Evening Prayer: Tuesday 12 August 2025

19. Israel made a bull-calf at Horeb *
and worshipped a molten image;

20. and so they exchanged their Glory *
for the image of an ox that feeds on grass.

21. They forgot you, their saviour, *
who had done great things in Egypt,

22. wonderful deeds in the land of Ham, *
and fearful things at the Red Sea.

23. So you would have destroyed them, had not Moses your chosen stood before you in the breach, *
to turn away your wrath from consuming them.

24. They refused the pleasant land *
and would not believe your promise.

25. They grumbled in their tents *
and would not listen to the voice of the Lord.

26. So you lifted your hand against them, *
to overthrow them in the wilderness,

27. to cast out their seed among the nations, *
and to scatter them throughout the lands.

28. They joined themselves to Baal-Peor *
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead.

29. They provoked you to anger with their actions, *
and a plague broke out among them.

30. Then Phinehas stood up and interceded, *
and the plague came to an end.

31. This was reckoned to him as righteousness *
throughout all generations for ever.

32. Again they provoked your anger at the waters of Meribah, *
so that you punished Moses because of them;

33. for they so embittered his spirit *
that he spoke rash words with his lips.

34. They did not destroy the peoples *
as the Lord had commanded them.

35. They intermingled with the heathen *
and learned their pagan ways,

36. So that they worshipped their idols, *
which became a snare to them.

37. They sacrificed their sons *
and their daughters to evil spirits.

38. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, *
which they offered to the idols of Canaan, and the land was defiled with blood

39. Thus they were polluted by their actions *
and went whoring in their evil deeds.

40. Therefore your wrath was kindled against your people *
and you abhorred your inheritance.

41. You gave them over to the hand of the heathen, *
and those who hated them ruled over them.

42. Their enemies oppressed them, *
and they were humbled under their hand.

43. Many a time did you deliver them, but they rebelled through their own devices, *
and were brought down in their iniquity.

44. Nevertheless, you saw their distress, *
when you heard their lamentation.

45. You remembered your covenant with them *
and relented in accordance with your great mercy.

46. You caused them to be pitied *
by those who held them captive.

47. Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, *
that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

48. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting; *
and let all the people say, ”Amen!” Hallelujah!