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Hymns and Homilies
St Ephrem the Syrian, tr. Burgess, 1853
29. Hymn 29: A Hymn of the Whole Church
Oh Jesus, our Lord,
King worthy of adoration,
Who overcame by His passion
The tyrant Death!
Oh Thou Son of God,
Who hast promised to us
A renewed life,
And an exalted kingdom;—
Turn away from us
All hurtful things,
And cause to dwell in our habitation
Peace and kindness;
That in the day of Thy advent
We may go forth to meet Thee;
And may appear in Thy sight
According to Thy will.
By loud Hosannahs
We will give thanks to Thy name.
In return for Thy favour
Towards our race;
For Thy tender mercies have been abundant
On behalf of our mortal state;
And Thy love has been powerful
Towards our souls.
And blot out our sins
By Thy propitiation,
That we may praise Thy name,
Because of Thy great goodness.
Oh Lord, through Thy grace
Make us all worthy,
To give thanks and to worship
Thy Divinity.
Let our eyes which have seen
Thy glory in this world,
Contemplate Thy favour
In that which is to come.
Our ears which have listened
To the voice of Thy instructions,
Let them not hear, oh Lord,
The sounds of torment!
Our mouths which have sung hallelujahs
In the midst of the churches,
Make them worthy
To hymn forth Thy praise.
And our tongues also
Which have shouted out, “Holy!”
Do Thou direct rightly,
For Thy glory.
Our hands which have carried
Thy body and blood,
Let them receive from Thee
The forgiveness of our trespasses.
Our feet which have trodden
Thy holy temple,
Cause them to walk
In the region of felicity.
And our congregation
Which adores Thy Divinity,
Multiply towards it
All saving blessings;
And make to abide among us
Thy great tenderness,
And through it may we abound
In returning praise to Thee.
And open Thy door
To our united supplication,
And let our service also
Come into Thy presence.
And let good be turned to us,
According to Thy tender mercies;
But cause to pass away from us
All things which are hurtful.
And without intermission
We will offer praise
To Thee, oh Lord, and to Thy Father,
And to the Holy Ghost!