Canticles Sunday

THE SEVENTH ODE

Canticle of the Three Holy Children

Daniel 3: 26-56

THE praise of the three youths putteth out the flame.

Blessed art Thou, our God, and the God of our fathers.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers; and

praised and glorified is Thy name for ever.

For Thou art righteous in all the things that Thou hast done

for us; yea, true are all Thy works, and upright are Thy ways, and

all Thy judgments are true.

In all the things that Thou hast brought upon us, and upon

Jerusalem the holy city of our fathers, Thou hast executed true

judgments; for according to truth and judgment didst Thou bring

all these things upon us because of our sins.

For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from

Thee, and in all things wherein we have sinned greatly; and we

have not hearkened unto Thy commandments, nor heeded them;

neither have we done as Thou hast commanded us, that it might

go well with us.

Wherefore all that Thou hast done to us, and all that Thou

hast brought upon us, Thou hast done in true judgment; and

Thou hast delivered us into the hands of lawless enemies, and of

most wicked forsakers of God, and to an unrighteous king, and the

most wicked in all the world.

And now we cannot open our mouth; we are become a shame

and reproach to Thy servants, and to them that worship Thee.

Deliver us not up for ever, for Thy holy name's sake, neither

forget Thou Thy covenant; and take not away Thy mercy from us,

for the sake of Thy beloved Abraham, and Isaac Thy servant, and

Israel Thy holy one;

To whom Thou hast said that Thou wouldest multiply their

seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the

seashore.

For we, O Lord our King and Master, are become the least of

all the heathen, and we are brought low in all the earth this day

because of our sins.

Nor is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or

whole-burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, nor place

of first-fruits before Thee, that we may obtain mercy.

Nevertheless, in a contrite soul and an humble spirit let us be

accepted.

Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like

as ten thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice this day be

acceptable in Thy sight; and hereafter let it be performed before

Thee; for there is no shame to them that put their trust in Thee.

And now we follow Thee with our wholeheart, and we fear

Thee, and we seek Thy face; put us not to shame.

But deal with us according to Thy tenderness, and according

to the multitude of Thy mercy.

Deliver us according to Thy marvellous works, and give glory

to Thy name, O Lord.

And let all them that do Thy servants’ hurt be confounded,

and let them be ashamed, and deprived of all their might; and let

their strength be broken.

And let them know that Thou art the Lord, the only God, and

glorious over all the world.

And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make

the furnace hot with brimstone, pitch and tow, and wood of the

vine.

And the flame mounted up above the furnace forty and nine

cubits; and it brake forth, and wrapped in flames those Chaldeans

found about the furnace.

But the angel of the Lord came down to be with Azarias and

his companions in the furnace, and drove the flame of the fire out

of the furnace.

And made the midst of the furnace as it had been the blowing

of a wind bringing dew, and the fire touched them not at all, nor

brought grief, nor troubled them.

Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, and blessed,

and glorified God in the furnace, saying,

The hymn of the three, which the youths sang.

Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and to be

praised and exalted above all for ever.

And blessed is Thy glorious and holy name, which is highly

praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou in the temple of Thy holy glory, and to be

praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou that beholdest the depths, that sittest upon

the cherubim, Thou that art praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou on the glorious throne of Thy kingdom,

Thou that art praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art Thou in the firmament of heaven, Thou that art

praised and exalted above all for ever.

Glory. Both now.

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