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− | The [[Revised Standard Version]] of the Bible is copyright © National Council of Churches of Christ in America and distributed to registered users (see [[User Agreement-CCAT]]) with their kind permission. The HTI is grateful to NCC and the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Computer Analysis of Texts (CCAT) for their permission to provide this WWW-accessible version.
| + | [[File:lighterstill.jpg]][[File:Prayer.jpg|right|frame]] |
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− | '''A Prayer of Azariah'''
| + | [1] And they walked in the midst of the fire, praising [[God]], and blessing the Lord. |
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− | PrAzar.1
| + | [2] Then [[http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/azariah.html Azariah] stood and offered this [[prayer]]; in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said: |
− | [2] Then Azariah stood and offered this prayer; in the midst of the fire he opened his mouth and said: | |
− | [3] "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers,
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− | and worthy of praise;
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− | and thy name is glorified for ever.
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− | [4] For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us,
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− | and all thy works are true and thy ways right,
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− | and all thy judgments are truth.
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− | [5] Thou hast executed true judgments in all that
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− | thou hast brought upon us
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− | and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers,
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− | for in truth and justice thou hast brought
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− | all this upon us because of our sins.
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− | [6] For we have sinfully and lawlessly departed from thee,
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− | and have sinned in all things and have not
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− | obeyed thy commandments;
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− | [7] we have not observed them or done them,
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− | as thou hast commanded us that it might go well with us.
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− | [8] So all that thou hast brought upon us,
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− | and all that thou hast done to us,
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− | thou hast done in true judgment.
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− | [9] Thou hast given us into the hands of lawless
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− | enemies, most hateful rebels,
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− | and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world.
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− | [10] And now we cannot open our mouths;
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− | shame and disgrace have befallen thy servants and worshipers.
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− | [11] For thy name's sake do not give us up utterly,
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− | and do not break thy covenant,
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− | [12] and do not withdraw thy mercy from us,
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− | for the sake of Abraham thy beloved
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− | and for the sake of Isaac thy servant
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− | and Israel thy holy one,
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− | [13] to whom thou didst promise
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− | to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven
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− | and as the sand on the shore of the sea.
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− | [14] For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation,
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− | and are brought low this day in all the world
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− | because of our sins.
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− | [15] And at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader,
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− | no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense,
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− | no place to make an offering before thee or to find mercy.
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− | [16] Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit
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− | may we be accepted,
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− | as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls,
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− | and with tens of thousands of fat lambs;
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− | [17] such may our sacrifice be in thy sight this day,
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− | and may we wholly follow thee,
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− | for there will be no shame for those who trust in thee.
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− | [18] And now with all our heart we follow thee,
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− | we fear thee and seek thy face.
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− | [19] Do not put us to shame,
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− | but deal with us in thy forbearance
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− | and in thy abundant mercy.
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− | [20] Deliver us in accordance with thy marvelous works,
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− | and give glory to thy name, O Lord!
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− | Let all who do harm to thy servants be put to shame;
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− | [21] let them be disgraced and deprived of all power and dominion,
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− | and let their strength be broken.
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− | [22] Let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God,
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− | glorious over the whole world."
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| | | |
− | [23] | + | [3] "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, and worthy of praise; and thy name is [[glorified]] for ever. |
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− | Now the king's servants who threw them in did not cease feeding the furnace fires with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brush. | + | [4] For thou art just in all that thou hast done to us, and all thy works are true and thy ways right, and all thy [[judgment]]s are [[truth]]. |
| + | |
| + | [5] Thou hast executed true judgments in all that thou hast brought upon us and upon [[Jerusalem]], the holy city of our fathers, for in [[truth]] and [[justice]] thou hast brought all this upon us because of our sins. |
| + | |
| + | [6] For we have sinfully and [[law]]lessly departed from thee, and have sinned in all things and have not obeyed thy commandments; |
| + | |
| + | [7] we have not observed them or done them, as thou hast commanded us that it might go well with us. |
| + | |
| + | [8] So all that thou hast brought upon us, and all that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true [[judgment]]. |
| + | |
| + | [9] Thou hast given us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful rebels, and to an unjust king, the most wicked in all the world. |
| + | |
| + | [10] And now we cannot open our mouths; shame and disgrace have befallen thy servants and [[worship]]ers. |
| + | |
| + | [11] For thy name's sake do not give us up utterly, and do not break thy [[covenant]], |
| + | |
| + | [12] and do not withdraw thy [[mercy]] from us, for the sake of [[Abraham]] thy beloved and for the sake of Isaac thy servant and [[Israel]] thy holy one, |
| + | |
| + | [13] to whom thou didst promise to make their descendants as many as the stars of [[heaven]] and as the sand on the shore of the sea. |
| + | |
| + | [14] For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation, and are brought low this day in all the world because of our sins. |
| + | |
| + | [15] And at this time there is no prince, or [[prophet]], or leader, no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, no place to make an offering before thee or to find [[mercy]]. |
| + | |
| + | [16] Yet with a contrite [[heart]] and a humble spirit may we be accepted, as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls, and with tens of thousands of fat lambs; |
| + | |
| + | [17] such may our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and may we wholly follow thee, for there will be no shame for those who trust in thee. |
| + | |
| + | [18] And now with all our [[heart]] we follow thee, we fear thee and seek thy face. |
| + | |
| + | [19] Do not put us to shame, but deal with us in thy forbearance and in thy abundant [[mercy]]. |
| + | |
| + | [20] Deliver us in accordance with thy marvelous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord! Let all who do harm to thy servants be put to shame; |
| + | |
| + | [21] let them be disgraced and deprived of all [[power]] and dominion, and let their strength be broken. |
| + | |
| + | [22] Let them know that thou art the Lord, the only God, [[glorious]] over the whole world." |
| + | |
| + | [23] Now the king's servants who threw them in did not cease feeding the furnace fires with naphtha, pitch, tow, and brush. |
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| [24] And the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits, | | [24] And the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits, |
− | [25] and it broke through and burned those of the Chaldeans whom it caught about the furnace.
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− | [26] But the angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace,
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− | [27] and made the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all or hurt or trouble them.
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− | [28]
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− | Then the three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace, saying: | + | [25] and it broke through and burned those of the [[Chaldeans]] whom it caught about the furnace. |
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| + | [26] But the [[angel]] of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, |
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| + | [27] and mhttp://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/skins/common/images/button_link.pngade the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the fire did not touch them at all or hurt or trouble them. |
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| + | [28] Then the three, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace, saying: |
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| + | [29] "Blessed art thou, O Lord, [[God]] of our fathers, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever; |
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| + | [30] And blessed is thy [[glorious]], holy name and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever; |
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| + | [31] Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever. |
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| + | [32] Blessed art thou, who sittest upon [[cherubim]] and lookest upon the deeps, and to be praised and highly exalted for ever. |
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| + | [33] Blessed art thou upon the throne of thy kingdom and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever. |
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| + | [34] Blessed art thou in the firmament of [[heaven]] and to be sung and glorified for ever. |
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| + | [35] "Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [36] Bless the Lord, you heavens, praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [37] Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [38] Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [39] Bless the Lord, all powers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [40] Bless the Lord, sun and moon, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [41] Bless the Lord, stars of heaven, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [42] Bless the Lord, all rain and dew,sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [43] Bless the Lord, all winds,sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [44] Bless the Lord, fire and heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [45] Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [46] Bless the Lord, dews and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [47] Bless the Lord, nights and days, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [48] Bless the Lord, light and darkness, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [49] Bless the Lord, ice and cold, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [50] Bless the Lord, frosts and snows, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [51] Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [52] Let the earth bless the Lord; let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [53] Bless the Lord, mountains and hills, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [54] Bless the Lord, all [[things]] that grow on the [[earth]], sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [55] Bless the Lord, you springs, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [56] Bless the Lord, seas and rivers, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [57] Bless the Lord, you whales and all [[creatures]] that move in the waters, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [58] Bless the Lord, all birds of the air, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [59] Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [60] Bless the Lord, you sons of men, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [61] Bless the Lord, O [[Israel]], sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [62] Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [63] Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
| + | |
| + | [64] Bless the Lord, [[spirits]] and [[souls]] of the [[righteous]], sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [65] Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever. |
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| + | [66] Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever; for he has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace; from the midst of the fire he has delivered us. |
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− | [29] "Blessed art thou, O Lord, God of our fathers, | + | [67] Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures for ever. |
− | and to be praised and highly exalted for ever;
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− | [30] And blessed is thy glorious, holy name
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− | and to be highly praised and highly exalted for ever;
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− | [31] Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holy glory
| |
− | and to be extolled and highly glorified for ever.
| |
− | [32] Blessed art thou, who sittest upon cherubim
| |
− | and lookest upon the deeps,
| |
− | and to be praised and highly exalted for ever.
| |
− | [33] Blessed art thou upon the throne of thy kingdom
| |
− | and to be extolled and highly exalted for ever.
| |
− | [34] Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven
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− | and to be sung and glorified for ever.
| |
| | | |
− | [35] "Bless the Lord, all works of the Lord, | + | [68] Bless him, all who [[worship]] the Lord, the God of gods, sing praise to him and give thanks to him, for his mercy endures for ever." |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [36] Bless the Lord, you heavens,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [37] Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [38] Bless the Lord, all waters above the heaven,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [39] Bless the Lord, all powers,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [40] Bless the Lord, sun and moon,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [41] Bless the Lord, stars of heaven,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [42] Bless the Lord, all rain and dew,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [43] Bless the Lord, all winds,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [44] Bless the Lord, fire and heat,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [45] Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [46] Bless the Lord, dews and snows,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [47] Bless the Lord, nights and days,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [48] Bless the Lord, light and darkness,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [49] Bless the Lord, ice and cold,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [50] Bless the Lord, frosts and snows,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [51] Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [52] Let the earth bless the Lord;
| |
− | let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [53] Bless the Lord, mountains and hills,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [54] Bless the Lord, all things that grow on the earth,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [55] Bless the Lord, you springs,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [56] Bless the Lord, seas and rivers,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [57] Bless the Lord, you whales and all creatures
| |
− | that move in the waters,
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− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [58] Bless the Lord, all birds of the air,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [59] Bless the Lord, all beasts and cattle,
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− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [60] Bless the Lord, you sons of men,
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− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [61] Bless the Lord, O Israel,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [62] Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [63] Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [64] Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous,
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− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [65] Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart,
| |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.
| |
− | [66] Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, | |
− | sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever;
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− | for he has rescued us from Hades and saved
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− | us from the hand of death,
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− | and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace;
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− | from the midst of the fire he has delivered us.
| |
− | [67] Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, | |
− | for his mercy endures for ever.
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− | [68] Bless him, all who worship the Lord, the God of gods,
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− | sing praise to him and give thanks to him, | |
− | for his mercy endures for ever." | |
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| [[Category: Apocrypha]] | | [[Category: Apocrypha]] |