1  Alleluia.
      Give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious, ♦︎
   for his faithfulness endures for ever.
2  Who can express the mighty acts of the Lord ♦︎
   or show forth all his praise?
3  Blessed are those who observe what is right ♦︎
   and always do what is just.
4  Remember me, O Lord, in the favour you bear for your people; ♦︎
   visit me in the day of your salvation;
5  That I may see the prosperity of your chosen
      and rejoice in the gladness of your people, ♦︎
   and exult with your inheritance.
6  We have sinned like our forebears; ♦︎
   we have done wrong and dealt wickedly.
7  In Egypt they did not consider your wonders,
      nor remember the abundance of your faithful love; ♦︎
   they rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea.
8  But he saved them for his name’s sake, ♦︎
   that he might make his power to be known.
9  He rebuked the Red Sea and it was dried up; ♦︎
   so he led them through the deep as through the wilderness.
10  He saved them from the adversary’s hand ♦︎
   and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
11  As for those that troubled them, the waters overwhelmed them; ♦︎
   there was not one of them left.
12  Then they believed his words ♦︎
   and sang aloud his praise.
13  But soon they forgot his deeds ♦︎
   and would not wait for his counsel.
14  A craving seized them in the wilderness, ♦︎
   and they put God to the test in the desert.
15  He gave them their desire, ♦︎
   but sent a wasting sickness among them.
16  They grew jealous of Moses in the camp ♦︎
   and of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.
17  So the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan ♦︎
   and covered the company of Abiram.
18  A fire was kindled in their company; ♦︎
   the flame burnt up the wicked.
19  They made a calf at Horeb ♦︎
   and worshipped the molten image;
20  Thus they exchanged their glory ♦︎
   for the image of an ox that feeds on hay.
21  They forgot God their saviour, ♦︎
   who had done such great things in Egypt,
22  Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham ♦︎
   and fearful things at the Red Sea.
23  So he would have destroyed them,
      had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, ♦︎
   to turn away his wrath from consuming them.
24  Then they scorned the Promised Land ♦︎
   and would not believe his word,
25  But murmured in their tents ♦︎
   and would not heed the voice of the Lord.
26  So he lifted his hand against them ♦︎
   and swore to overthrow them in the wilderness,
27  To disperse their descendants among the nations, ♦︎
   and to scatter them throughout the lands.
28  They joined themselves to the Baal of Peor ♦︎
   and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.
29  They provoked him to anger with their evil deeds ♦︎
   and a plague broke out among them.
30  Then Phinehas stood up and interceded ♦︎
   and so the plague was stayed.
31  This was counted to him for righteousness ♦︎
   throughout all generations for ever.
32  They angered him also at the waters of Meribah, ♦︎
   so that Moses suffered for their sake;
33  For they so embittered his spirit ♦︎
   that he spoke rash words with his lips.
34  They did not destroy the peoples ♦︎
   as the Lord had commanded them.
35  They mingled with the nations ♦︎
   and learned to follow their ways,
36  So that they worshipped their idols, ♦︎
   which became to them a snare.
37  Their own sons and daughters ♦︎
   they sacrificed to evil spirits.
38  They shed innocent blood, ♦︎
   the blood of their sons and daughters,
39  Which they offered to the idols of Canaan, ♦︎
   and the land was defiled with blood.
40  Thus were they polluted by their actions, ♦︎
   and in their wanton deeds went whoring after other gods.
41  Therefore was the wrath of the Lord
      kindled against his people, ♦︎
   and he abhorred his inheritance.
42  He gave them over to the hand of the nations, ♦︎
   and those who hated them ruled over them.
43  So their enemies oppressed them ♦︎
   and put them in subjection under their hand.
44  Many a time did he deliver them,
      but they rebelled through their own devices ♦︎
   and were brought down through their wickedness.
45  Nevertheless, he saw their adversity, ♦︎
   when he heard their lamentation.
46  He remembered his covenant with them ♦︎
   and relented according to the greatness of his faithful love.
47  He made them also to be pitied ♦︎
   by all who had taken them captive.
48  Save us, O Lord our God,
      and gather us from among the nations, ♦︎
   that we may give thanks to your holy name
      and glory in your praise.
49  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
      from everlasting and to everlasting; ♦︎
   and let all the people say, Amen.
      Alleluia.