Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers

Hellenistic Synagogal Prayers

[Prayers of the Greek-speaking synagogue, preserved within later church books.]

You who are before the ages, eternal, without beginning, alone unmade: we bless you, the one God, the only God, who made all things by your Word and ordered them by your Wisdom. You set the heaven like a vault and stretched it out; you established the earth upon nothing by your will alone; you fixed the firmament and arranged night and day. You brought forth the light from your treasuries, and at its withdrawal you bring on the darkness, that the living things might rest; and again you bring the light, that all may take up the works you have appointed.

You formed the human being a citizen of the world, an ordered world in little; from the soul and the body you fashioned him, the perishable and the imperishable joined; you set him over the works of your hands and gave him your law written in his heart, to guide him to the knowledge of you. We give you thanks for all things, for the gift of life, for the food that sustains, for the seasons in their turning, for the rain and the harvest.

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

heaven and earth are full of his glory.

Blessed be the glory of the LORD

from his dwelling place forever.

Remember, O LORD, your people; gather the scattered, free the captive, raise the fallen, strengthen the weak, lead back the wandering. Number us with those who please you, that we may give thanks to your holy name, through whom be glory to you forever and ever. Amen.