Prayer of Azariah
Aza
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[1]Then Azarias stood up, and prayed on this manner; and opening his mouth in the midst of the fire said, [2]Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: thy name is worthy to be praised and glorified for evermore: [3]For thou art righteous in all the things that thou hast done to us: yea, true are all thy works, thy ways are right, and all thy judgments truth. [4]In all the things that thou hast brought upon us, and upon the holy city of our fathers, even Jerusalem, thou hast executed true judgment: for according to truth and judgment didst thou bring all these things upon us because of our sins. [5]For we have sinned and committed iniquity, departing from thee. [6]In all things have we trespassed, and not obeyed thy commandments, nor kept them, neither done as thou hast commanded us, that it might go well with us. [7]Wherefore all that thou hast brought upon us, and every thing that thou hast done to us, thou hast done in true judgment. [8]And thou didst deliver us into the hands of lawless enemies, most hateful forsakers of God, and to an unjust king, and the most wicked in all the world. [9]And now we cannot open our mouths, we are become a shame and reproach to thy servants; and to them that worship thee. [10]Yet deliver us not up wholly, for thy name's sake, neither disannul thou thy covenant: [11]And cause not thy mercy to depart from us, for thy beloved Abraham's sake, for thy servant Isaac's sake, and for thy holy Israel's sake; [12]To whom thou hast spoken and promised, that thou wouldest multiply their seed as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that lieth upon the seashore. [13]For we, O Lord, are become less than any nation, and be kept under this day in all the world because of our sins. [14]Neither is there at this time prince, or prophet, or leader, or burnt offering, or sacrifice, or oblation, or incense, or place to sacrifice before thee, and to find mercy. [15]Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted. [16]Like as in the burnt offerings of rams and bullocks, and like as in ten thousands of fat lambs: so let our sacrifice be in thy sight this day, and grant that we may wholly go after thee: for they shall not be confounded that put their trust in thee. [17]And now we follow thee with all our heart, we fear thee, and seek thy face. [18]Put us not to shame: but deal with us after thy lovingkindness, and according to the multitude of thy mercies. [19]Deliver us also according to thy marvellous works, and give glory to thy name, O Lord: and let all them that do thy servants hurt be ashamed; [20]And let them be confounded in all their power and might, and let their strength be broken; [21]And let them know that thou art God, the only God, and glorious over the whole world. [22]And the king's servants, that put them in, ceased not to make the oven hot with rosin, pitch, tow, and small wood; [23]So that the flame streamed forth above the furnace forty and nine cubits. [24]And it passed through, and burned those Chaldeans it found about the furnace. [25]But the angel of the Lord came down into the oven together with Azarias and his fellows, and smote the flame of the fire out of the oven; [26]And made the midst of the furnace as it had been a moist whistling wind, so that the fire touched them not at all, neither hurt nor troubled them. [27]Then the three, as out of one mouth, praised, glorified, and blessed, God in the furnace, saying, [28]Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. [29]And blessed is thy glorious and holy name: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. [30]Blessed art thou in the temple of thine holy glory: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever. [31]Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths, and sittest upon the cherubims: and to be praised and exalted above all for ever. [32]Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom: and to be praised and glorified above all for ever. [33]Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven: and above all to be praised and glorified for ever. [34]O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever, [35]O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [36]O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [37]O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [38]O all ye powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [39]O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [40]O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [41]O every shower and dew, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [42]O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever, [43]O ye fire and heat, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [44]O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [45]O ye dews and storms of snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [46]O ye nights and days, bless ye the Lord: bless and exalt him above all for ever. [47]O ye light and darkness, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [48]O ye ice and cold, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [49]O ye frost and snow, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [50]O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [51]O let the earth bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [52]O ye mountains and little hills, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [53]O all ye things that grow in the earth, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [54]O ye mountains, bless ye the Lord: Praise and exalt him above all for ever. [55]O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [56]O ye whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [57]O all ye fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [58]O all ye beasts and cattle, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [59]O ye children of men, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [60]O Israel, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [61]O ye priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [62]O ye servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [63]O ye spirits and souls of the righteous, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [64]O ye holy and humble men of heart, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. [65]O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever: for he hath delivered us from hell, and saved us from the hand of death, and delivered us out of the midst of the furnace and burning flame: even out of the midst of the fire hath he delivered us. [66]O give thanks unto the Lord, because he is gracious: for his mercy endureth for ever. [67]O all ye that worship the Lord, bless the God of gods, praise him, and give him thanks: for his mercy endureth for ever.
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Author: Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton (1851)
Source: ecmarsh.com
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