Reading 14
Homer, selection from The Iliad (Book I)
Chryses is a Trojan priest of Apollo. During the Trojan War, Agamemnon (leader of the Greeks)
takes Chryses’ daughter and refuses to return her when Chryses comes to ransom her. This is
Chryses’ prayer for vengeance to Apollo.
‘Hear me, O silver-bowed one, [thou] who guardest Chrysa
and holy Cilla, who rulest with might over Tenedos.
O Smintheos, if I ever put a roof upon a temple [that was] pleasing to you,
or if I ever burned for you the fat thighs of bulls or goats,
then accomplishthiswishfor me:
Let the Danaeans pay for my tears with your arrows.’
Psalm 138
I thank you, LORD, with all my heart;
before the gods to you I sing.
I bow low toward your holy temple;
I praise your name for your fidelity and love.
For you have exalted over all,
your name and your promise.
When I cried out, you answered;
you strengthened my spirit.
All the kings of earth will praise you, LORD,
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They will sing of the ways of the LORD:
“How great is the glory of the LORD!”
The LORD is on high, but cares for the lowly
and knows the proud from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of dangers,
you guard my life when my enemies rage.
You stretch out your hand;
your right hand saves me.
The LORD is with me to the end.
LORD, your love endures forever.
Never forsake the work of your hands!
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I call to you, LORD;
Lord, hear my cry!
May your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, LORD, mark our sins,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness
and so you are revered.
I wait with longing for the LORD;
my soul waits
for his word.
My soul looks for the Lord
more than sentinels for daybreak.
More than sentinels for daybreak,
let Israel look for the LORD.
For with the LORD is kindness,
with him is full redemption,
And God will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Matthew 6:7–13
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard
because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Alfred Noyes (1880-1958) was an English poet best known for his balled “The Highwayman.”
A Prayer in Time of War
Thou, whose deep ways are in the sea,
Whose footsteps are not known,
To-night a world that turned from Thee
Is waiting—at Thy Throne.
The towering Babels that we raised
Where scoffing sophists brawl,
The little Antichrists we praised—
The night is on them all.
The fool hath said…The fool hath said…
And we, who deemed him wise,
We who believed that Thou wast dead,
How should we seek Thine eyes?
How should we seek to Thee for power
Who scorned Thee yesterday?
How should we kneel, in this dread hour?
Lord, teach us how to pray!
Grant us the single heart, once more,
That mocks no sacred thing,
The Sword of Truth our fathers wore
When Thou wast Lord and King.
Let darkness unto darkness tell
Our deep unspoken prayer,
For, while our souls in darkness dwell,
We know that Thou art there.
A HYMN TO GOD THE FATHER.
by John Donne
I.
WILT Thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.
II.
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sin their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.
III.
I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore ;
But swear by Thyself, that at my death Thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now, and heretofore ;
And having done that, Thou hast done ;
I fear no more.