Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus)
UMH 1989 #208Lyrics
Response (Advent & General):
Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who has come to set the chosen people free.
The Lord has raised up for us
a mighty Savior from the house of David.
Through the holy prophets, God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us;
to show mercy to our forebears
and to remember the holy covenant.
This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship without fear,
holy and righteous in the Lord's sight,
all the days of our life.
(Response)
And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way,
to give God's people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Response)