Ant. 1: Angels of the Lord, + sing praise to the Lord forever
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *
O Lord my God, how excellent is your greatness!
2 You are clothed with majesty and honour, *
wrapped in light as in a garment.
3 You spread out the heavens like a curtain *
and lay the beams of your dwelling place in the waters above.
4 You make the clouds your chariot *
and ride on the wings of the wind.
5 You make the winds your messengers *
and flames of fire your servants.
6 You laid the foundations of the earth, *
that it never should move at any time.
7 You covered it with the deep like a garment; *
the waters stood high above the hills.
8 At your rebuke they fled; *
at the voice of your thunder they hastened away.
9 They rose up to the hills and flowed down to the valleys beneath, *
to the place which you had appointed for them.
10 You have set them their bounds that they should not pass, *
nor turn again to cover the earth.
11 You send the springs into the brooks, *
which run among the hills.
12 They give drink to every beast of the field, *
and the wild asses quench their thirst.
13 Beside them the birds of the air make their nests *
and sing among the branches.
Ant. 1: Angels of the Lord, + sing praise to the Lord forever
Ant. 2: Michael shall appear, +Michael the great captain, who stands guard over
the faithful.
14 You water the hills from your dwelling on high; *
the earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
15 You make grass to grow for the cattle *
and plants to meet our needs,
16 Bringing forth food from the earth *
and wine to gladden our hearts,
17 Oil to give us a cheerful countenance *
and bread to strengthen our hearts.
18 The trees of the Lord are full of sap, *
the cedars of Lebanon which he planted,
19 In which the birds build their nests, *
while the fir trees are a dwelling for the stork.
20 The mountains are a refuge for the wild goats *
and the stony cliffs for the conies.
21 You appointed the moon to mark the seasons, *
and the sun knows the time for its setting.
22 You make darkness that it may be night, *
in which all the beasts of the forest creep forth.
23 The lions roar for their prey *
and seek their food from God.
24 The sun rises and they are gone *
to lay themselves down in their dens.
25 People go forth to their work *
and to their labour until the evening.
Ant. 2: Michael shall appear, +Michael the great captain, / who stands guard over the faithful.
Ant. 3: An angel stood at the altar, + holding a golden censer; / he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of the saints.
26 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *
In wisdom you have made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
27 There is the sea, spread far and wide, *
and there move creatures beyond number, both small and great.
28 There go the ships, and there is that Leviathan *
which you have made to play in the deep.
29 All of these look to you *
to give them their food in due season.
30 When you give it them, they gather it; *
you open your hand and they are filled with good.
31 When you hide your face they are troubled; *
when you take away their breath,
they die and return again to the dust.
32 When you send forth your spirit, they are created, *
and you renew the face of the earth.
33 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *
may the Lord rejoice in his works;
34 He looks on the earth and it trembles; *
he touches the mountains and they smoke.
35 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *
I will make music to my God while I have my being.
36 So shall my song please him *
while I rejoice in the Lord.
37 Let sinners be consumed out of the earth
and the wicked be no more. *
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Alleluia.
Once when the king of Aram was at war with Israel, he took counsel with his officers. He said, "At such and such a place shall be my camp." But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, "Take care not to pass this place, because the Arameans are going down there." The king of Israel sent word to the place of which the man of God spoke. More than once or twice he warned such a place so that it was on the alert. The mind of the king of Aram was greatly perturbed because of this; he called his officers and said to them, "Now tell me who among us sides with the king of Israel?" Then one of his officers said, "No one, my lord king. It is Elisha, the prophet in Israel, who tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedchamber."
He said, "Go and find where he is; I will send and seize him." He was told, "He is in Dothan." So he sent horses and chariots there and a great army; they came by night, and surrounded the city. When an attendant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. His servant said, "Alas, master! What shall we do?" He replied, "Do not be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them." Then Elisha prayed: "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." So the LORD opened the eyes of the servant, and he saw; the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?' And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.'
Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.' Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, 'To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!' And the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' And the elders fell down and worshiped.