The people that walked in darkness
has seen a great light.
On those who walked in a land of darkness
a great light has shone.
You have made their gladness greater,
you have made their joy increase:
they rejoiced in your presence
as they rejoice at harvest time,
as they rejoice when they divide the spoils.
And dominion will be upon his shoulders,
and his name will be, and his name will be:
wonderful, wonderful counsellor,
mighty God, eternal Father;
Prince of peace,
Prince of peace.
The yoke that was weighing on the people,
the yoke that weighed on their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressors,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
Every boot of the trampling warrior,
every garment soaked in blood
will be burnt and consumed by fire,
for a child is born for us,
a Son has been given to us.
And dominion will be upon his shoulders…

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.

Harshly have they persecuted me from my youth,
harshly have they persecuted me, let Israel say.
Harshly have they persecuted me from my youth,
harshly have they persecuted me, but have not prevailed.
Ploughmen ploughed my back,
on my back they drew long furrows.
But the Lord who is just
has broken the yoke of the wicked.
But the Lord who is just
has broken the yoke of the wicked.
Let them turn back, all those who hate Zion,
Let them turn back, all those who hate Zion.
May they be like the grass growing on the roof,
that withers before it is pulled out;
with it, the reaper never fills his hands,
nor the gatherer of sheaves his lap.
Let them turn back, all those who hate Zion,
Let them turn back, all those who hate Zion.
Harshly have they persecuted…

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.

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.