Minister: Lift up your hearts!
Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord!
Lord, You have favored this land,
You have brought back the captivity of Jacob,
Restoring the exiles.
You forgave the iniquity of Your people,
And You have covered up all their sin.
Think for a moment.
You took away all Your wrath,
And turned away from Your fierce anger.
You have turned,
So turn us, O God,
God of our salvation,
And cause Your anger to cease.
If You turn us, we will be turned—no other way.
Will You be angry forever?
Why drag Your anger out to our children’s children?
Why do You not revive us? What’s Your point?
Don’t You want us to rejoice in You?
Show mercy, Lord, and bestow salvation,
Grant it to us.
I hear what God the Lord says—
He will speak peace to His people.
And peace to His saints,
And may they not turn back to folly again.
Certainly His salvation is right next to those who fear Him,
So that glory will dwell in our midst.
Mercy and truth are now close companions,
Righteousness and peace have met in the way,
And have kissed one another,
Old friends on the road.
Truth springs up out of the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will give that which is good,
And the land will yield the same,
Goodness below from goodness above.
Righteousness shall go before this Christ from earth,
And shall set us following the steps He takes.
And so, gracious Father, we worship You now through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end, amen.