Blue Cloud Abbey

Canticle 1 (Deuteronomy 32:112)

Let the heavens hear what I have to say;
let the earth give ear to the words of my mouth.
May my teaching fall like rain,
my words drop down like dew,
like gentle rain upon the grass,
like a light shower upon fresh fields.

For I shall praise the name of the Lord
and proclaim the glory of our God.
How perfect is the work of God, our Rock!
He is faithful, true, and just.

But you are a faithless and crooked lot,
whose faults have proved you not of God.
Is it thus that you repay the Lord,
O stupid and brutish people?

Is he not your Father who created you,
who brought you into being and sustains you?

Think back upon your history;
consider the years and ages of the past.
Ask your father to tell you the tale;
ask your elders to recount the story.

When the Most High parceled out the nations
and dispersed the sons of men,
he set up the boundaries for every people
according to the number of the sons of God.

But the Lord's own portion was his people,
Jacob was his share of the inheritance.
He found them in a wilderness,
a howling, desolate wasteland.

He protected them and cared for them
and guarded them as the apple of his eye.
As an eagle guards its nest and shields its young,
so he spread his wings to lift them up.

The Lord alone was with them as their guide;
no foreign god was with them at their side.

Canticle 2 (1 Samuel 2)

My heart exults in the Lord,
I find my strength in my God.
My mouth laughs at my enemies
as I rejoice in your saving help.

There is none like the Lord,
there is no other but you.
There is no Rock like our God!

Bring your haughty words to an end,
let no boasts fall from your lips,
for the Lord is a God who knows all.
It is he who weighs the deeds of all.

The bows of the mighty are broken,
but the weak are clothed with strength.
Those with plenty must labor for bread,
but the hungry need work no more.

It is the Lord who gives life and death;
he brings people to the grave and back.
It is the Lord who gives poverty and riches,
He brings people low and raises them on high.

He lifts up the lowly from the dust,
from the dung heap he raises the poor
to set them in the company of rulers,
to give them a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,
on them he has set the world.
He guards the steps of his faithful.

But the wicked perish in darkness,
for no one's power makes him a victor.
The enemies of the Lord will be broken.

The Most High will thunder in the heavens,
the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.
He will give power to his king
and exalt the might of his anointed.

Canticle 3 (1 Chronicles 29)

Blessed are you, Lord God of Israel, our Father,
for ever, for ages unending.
Yours, Lord, are greatness and power,
and splendor, triumph, and glory!

All is yours in heaven and on earth.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are supreme above all.
Both honor and riches come from you.

You are the ruler of all.
From your hand comes strength and power;
from your hand comes greatness and might.
And so, our God, we thank you.
We praise your glorious name.

Canticle 4 (Judith 4)

I will sing a new song to my God.
O Lord, you are great and all glory is yours!
You are unsurpassable and marvelous in might;
may all your creation serve you!

For you spoke and all came into being,
created by the breath of your mouth.
No one can resist your mighty voice!
It shakes the mountains to their foundations,
and the rocks melt before it like wax.

Yet you are gentle and merciful to those
who revere you.
For no sacrifice we offer you will please you
with its fragrance,
and the fat we burn in holocaust is of lesser
value still.
Only he who fears the Lord is of any value.

Canticle 5 (Wisdom 9:16, 911)

O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,
you have made all things by your word,
and by your wisdom have formed humankind
to have dominion over the creatures you have made,

to rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,
give me the wisdom that sits by your throne
and do not reject me from among your servants.

With you is wisdom who knows your works
and was present when you made the world,
and who understands what is pleasing in your sight
and what is right according to your commandments.

Send her forth from the holy heavens
and from the throne of your glory send her,
that she may be with me and toil
and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.

For she knows and understands all things,
and she will guide me wisely in my actions
and guard me with her glory.
Then my works will be acceptable
and I shall judge your people justly
and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.

Canticle 6 (Isaiah 12:16)

I give thanks to you, O Lord.
You were angry with me,
but now you comfort me.
Truly, God is my salvation.
I trust in him, I shall not fear.

For the Lord is my strength and my song.
He is the God of my salvation.
In joy you will draw water
from the springs of salvation.
When that day comes, you will say:
"Give thanks to the Lord and praise his holy name!"

Make known his mighty deeds to all the peoples.
Declare the greatness of his name.
O sing a psalm to him!
For he has done his mighty deeds
and made them known to all the earth.
People of Zion, shout for joy;
the Holy One of Israel is with you in his might!

Canticle 7 (Isaiah 28:10ff.)

In the noontime of my life, I must pass away,
the rest of my years assigned to the world below.
No more shall I see the Lord in the land of the living,
no more shall I look upon those living in this world.

My home is pulled up and removed
Like a shepherd's tent.
Like a weaver, you have rolled up my life,
you sever the last thread from the loom.
Between morning and evening, you bring it to an end.

I suffer as though a lion were breaking my bones.
I cry out like a swallow,
I moan like a mourning dove.

My eyes grow weak as I look to the heavens.
O Lord, hear my prayer and take care of me.

You have held me back from the pit of doom.
You have cast all my sins behind you.
For it is not the nether world that gives you thanks;
it is only the living who thank you as I do this day.

To their sons, fathers will declare your faithfulness.
So come, O Lord, and be our savior,
and we will make music all the days of our lives,
and sing songs of praise in the house of the Lord!

Canticle 8 (Jeremiah 8)

O Nations, hear the word of the Lord,
proclaim it to the far off coasts:
"He who scattered Israel will gather him
and guard him as a shepherd guards his flock."
For the Lord has ransomed Jacob,
has saved him from an overpowering hand.

They will come and shout for joy on Mount Zion,
they will stream to the blessings of the Lord,
to the corn, the new wine and the oil,
to the flocks of sheep and the herds.
Their life will be like a watered garden.
They will never be weary again.

Then the young girls will rejoice and will dance,
the men, young and old, will be glad.
I will turn their mourning into joy,
I will console them with gladness in place of grief.
Their priests I will again feed with plenty,
and my people shall be filled with my blessings.

Canticle 9 (Ezekiel 36:24ff.)

I will take you from the nations
and gather you from all the countries,
and bring you into your own land.
I will sprinkle clean water upon you
and you will be cleaned from your defilement
and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

A new heart I will give you,
and a new spirit I will put within you;
and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone
and I will give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put my spirit within you
and cause you to walk in my statutes
and be careful to observe my law.
You will dwell in the land I gave your fathers,
and you will be my people and I will be your God.

Canticle 10 (Daniel 3:26ff)

Lord God of our ancestors,
all honor and blessing to you!
May your name be held glorious forever!
In all that you have done, your justice is apparent;
your promises are always faithfully fulfilled,
your judgments are always true.

For the sake of your name, do not abandon us;
do not repudiate your covenant,
for the sake of Abraham your friend,
and Israel, your holy one
to whom you promised descendants countless as the stars
and plentiful as the sand on the seashore.

Lord, now we are the least of all the nations;
now we are despised through the world because of sin.
No longer do we have a leader, a prophet, a prince.
We have no place to offer you first fruits to win your favor.

But may the contrite and humble spirit be as pleasing to you
as holocausts of rams and bullocks.
Such let our sacrifice be to you today;
may it be your will that we follow you sincerely,
for those who trust you will not be disappointed.
Now we will follow you with our whole heart;
we will fear you and seek your face once more.

Canticle 11 (Daniel 3:5257)

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for ever.
And blessed is your glorious and holy name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for ever.
Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for ever.
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all for ever.

Canticle 12 (Daniel 3:5788, 56)

All you works of the Lord, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
You angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You heavens of the Lord, bless the Lord.
You clouds of the sky, bless the Lord.
All you armies of the Lord, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You sun and moon, bless the Lord.
You stars of the heavens, bless the Lord.
You showers and rain, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

All you breezes and winds, bless the Lord.
You fire and heat, bless the Lord.
You cold and heat, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You showers and dew, bless the Lord.
You frosts and cold, bless the Lord.
You frost and snow, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You night and day, bless the Lord.
You darkness and light, bless the Lord.
You lightning and clouds, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
You mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
All you plants of the earth, bless the Lord.

You fountains and springs, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
You rivers and seas, bless the Lord.
You creatures of the sea, bless the Lord.
Every bird in the sky bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You beasts wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You children of mortals, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
Israel, bless the Lord.
You servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.

You spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
You holy and humble of heart, bless the Lord.
To him be highest glory and praise for ever.
May you be blest, O Lord, in the heavens.
To you be highest glory and praise for ever.

Canticle 13 (Amos 4:5,9)

The Lord forges the thunder and creates the wind;
he reveals the thoughts of mortals.
He makes both dawn and darkness,
and strides upon the earth's great heights.
the Lord is his name!

It was he who made the Pleiades and Orion,
who turns darkness into dawn,
and daylight into darkest night.
He summons the waters of the sea
and pours them out upon the land.
The Lord is his name!

The Lord touches the earth and it melts,
and all who dwell there mourn.
It rises and subsides like the River Nile.
He built his home up in the heavens,
and makes the earth support his vault above.
The Lord is his name!

Canticle 15 (Habakkuk 3:2ff)

Lord, I have heard of your fame,
I stand in awe at your deeds.
Do them again in our days and make them known.
In spite of your anger, have compassion.

God comes forth from Teman,
the Holy One comes from Mount Paran.
His splendor covers the sky
and his glory fills the earth.

His brilliance is like the light;
rays flash forth from his hands;
there his power lies hidden.

You march out to save your people,
to save the one you have anointed.
This I hear and I tremble with fear;
my lips quiver at the sound.

Weakness invades my bones,
my steps fail beneath me,
yet I calmly wait for the doom
that will fall on those who assail us.

For even though the fig tree does not blossom,
nor fruit grow on our vines,
even though the olive crop fail
and fields produce no harvest,

even though flocks vanish from the folds
and stalls stand empty of cattle,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord
and exult in God my savior.

The Lord my God is my strength.
He makes me leap like the deer.
He guides me to grace on the heights.
The Lord our God is my savior.

Canticle 19 (Romans 8:1417)

Everyone moved by the Spirit is a child of God.
The spirit you received is not the spirit of slavery.

It is the spirit of adoption
and it makes us cry out, "Abba, Father!"
The Spirit himself gives witness with our spirit
that we are children of God.

And if we are children, we are heirs as well,
heirs of God and heirs with Christ,
sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.