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Grant us, Lord, to hope on Your name,
which is the primal source of all creation,
and open the eyes of our hearts
that we may know You,
who alone are highest among the high;
You are holy, abiding among the holy.

You humble the pride of the proud;
You destroy the plans of nations;
You exalt the humble and humble the exalted;
You make rich and make poor;
You kill and make alive.

You alone are the benefactor of spirits and the God of all flesh,
looking into the depths,
scanning the works of humans;
the helper of those who are in peril,
the savior of those in despair;
the creator and guardian of every spirit.

You multiply the nations upon the earth,
and from among all of them You have chosen those
who love You through Jesus Christ,
Your beloved servant,
through whom You instructed us,
sanctified us, honored us.

We ask You, Master, to be our helper and protector.
Save those among us who are in distress;
have mercy on the humble;
raise up the fallen;
show Yourself to those in need;
heal the sick;
turn back those of Your people who wander;
feed the hungry;
ransom our prisoners;
raise up the weak;
comfort the discouraged.

Let all the nations know that You are the only God,
that Jesus Christ is Your servant,
and that we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture.

For You through Your works have revealed
the everlasting structure of the world.
You, Lord, created the earth.
You are faithful throughout all generations,
righteous in your judgments,
marvelous in strength and majesty,
wise in creating
and prudent in establishing what exists,
good in all that is observed
and faithful to those who trust in You,
merciful and compassionate:
forgive us our sins and our injustices,
our transgressions and our shortcomings.

Do not take into account every sin of Your servants and slaves,
but cleanse us with the cleansing of Your truth,
and direct our steps to walk in holiness and righteousness and purity of heart,
and to do what is good and pleasing in Your sight and in the sight of our rulers.

Yes, Lord, let Your face shine upon us in peace for our good,
so that we may be sheltered by Your mighty hand
and delivered from every sin by Your uplifted arm;
deliver us as well from those who hate us unjustly.

– from The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 3rd ed., ed. and trans. Michael W. Holmes (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2007), 123-129.

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