant.
Even our bed is verdant.
As an apple tree among the trees of the forest,
so is my beloved,
my beloved among the young men.
In his shade, for which I longed, I am seated
and sweet is his fruit,
how sweet it is to my taste!
Into the wine cellar he has taken me
and his banner over me is love:
Into the banqueting hall he has led me
and his banner over me is love.
His left arm is under my head
and his right arm embraces me.
I implore you, daughters of Jerusalem,
do not rouse nor wake my beloved,
do not rouse nor wake my beloved.
272

How bitter are the waters, Mary

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…
273

Before him we turn away our face (In him)

In him there is no beauty,
in him there is no majesty,
no looks to attract our eyes,
he seemed no longer human.
Despised, rejected by all men,
a man of sorrows,
he who knows every kind of suffering.
Before him we turn away our face,
before him we turn away our face,
before him we turn away our face,
before him we turn away our face.
A broken man, considered as nothing,
despised, rejected by all men,
a man of sorrows,
he who knows every kind of suffering.
Before Him…
But it was he who took upon himself all our sins.
But it was he who took upon himself all our pains.
We had all gone astray, each on his own way.
Ill treated, yet he submitted,
he didn't say a word,
like a lamb brought to the slaughter.
Before Him…
Ill treated! Ill treated! Ill treated!
274

Worthy are you

Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you have been slain
and you have ransomed with your blood
men from every people,
tongue, tribe and nation.
And you have made of them for our God
a kingdom, a kingdom of priests.
And they reign, and they reign
over the earth.
Worthy are you, slain Lamb,
to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you have ransomed with your blood
men from every people,
tongue, tribe and nation.
And you have made of them for our God
a kingdom, a kingdom of priests.
And they reign, and they reign
over the earth.
280

Take me to heaven

Take me to heaven, take me to heaven, O Lord!
For me to die, for me to die, would be better by far,
would be better by far, to be with you,
to be with you!
Take me to heaven…
Only one thing I seek from you, only this I ask of you:
never to doubt your love,
never to doubt your love,
to be with you, to be with you!
Take me to heaven…
Oh how good, Oh how sweet,
has been your love for me!
Has been your love for me!
Oh how good, Oh how sweet!
Take me to heaven…
284

Paschal Homily of Melito of Sardis

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…
287

Noli me tangere

Woman, tell me why you’re weeping.
Woman, tell me why you’re weeping.
Who are you looking for?
Who are you looking for?
Who are you looking for?
Sir, if you have taken him away,
Sir, if you have taken him away,
tell me where you have put him
and I will go and take him,
and I will go and take him.
Mary!
Rabbuni!
Mary!
Rabbuni!
'Noli me tangere’ – do not cling to me,
I have not yet ascended to the Father!
Go and announce to my brothers,
go and announce to my brothers
that I’m ascending to my Father and your Father,
that I’m ascending to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.
I’m ascending to my Father and your Father,
I’m ascending to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.
to my God and your God.
I’m ascending to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.
Sir, if you have taken him away…
Mary!
Rabbuni!…
'Noli me tangere' – do not cling to me,
I have not yet ascended to the Father!
289

You have seduced me, Lord

You have seduced me, Lord,
and I let myself be seduced.
You wrestled with me and you defeated me,
You ve taken me by force and have prevailed!
When I speak I have to shout:
"Violence! Oppression!"
And so your word
has brought me insult and derision.
I said to myself:
"I will think of him no more,
I will not speak any more in his name."
But in my heart there was a burning fire
that was raging in my bones.
But in my heart there was a burning fire
that was raging in my bones.
Cursed be the day I was born;
cursed be the man
who brought the news to my father:
"A son is born to you."
Why did I come out of my mother’s womb
only to see torment and sorrow?
But the Lord is at my side
like a brave and mighty warrior.
But the Lord is at my side
like a brave and mighty warrior.
Sing hymns to the Lord,
praise the Lord,
for he has freed the life of this poor man.
But the Lord is at my side…
291

The sermon on the mount

Lifting up his eyes to his disciples, Jesus said:
Happy are you poor
for yours is the Kingdom of God.
Happy are you that now are hungry
for you shall be filled.
Happy are you that now are weeping
for you shall laugh.
Happy are you when men hate you and insult you
on account of the Son of Man,
rejoice on that day,
for your reward shall be great in heaven.
But woe to you that now are rich
for you already have your consolation.
Woe to you that now are full
for you shall go hungry.
Woe to you that now are laughing
for you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you,
so they spoke of the false prophets.
But to you who are listening I say:
love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you.
Bless those who curse you,
pray for those who ill-treat you.
To him who slaps you on one cheek
offer the other one as well.
To him who takes away your cloak,
do not refuse your tunic.
Give to every one who asks you
and from him who takes your goods do not ask for their return.
Do not judge.
Do not condemn.
Forgive.
And you will be forgiven.
Love your enemies…
Do not judge…
293

Brothers

Brothers! Let us give no one occasion to stumble.
Brothers, always accepting tribulations,
necessities, distress and toil;
with patience, purity and kindness,
in the Holy Spirit and in the power of God.
Using the weapons of justice,
those of the right hand and those of the left,
in glory and ignominy,
in calumny and in good repute,
Taken for impostors and yet true,
as having nothing and yet possessing everything.
Brothers! Let us give no one occasion to stumble.
Brothers, always accepting tribulations!
Brothers! I speak to you with frankness,
I speak to you in all truth:
do not harness yourselves in an uneven yoke with pagans.
What accord is there between believer and unbeliever?
What union between the sanctuary of God and that of idols?
For we are the sanctuary of God.
Brothers! Let us give no one occasion to stumble.
Brothers, always accepting tribulations!
Brothers! We speak to you with confidence,
because we are proud of you.
Do not harness yourselves in an uneven yoke with pagans.
What accord is there between believer and unbeliever?
What union between the sanctuary of God and that of idols?
For we are the sanctuary of God.
Brothers! Let us give no one occasion to stumble.
Brothers, always accepting tribulations,
necessities, distress and toil;
with patience, purity and kindness,
in the Holy Spirit and in the power of God.