Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice - Angelic Liturgy

The Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice

[Thirteen songs for the first thirteen sabbaths, calling the angelic priesthood to praise in the heavenly temple. The text is broken; representative passages are given, with the broken state preserved.]

For the Instructor. The song of the sacrifice of the first sabbath. Praise the God of the heavenly beings, all you most holy spirits; in the gods of knowledge let all the holy ones give thanks. [Text missing]

Praise him, you gods of surpassing holiness;

praise him in the height of all the heavens.

He founded the holy ones for himself,

priests of the inner sanctuary, ministers of the presence

in the holy of holies.

[From the songs of the heart of the temple:] The cherubim fall down before him and bless; as they rise, the soft voice of God is heard, and a sound of joyful praise. As they lift their wings, the soft voice of God is heard. They bless the likeness of the chariot-throne above the firmament of the cherubim; and beneath the seat of his glory they sing, and the brightness of the firmament shines as they go. [Line damaged]

Holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;

the heavens and all their hosts give praise.

The spirits of the holy of holies,

the living gods,

the spirits of eternal holiness

above all the holy ones.

[From the later songs:] The chief princes bless in the name of the glory of God, each from his station, with seven words of wondrous blessing; and the second among the princes blesses in turn, and the third, and so all the orders, each according to his rank. [Text missing] And the whole structure of the inner sanctuary hastens to praise, and the foundations of the holy of holies bear up the chariot-throne, and bless as they rise.

[The songs continue thus through the thirteen sabbaths; much is lost.]