Scripture Readings

Saturday, April 7, 2007

Isaiah 63:11-64:5 (Vespers, reading)

11
Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: “Where is He who brought them up out of the sea With the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them,
12
Who led them by the right hand of Moses, with His glorious arm, dividing the water before them to make for Himself an everlasting name,
13
Who led them through the deep, as a horse in the wilderness, that they might not stumble?”
14
As a beast goes down into the valley, and the Spirit of the Lord causes him to rest, so You lead Your people, to make Yourself a glorious name.
15
Look down from heaven, and see from Your habitation, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength, the yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained?
16
Doubtless You are our Father, though Abraham was ignorant of us, and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O Lord, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
17
O Lord, why have You made us stray from Your ways, and hardened our heart from Your fear? Return for Your servants’ sake, the tribes of Your inheritance.
18
Your holy people have possessed it but a little while; our adversaries have trodden down Your sanctuary.
19
We have become like those of old, over whom You never ruled, those who were never called by Your name.
1
Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence –
2
As fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil – to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!
3
When You did awesome things for which we did not look, You came down, the mountains shook at Your presence.
4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
5
You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned – in these ways we continue; and we need to be saved.