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Hymns and Homilies

St Ephrem the Syrian, tr. Burgess, 1853

33. Hymn 33: For the Whole Convent

Receive, oh Lord,
Our united supplications,
Our ministration also,
And our prayers.
Give us a heart
Full of affection,
And also a mind
Patient of suffering.

A mouth which confesseth
In faith, impart to us,
And let our voices be
A harp of praise;
And as our bodies endure
Watching and labour,
Let Thy grace be extended
Towards our sins.

Our mouths which have been
Instruments of praise to Thee,
Our tongues also
Which have sung psalms to Thy glory,—
Lord! let them not cry out
From the place of torment,
Which Thou hast made capable
Of singing Thy praise!

Our eyes which have borne
The heaviness of slumber,
And our feet which have laboured
And been fatigued for Thee,—
Let them not be deprived
Of their expectation,
Nor their reward be lost
In the day of retribution!

Let not the sounds of our mouths
And of our stringed instruments,
Be turned, oh Lord,
To lamentation and weeping;
But in Thy loving-kindness,
And with Thy favour,
And Thy goodness,
Accept our vigils!

And make us all worthy,
That with one heart
Sincere and pure,
We may stand before Thee;
And in a worthy manner
May offer up praise
To Thee, oh Lord, and to the Father,
And to the Spirit. Amen!