I praise you, Lord.
I give you thanks,
for your unending goodness,
your unceasing love.
Your works are beyond words, Lord.
No language on earth is adequate
to declare all the praise you deserve.
You give joy and satisfaction to those who do justice,
those who walk in righteousness.
Remember me, Abba, when you're in the mood
to show favor to your children;
help me when you're in a helping state of mind.
Prosper me and mine
when you're handing out your good gifts,
and send us joy unspeakable
any time you want.
I know I'm just a lowly sinner,
like my ancestors before me,
my spiritual and physical antecedents.
Like Israel in Egypt,
we have been blind to your wonderful works;
we easily forget the abundance of your steadfast love,
as they did at the Red Sea.
But you still saved them, didn't you?
You showed your power for the sake of your name.
You rebuked the Red Sea, and it rolled back, became dry;
you led them through the deep as through a desert.
You saved them from their foe,
and delivered them from their enemy,
and they responded with praise.
Do as much for me,
that I might do as much for you.
Let me not forget your works,
or fail to wait for your counsel.
Let me not put you to the test,
and invite disaster with selfish prayers.
Save me from jealousy,
like those who complained against Moses and Aaron.
Save me from factionism,
like that of Abiram.
Save me from idolatry,
like those who made a calf at Horeb
and worshipped a cast image.
They exchanged your glory
for the image of an ox that eats grass.
But I more readily forget you, my Savior,
when I put my faith in the approval of man,
the techniques of others,
in financial security,
and other such things.
Save me, Lord,
from despising your good land,
your faithfulness to fulfill your promise.
Save me from foolish idolatry like theirs,
and empty sacrifices.
Save me from going through the motions,
save me from grieving or quenching your Holy Spirit.
Teach me to stand up like Phinehas,
and root out all sin and temptation from my life
as you intended--and commanded--Israel to do.
Save me from the snares that surround me,
and from compromising with evil.
You are my deliverer,
as you were theirs.
You have never forgotten your promises to me,
and never wavered in your love.
Save me, O LORD my God;
bring me into my inheritance,
that I may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
I praise you, LORD, God of Israel,
God of me,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen.
Praise the Lord.
