THE LORD OF GRACE AND JUSTICE

 

O Lord, You came into this world

That the blind may see,

And those who see may become blind.

You comfort those who mourn,

And put an end to the revelry of the prideful.

You frustrate the devices of the crafty,

But lead the way of the righteous.

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Lord, You feed the hungry souls

And save those who acknowledge their need of the Savior.

They are your vessels of grace.

But the rich are sent away empty.

They shall drink of your wrath forever;

For they have no fear of thee in their hearts.

Their glory is in their shame.

 

In You, O Mighty One,

The dead are raised;

Prisoners find freedom;

The weak are made strong;

The weary are given rest,

And the oppressed find peace

In the bosom of your glory.

 

In You, O God of all Knowledge,

The foolish is made wise.

In You, O Gracious One,

The poor is made rich;

The lowly are born sons of the Kingdom;

Pilgrims inherit the lasting city,

Whose Designer and Builder is God.

 

In You, O God-Who-Forgives,

The blind receive sight.

You heal the sick

And strengthen the fainthearted.

You have pressed out our sores,

Bound up our wounds,

And softened our bruises with oil.

You have smelted away our dross

And removed our impurities.

 

But before You, O King of kings,

Kings of the earth rebuild ruins for themselves.

They are cast out in the outer darkness,

Away from your glorious presence,

Where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Before You, O Lord of hosts,

The insolent are swallowed up by death;

The strength of the strong is brought down to the earth,

And the self-indulgent are left without hope.

By the blast of your anger they are consumed.

 

Before You, O King of Glory

The wicked cease from troubling.

Their fangs are broken to pieces,

And their souls delivered to eternal torment.

By your breath, O Mighty One, they perish.

 

Before You, O God-Who-Sees,

The rich are made poor.

Their glory fades away like the flower of grass.

Before You, O Most High God,

The wise become foolish;

The boastful cease from seeing the light,

And the sluggard finds no rest.

 

Blessed be your holy name, our God and King,

Lord of all grace and justice!

To You be glory and honour forever.

Amen.