16
The Song of Zechariah
Benedictus Dominus Deus
Luke 1: 68-79
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets
he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies,*
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,*
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
(The Book of Common Prayer
Copyright The Episcopal Church USA)
Posts
I find the Benedictus a marvelous morning prayer, even when I can only recite or sing it when driving the car to my first activitity of the day. However, the BCP version is so male dominant in its language -- I find that offputting and no longer in the spirit of the broad reach of this ancient poem.
ReplyDeleteBrad,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you.
Thanks for joining in the conversation.
Deanne