Invitatory Prayers here

How lovely is your dwelling place,

Oh Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord;

My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,

The swallow a nest for herself, at your altars,

Where she may lay her young,

Oh Lord of hosts, my King and my God!

Happy are those who dwell in your house,

Ever singing your praise.

Happy are those whose strength is in you,

In whose heart are

The highways to Zion.

As they go through the parched valley

They make it a place of springs;

The early rain also covers it with pools.

They tarry from city to city;

Until the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

Oh Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;

Give ear, oh God of Jacob!

Behold our shield, oh God;

Look on the face of your anointed.

For a day in your courts

Is better than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

Than live in the tents of wickedness.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

He bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does the Lord withhold

From those who walk uprightly.

Oh Lord of hosts,

Happy is the man who trusts in you.

In days to come

The mountain of the Lord’s house

Shall be established as the highest of the mountain;

It shall be raised above the hills;

All the nations shall stream to it.

Many peoples shall come and say,

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

To the house of the God of Jacob;

That he may teach us his ways

And that we may walk in his paths."

For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

The word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

He shall arbitrate for many peoples.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares,

Their spears into pruning hooks

No nation shall lift up sword against nation,

Neither shall they learn war any more.

Oh house of Jacob,

Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

Tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

His marvelous works among all the peoples.

For great is the Lord, greatly to be praised;

He is to be revered above all gods.

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

It is the Lord who made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before him;

Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, oh families of the peoples,

Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name!

Bring an offering, and come into his courts.

Worship the Lord in holy splendor;

Tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, "The Lord is king!

The world is firmly established;

It shall never be moved.

He will judge the peoples with equity."

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

Let the field exult, and everything in it.

Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

Before the Lord; for he is coming,

For he is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness,

And the peoples with his truth.

James 2, 12-13

Speak and act in such manner as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For whosoever has shown no mercy, shall have judgment without mercy; and so mercy shall rejoice over judgment.

End Prayers here

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