1 Maccabees 10:26-28

After a moment’s pause they again prayed: “With great love has the Lord our God loved us, and with much overflowing pity has he pitied us, our Father and our King, for the sake of our fathers who trusted in him. You taught them the statutes of life; have mercy upon us and teach us. Enlighten our eyes in the law; cause our hearts to cleave to your commandments; unite our hearts to love and fear your name, and we shall not be put to shame, world without end. For you are a God who prepares salvation, and us have you chosen from among all nations and tongues, and in truth have you brought us near your great name — selah — that we may lovingly praise your unity. Blessed is the Lord, who in love chose his people Israel.”

Your bounties and your blessings have descended upon us,

To grant us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies,

To show mercy to our fathers, and remember his holy covenant —

Loyal would we be to your divine nature.

And he preached anew the story of God’s sincerity, his covenant-keeping reliability. Said Samuel: “The Lord will not forsake his people.” “He has made with us an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.” And so, throughout all Palestine there sounded the call back to the worship of the supreme Yahweh. Ever this energetic teacher proclaimed, “You are great, O Lord God, for there is none like you, neither is there any God beside you.”

But be you merciful and love us as we desire to love you.

And when our end shall come, receive into your own bosom our faithful spirits.

And receive us into your endless service on high.

Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;