Simeon Singer - The Standard Prayer Book

Bless ye the Lord who is to be blessed.

Cong .—Blessed be the Lord, who is to be blessed for ever and ever.

The Response of the Congregation is repeated and the Blessing continued:—

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast chosen us from all peoples, and hast given us thy Law. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who givest the Law.

After the Reading of a Section of the Law, the following Blessing is said:—

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who hast given us the Law of truth, and hast planted everlasting life in our midst. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who givest the Law.

Persons who have been in peril of their lives, during journeys by sea or land, in captivity or sickness, upon their deliverance or recovery say the following, after the conclusion of the last Blessing:—

Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who vouchsafest benefits unto the undeserving, who hast also vouchsafed all good unto me.

The Congregation respond:—

He who hath vouchsafed all good unto thee, may he vouchsafe all good unto thee for ever.

After the Reading of the Law, the Scroll is held up, and the Congregation say the following:–

And this is the Law which Moses set before the children of Israel, according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Length of days is in its right hand; in its left hand are riches and honor. It pleased the Lord, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify the Law and to make it honorable.

On those Mondays and Thursdays when the Prayers, pp. 70 to 81, are said, the Reader adds the following, previous to the Scroll of the Law being returned to the Ark:—

May it be the will of our Father who is in heaven to establish the Temple, the house of our life, and to restore his divine presence in our midst, speedily in our days; and let us say, Amen.

May it be the will of our Father who is in heaven to have mercy upon us and upon our remnant, and to keep destruction and the plague from us and from all his people, the house of Israel; and let us say, Amen.

May it be the will of our Father who is in heaven to preserve among us the wise men of Israel; them, their wives, their sons and daughters, their disciples and the disciples of their disciples in all the places of their habitation; and let us say, Amen.

May it be the will of our Father who is in heaven that good tidings of salvation and comfort may be heard and published, and that he may gather our banished ones from the four corners of the earth; and let us say, Amen.

As for our brethren, the whole house of Israel, such of them as are given over to trouble or captivity, whether they abide on the sea or on the dry land,—may the All-present have mercy upon them, and bring them forth from trouble to enlargement, from darkness to light, and from subjection to redemption, now speedily and at a near time; and let us say, Amen.

On returning the Scroll of the Law to the Ark, the Reader says:—

Let them praise the name of the Lord; for his name alone is exalted:

Congregation .—His majesty is above the earth and heaven; and he hath lifted up a horn for h, people, to the praise of all his loving ones, even of the children of Israel, the people near unto him. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm xxiv.

A Psalm of David: The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For it is he that hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not set his desire upon vanity, and hath not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek after him, that seek thy face, (O God of) Jacob! (Selah.) Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who, then, is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty. the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who, then, is the King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. (Selah.)

While the Scroll of the Law is being placed in the Ark, the following to "as of old" is said:—

And when it rested, he said, Return, O Lord, unto the ten thousands of the thousands of Israel. Arise, O Lord, unto thy resting place; thou, and the. ark of thy strength. Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy loving ones shout for joy. For the sake of David thy servant, turn not away the face of thine anointed. For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my Law. It is a tree of life to them that grasp it, and of them that uphold it every one is rendered happy. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall return: renew our days as of old.

Happy are they that dwell in thy house: they will be ever praising thee. (Selah.)

Happy is the people, that is in such a case: happy is the people, whose God is the Lord.

Psalm cxlv. A Psalm of Praise: of David

I will extol thee, my God, O King; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.

Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised: and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall laud thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.

On the majestic glory of thy grandeur, and on thy marvellous deeds, will I meditate.

And men shall speak of the might of thy awful acts; and I will recount thy greatness.

They shall pour forth the fame of thy great goodness, and shall exult in thy righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and of great lovingkindness.

The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works.

All thy works shall give thanks unto thee, O Lord; and thy loving ones shall bless thee.

They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power.

To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the majestic glory of his kingdom.

Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that are bowed down.

The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their food in due season.

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest every living thing with favor.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and loving. in all his works.

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him. to all that call upon him in truth.

He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

The Lord guardeth all them that love him; but all the wicked will he destroy.

My mouth shall speak of the praise of the Lord; and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for ever more. Praise ye the Lord.

On the following days Psalm xx. is omitted: New Moon, the day before Passover, on the Fast of Ab, the day before the Fast of Atonement, during the Feast of Dedication, on Purim and Purim Katon .

Psalm xx.

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The Lord answer thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob set thee up on high; send thee help from the sanctuary, and uphold thee out of Zion; remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice (Selah); grant thee thy heart's desire, and fulfil all thy purpose. We will exult in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the mighty saving acts of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses: but we will make mention of the name of the Lord our God. They are bowed down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright. Save, Lord: may the King answer us on the day when we call.