Daniel 3
Canticle - The prayer of Azariah in the furnace
"Repent and turn to God, that your sins may be wiped out" (Acts 3, 19).
Blessed are you, O Lord, God of our fathers,
and worthy of praise,
and your name is glorified for ever.
You are just
in all that you have done to us,
for we have sinned
and lawlessly departed from you,
and have sinned in all things.
For your name’s sake,
do not give us up utterly
and do not break your covenant.
Do not withdraw your mercy from us,
for the sake of Abraham your beloved,
and for the sake of Isaac your servant,
and Israel your holy one, to whom you promised
to make their descendants as many as the stars of heaven
and as the sand on the shore of the sea.
For we, O Lord, have become fewer than any nation,
and are brought low this day in all the world
because of our sins;
and at this time there is no prince, or prophet, or leader,
no burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense,
no place to make an offering before you
or to find mercy.
Yet with a contrite heart and a humble spirit
may we be accepted,
as though it were with burnt offerings of rams and bulls
and with tens of thousands of fat lambs.
Such may our sacrifice be in your sight this day,
and may we wholly follow you,
for there will be no shame
for those who trust in you.
And now with all our heart we follow you,
we fear you and seek your face.