A PRACTICAL REPENTANCE THE ACTIVITY OF A CONTRITE PRAYER The last chapter of the book of Ezra came to reveal the magnificence of his person as a wise shepherd, loving, yet firm. If the book started with the fulfillment of God’s promise by the return of the people after seventy years in captivity, in the days of Cyrus the king of Persia; What preoccupied Ezra’s heart was the holiness of Israel, priests and people, to return to the goodness of the Holy God’ and to have a portion in the high Jerusalem in which no unclean thing would enter. The book ended by showing the activity of the contrite prayer; as the Holy Spirit of the Lord moved the souls to practical repentance. 1- Even the children partook of the great mourning together with the whole people. 2- Sheshaniah, came and confessed on behalf of the fallen people, and on that of his father ‘Jehiel’ who was among those who married pagan wives; yet with a spirit of hope in God, the Forgiver of sins (Ezra 10: 2), 3- The brave Ezra was in need of the encouragement of some of the people (4) 4- The priests and the Levites partook of the attempts to put things in order; namely by putting away the pagan wives together with their children, as long as they did not forsake their idol-worship, nor made a covenant with God, and obeyed His commandment. 5- Ezra kept fasting, even after making the leaders swear to reform the situation; and entered mourning before the Lord (6) 6- Ezra called for an urgent assembly of the whole people within three days (8); and whoever abstain would be severely punished. 7- Rain heavily poured; as though heaven partook of the tears of Ezra and the people (13) 8- He issued an order to form committees to examine the case of every individual with care. 9- The names of the repentant were mentioned as a practical lesson for all; proclaiming that some of the descendants of Jeshua the great high priest, and the leader of the first batch were among those who got married to pagan wives (18). 1- The Leader, repentant in the name of his people 1 – 6 2- Heaven weeps, and the whole people move 7 – 17 3- The names of the repentant 18 – 44 1- THE LEADER, REPENTANT IN THE NAME OF HIS PEOPLE: “Now while Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God, a very large congregation of men, women, and children assembled to him from Israel; for the people wept very bitterly” (1) Ezra is called “the second Moses”, not only on account of that he led a new exodus, but also of having the heart of Moses full of love for the salvation of his people. According to St. John Chrysostom, the most prominent portrait of the personality of Moses is not in performing exalted miracles in the name of the Lord, but in standing interceding for his people, saying: “Forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written” (Exodus 32: 33). That magnificent portrait of the great prophet is repeated in Ezra the skilful scribe, as we see it in this chapter: “While Ezra was praying, and while he was confessing, weeping, and bowing down before the house of God” (1). He went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, “He ate no bread, and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity” (6); And in the great apostle Paul who said: “I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9: 3); and, “Who is weak, and I am not weak Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” (2 Corinthians 11: 29) Those three persons: Moses the prophet, Ezra the scribe, and Paul the apostle, have all bore the image of the Lord Christ , the Good Shepherd who gives Himself up for his flock of sheep, and desires to die for the sake of the salvation of His brethren. + The captivation of our brethren, we should count as our own captivation; and the sorrows of those in danger as our own sorrows. We have to be sure that there is one body of our unity; Not only our love, but our religious principles, motivate and encourage us to save the members of our household. (St. Cyprian) + What a great feeling in a shepherd! …. Others fall, and he says: Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?” I wish all who are entrusted to lead the rational herd to follow lead; not to appear less compassionate than the shepherd who spent many years caring for an irrational herd. In case of an irrational herd, no serious damage will happen in case of negligence of the shepherd; whereas in our case, namely in shepherding a rational herd, if a single sheep perish or devoured by the enemy, the damage will be horrible, and the punishment on the shepherd will be unutterable. What excuse can someone give for neglecting him for whose sake the Lord shed His precious blood?! (St. John Chrysostom) Ezra’s soul suffered when he knew that among those who came back from captivity, instead of thanksgiving to the Holy God, and of their commitment to the holy life, there were many who mixed with the peoples of the land, and married pagan women. Hearing of such a high treason, Ezra said: “When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished” (9: 3). Ezra raised a prayer with a loud voice, so that all the people who came for the evening service, would hear him. To see that priest fallen on his knees before the house of the Lord, weeping on the sins of his people, have shook the hearts of men and women, and even of little children, for all bitterly wept. The true love coming from a humble heart, has a stronger and more active impact than eloquent sermons and threats. Ezra did not take into consideration that falling on his knees and weeping would make him lose his reverence as a priest and a leader, because they are, on the contrary, features of the true and loving leader. “And Sheshaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, spoke up and said to Ezra: ‘We have trespassed against our God, and have taken pagan wives from the peoples of the land; yet now there is hope in spite of this” (2) “Sheshaniah”; is a Hebrew name, meaning (Jehovah dwells); and “Jehiel” means (The Lord make alive). Sheshaniah the son of Jehiel is not Seshaniah who is mentioned in Ezra 8: 3; in Ezra 8: 5, and in Ezra 10: 26. ‘Jehiel’, was mentioned as one of the sons of Elam, who married pagan women; and if so, Sheshanaiah would be his son who suffered from his pagan step-mother, and God used that personal suffering for the good of the whole congregation; For it was his conviction that the whole people have to get rid of the pagan wives. On behalf of the whole congregation Sheshaniah came forward to confess the sin of marrying pagan wives, even though he himself did not fall in such a sin, but his father did (26). He did not complement his own father; for he in whom God dwells will take the side of no one at the expense of the divine truth. The whole people wept bitterly, but that man did not stop at weeping, but came forward in the name of his father and of all who have fallen in that treason. Yet his heart, as well as his words were full of hope in God, the Forgiver of the sins of the repentant. “Yet now there is hope in Israel in spite of all this” (2). There is hope if they present a true repentance (Deuteronomy 1). Sheshaniah’s hope was based on the promises of God. It is befitting of a leader to be filled with hope; for in the midst of all the tough situations he would see the bosoms of God wide open in anticipation of the fallen souls to return and to repent. Here, we see Sheshaniah support the great leader Ezra with the spirit of hope. As the believers need the support of their leader; the leader, as well, being human, needs the spiritual support of the believers. That is what motivates the church to pray in all her liturgies for the sake of the Pope, the bishops, the priests, the deacons, and all the ministers; and exhorts the congregation to pray for them in their personal prayers. + The shepherds, as well, ask the people to pray for their sake; the apostle Paul says to the church: “Meanwhile, praying also for us” (Colossians 4: 3) The apostle prays for the people’s sake, and the people pray for the apostle’s sake. Brethren; we pray for your sake; do you pray for ours? If we pray for one another; the Lord Christ, the Head of the church, will pray for all (an atonement intercession) + As to the priest (Boniface), I shall not say to you ‘Do not pray for his sake’; for how could we not grieve for someone who lost the love of Christ, and has pleasure in the deceptions of the devil? You should mourn for him; yet your sorrow should not bring you forth to coolness of love and slothfulness of the holy life…. Strive to save your priest through your prayers to God. For even if he is guilty, God will hasten to reform him to resume his shepherding mission in a holy life. + You care for your personal affairs; and if you do well, you will not be responsible for the affairs of others. But, as far as the priest is concerned, in case he does well in his personal life, but did not care for your life and those of the other members of his flock, he will be driven out together with the wicked one to Hades. If he is not condemned because of his personal conduct, he will perish because of yours. Now, knowing the extent of danger they are facing; provide them with an abundant portion of peace … “for they watch out for your souls as those who must give account” (Hebrew 13: 17). It is, therefore befitting to have your care; For if you, like the others, revile them (by judging them), your affairs will not be well managed. For if the skipper of a ship is encouraged by his crew, all of tem will be safe; but if they revile him, and make his life miserable, that will reflect on the way he steers the ship, and using his skill as he should. The same with the priest; if you honor him (obey him), he will be able to manage your affairs well; whereas if you lead him to despair, you will weaken his hands, and will make him, and yourselves under the mercy of violent waves. (St. Augustine) “Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to put away all those wives, and those who have been born to them, according to the counsel of my master and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law” (3) “according to the counsel of my master”; namely it is up to the wisdom and counsel of Ezra. “according to the law”; Namely according to what came in the book of Deuteronomy 7: 1-3. If marrying pagan wives is a treason against the Holy God, a disobedience and breaking of the divine covenant; the sign of true repentance will be to make a covenant with God to correct the situation, by submitting to the commandment and the law; and putting away the pagan wives, together with their children. With wisdom and humility, Sheshaniah says to Ezra: “According to the counsel of my master”; he presents due respect to Ezra, fallen and weeping before the house of the Lord. What will be the situation of those foreign women? What does he mean by saying: “to put away all those wives, and those who have been born to them”? Would that be considered as a divorce? Were they given a chance to receive faith in the living God? We know for sure that “the Lord God hates divorce” (Malachi 2: 16). And we know that some of those who got married to pagan wives, among those returning from captivity, were priests, Levites, and regular people. And we know that, according to the law, it is forbidden to marry pagan foreign wives (Exodus 34: 11-16; Deuteronomy 7: 1-5). And we know that there were certain exceptions in the Holy Scripture, like ‘Ruth’ the Moabite, ‘Rahab’ the harlot, the Ethiopian second wife of Moses; and that the three of them have received faith in the living God, and surpassed in it many of the Jewish women.. But those pagan women to whom some of those returning from captivity married, having not received faith in the living God, represented, therefore, danger through the probable infiltration of the idol-worship into the new society.. According to some, the expression “to put away all those wives” here, is a unique situation: It is not ‘divorce’, on account of that no lawful and religious marriage has been conducted; nor the relationship with them is counted as adultery; because that surely was not the intention of those who did it; yet it is ‘spiritual adultery’, a treason against God. “Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also will be with you. Be of good courage, and do it” (4) The brave Ezra who did not seek from the king of Persia a military escort for his journey to Jerusalem, collapses before the sin by which his people committed treason against God. Sheshaniah encourages the weeping Ezra, saying to him that it is time for reform and work: “Arise, for this matter is your responsibility”; as though he says to him ‘Your tears and contrition will not relieve you of your commitment to act, for no one can do it but you. As for us, “we shall also be with you; Be of good courage, and do it” (4) All of us need to hear words of encouragement and support. Joshua the son of Nun heard the divine voice, saying: “Be strong, and be of good courage” (Joshua 1: 6); And Solomon was in need for the words of his father David, saying: “Be strong and of good courage, and do it, do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God – my God – will be with you” (1 Chronicles 28: 20) Even though Ezra has got full authority from the king; yet it was not an easy matter, we, therefore find the people support and encourage him to act. “Then Ezra arose, and made the leaders, the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word. So they swore an oath” (5) Counting the words said by Sheshaniah as though from God who supports in the time of weakness, and raises from the dead, “Ezra arose” (5). And in the midst of the bitter weeping of the people, “he made the leaders, the priests, the Levites, and all Israel swear an oath that they would do according to this word, So they did” Ezra so made all of them swear lest they would probably, later on, cast the responsibility on him. He was keen to let the decision be collective, for all to be committed to execute. “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib; and when he came there, he ate no bread, and drank no water, for he mourned because of the guilt of those from the captivity” (6) Although the crisis started to ease through the vow sworn by the high priests, the priests, the Levites, and all Israel to be committed to correct the situation; Yet Ezra kept fasting, and entered into the chamber of Jehohanan, weeping and mourning before the Lord; for his soul could not endure to see his people commit such a treason against God. 2- HEAVEN WEEPS AND THE WHOLE PEOPLE MOVE: “And they issued a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the descendants of the captivity, that they must gather at Jerusalem” (7) If Ezra, weeping and mourning, fell to the ground in contrition before the house of God, the people who assembled did the same, all came weeping, trembling and with fear before God; and rain heavily poured, as though heaven partake of their tears. Even though Ezra had full authority to issue a decree that would be committing to everyone, according to the command of the king of Persia, saying “Whoever will not observe the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it be death, or banishment, or confiscation of goods, or imprisonment” (7: 26); Yet, believing that reform would not be fulfilled through issuing a firm command, but rather through the movement of the whole congregation with conviction of the importance of sanctification in the Lord; a proclamation was issued by the leaders together to all those who came from captivity, to assemble in Jerusalem. “And that whoever do not come within three days, according to the counsel of the leaders and elders, all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the congregation of those from the captivity” (8) The figure 3 in the two testaments of the Holy Book often refers to the resurrection of the Lord Christ on the third day. According to the scholar Origen, Abraham walked three days following the sign of resurrection, to offer his own son Isaac a sacrifice to God, in full belief that God will raise him up from the dead. And the person baptized plunges three times in the water of baptism, to enjoy the new life, resurrected together with Christ, And here came the call for assembly together after three days, to bear the strength of the resurrection of Christ, capable to raise from the death of sin, and to bring us forth to the righteousness of Christ. The call came with a firm warning of punishment, that “whoever do not come within three days, … all his property would be confiscated, and he himself would be separated from the congregation of those from the captivity” (8)… Why?! 1- That assembly, referred to the enjoyment of the holy church membership, without which man would lose his possessions, particularly the land – the promised land -- he has got as a gift from God, lest he would probably deliver to the pagan wives and their children. So it is with whoever does not keep his membership in the church of Christ by the holy life, he will be denied the eternal inheritance, and will have no portion in the heavenly Canaan. 2- Separating him from the congregation; he will have no more right to belong to the people of God, to the sonhood to Abraham, and the enjoyment of the divine promises. etc. He would become a stranger from the Lord, and a foreigner of the household of God (Ephesians 2: 19) “Within three days”; As the land of the Jews was not large, they could come from the farthest location to Jerusalem within three days. “his property would be confiscated”; So as not to let the wealth and inheritance of Israel go to the pagans. “would be separated from the congregation of those from the captivity”; meaning, would be cut off, or be counted as a foreigner and a pagan, who has no right in the promises, and the privileges of the people of God; and will have no relationship with the temple. “So all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered at Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the open square of the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain” (9) So all the people sat in the open square of the house of God; probably a square closer to the temple; before the open square that was in front of the Water Gate (Nehemiah 8: 1) where the people later assembled with Nehemiah and Ezra to hear the words of the law. “All came “trembling”, for sin stirs up trembling and fear, and make man lose his inner peace. “Judah and Benjamin”; for the majority of the people from the captivity belonged to these two tribes. “the ninth month”; a season of heavy rain. “In the open square of the house of God”; Let us notice how serious the matter was. They did not postpone the reform, and the repentance until the spring, after the season of the heavy rain; a sign of true repentance. “Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, ‘You have transgressed and have taken pagan wives, adding to the guilt of Israel” (10) He did not enter into the details and the negative aspects of their treason against God. “Now therefore, make confession to the Lord God of your fathers, and do His will, separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the pagan wives” (11) Here Ezra provided them with the treatment of that serious wound; namely, the repentance and confession to God; together with taking a practical stand by separating themselves from the sin, and doing what brings pleasure to God, to return to the Lord God of their fathers, who is no stranger to them, nor they to Him. “To separate themselves from the peoples of the land”; For by taking pagan wives, they united with the peoples of the land in their lives, works, pleasures, and ugly customs; And by separating themselves from their pagan wives, they would be separated from all those abominable practices. “Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, ‘Yes, as you have said, so we must do’” (12) The response from the whole congregation quickly came; for Ezra’s tears, contrition, love for the salvation of his brethren, and his trust in the work of God, had their profound impact upon the hearts of the congregation, to obey God and His priest. “But there are many people, it is the season of heavy rain, and we are not able to stand outside; nor it is the work of one or two days, for there are many of us who have transgressed in this matter” (13) Although the whole congregation positively responded to Ezra’s words, yet they requested from him to take into consideration that they were many who have transgressed, that the matter will not be reformed while standing under the heavy rain. Moreover, as it was not the work of one or two days; let the leaders of their entire congregation and the elders of the cities, look into all the cases concerning that matter. “Please let the leaders of our entire congregation stand; and let all those in our cities who have taken pagan wives come at appointed times, together with the elders and judges of their cities, until the fierce wrath of our God is turned away from us in this matter” (14) “For our entire congregation”; As the work is huge and needs a long time, they suggested assigning leaders with the elders of every city to investigate, judge, and execute; and their decisions would be as though made by the entire congregation. They requested forming committees to investigate every case in all the cities of Israel, led by the rulers, elders, and judges, and proclaiming appointed times to issue their judgments, elaborately, yet with no haste. “Let those who have taken pagan wives come at appointed times”. The rulers in Jerusalem formed a kind of tribunal; and appointed a specific time for every city, for those who took pagan wives to come, together with the elders and judges of their cities. “Until the fierce wrath of our God is turned away from us in this matter”; Until then, although nothing bad happened to them yet they perceived that unless they return to God with repentance, the wrath of God is sure to come upon them. “Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahaziah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite gave them support” (15) The whole congregation was in one accord concerning that issue, except for four men who opposed it: Jonathan the son of Asahel, Jahaziah the son of Tikvah, and the two Levites: Meshullam, and Shabbethai, who, most probably had relatives among those who committed that treason against God; Yet their opposition was to no avail. “Then the descendants of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest with certain heads of the fathers’ households, were set apart by the fathers’ households, each of them by name, and they sat down on the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter”(16) “By the first day of the first month they finished questioning all the men who had taken pagan wives” (17) The whole issue was elaborately done within three months, starting from the first day of the tenth month, and ending on the first day of the first month.. 2- THE NAMES OF THE REPENTANT: The book ended with a list of the names of the repentant, in which we notice the following: 1- With no favoritism toward his brethren the priests, Ezra the priest and scribe mentioned their names first. 2- Every priest offered a trespass offering (19), counting his sin as done “out of ignorance in which he erred and did not know it” (Leviticus 5: 15-16). 3- Unfortunately, some of the descendants of Jeshua the high priest, who, together with Zerubbabel, led the first batch to Jerusalem, got married to pagan wives; who were included at the top of the list. 4- Mentioning and recording the names of those who committed this treason against God, was a kind of chastisement, to become an example before the generations to come. As there was a record of the names of those who returned to Jerusalem, as a list of honor, there is another list of the names of those who committed that treason against the Lord. Every sin without repentance “treasures us for ourselves wrath in the day of wrath” (Romans 2: 5), and will be recorded against us. 113 betrayed the Lord; among whom were 17 priests, 10 Levites, gatekeepers, and singers, and 86 of the commons. “And among the sons of priests who had taken pagan wives the following were found of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brothers: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah” (18) “And they gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering” (19) “Also the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zabadiah” (20) “Of the sons of Harim: Maasieh, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah” (21) “Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maasiah, Ishmael, Nehaneel, Jozabad, and Elasah” (22) “Also of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita), Pethahaiah, Judah, and Eliezer” (23) “Also of the singers: Eliashib; and of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri” (24) “And others of Israel: Of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah” (25) “and others of Israel”, meaning of the common people.. “Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeromoth, and Eliah” (26) “Of the sons of Zattu: Eleonai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza” (27) “Of the sons of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai” (28) “Of the sons of Bani: Meshullam, Malush, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Ramoth” (29) “Of the sons of Pahath-Moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maasiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binnui, and Manasseh” (30) “Of the sons of Harim; E;eazer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon” (31) “Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah” (32) “Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei” (33) “Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel” (34) “Bananiah, Bedeiah, Cheluh” (35) “Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib” (36) “Matthaniah, Mattaenai, Jaasai” (37) “Bani, Binnui, Shimei” (38) “Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah” (39) “Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai” (40) “Azareel, Shelemiah, Shemariah” (41) “Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph” (42) “Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, and Benaiah” (43) “All these have taken pagan wives, and some of them had wives by whom they had children” (44) They most probably sent the pagan women and their children away, with gifts; although that was not mentioned here, on account of that this book is a book of repentance; and the talk here concerns repentance. The same thing was done by Abraham to Hagar and her son Ishmael when he sent them away with gifts. Ezra as a leader and a reformer: In his reforms, Ezra followed a scriptural and spiritual program: 1- The Word of God or His commandment was the constitution of the leadership in the spiritual work of the church. Ezra loved the divine books, being the treasure of the divine promises, and believed in the power of the Word in his life, as well as in his ministry. 2- He never trusted in a human arm. He did not request a military escort from the king of Persia to guard his procession; And God protected them. 3- Fast and prayers, so that God would listen and respond to their voice, Ezra called for a fast, despite the long and tough travel before them, together with showing humility before God; for which God had mercy upon them and kept them safe. So we should do before starting any project. 4- Showing humiliation before God, and returning to Him with repentance and confession of sins. Ezra wept, prayed, and confessed that he sinned, counting the sins of the people as his own sins against God. … Do we pray for the sake of our brethren who sin, and do we confess as though we are the sinners? Or we justify ourselves, and cast the blame upon others?. 5- Separation of evil: By sending the pagan wives and children away. For the true faith in the Lord would be affected by the intense mixing, like marrying a non-believing spouse. A believer should separate himself from evil and sin. 6- Ezra’s prayer, humility, love for his people, and confessing their sins, have moved the hearts of the people, to present repentance, and to weep with bitterness. We should notice that if Ezra sought from the people to separate themselves from their pagan wives, without praying and humiliating himself before God, they would probably refuse and rebel against him, and the joy of returning to Jerusalem would have turned into dissensions. The way God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to move the hearts of the people to build the temple; He sent to them Ezra to move their hearts to repentance, and to correct their ways spiritually. 7- The king of Persia trusted in Ezra and gave him the authority to execute punishment on those who oppose him; But once Nehemiah came as a governor on the Jews, Ezra was not offended that the authority was taken away from him, but got preoccupied with a new task, namely gathering together the Holy Book. It is befitting of every minister, in case he is denied a specific ministry, to perceive that God assigns him to perform some other task. He should not feel jealousy against any other fellow minister, but care for the new task entrusted to him by God. ----------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM EZRA 10 LEAD US ALONG THE COLLECTIVE PROCESSION OF REPENTANCE + Who among us can be justified before You? For if we are weighed in the balances, we are altogether lighter than vapor. The bishop together with the priest, the ministers, and all the people; All of us contrite ourselves before you; Men, women, and children; For the enemy casts nets before them all; Intending to mix the holy seed with tares. + In Your fatherhood, You allow for us to be chastised, yet for a little while; Feeling Your compassion, we return to You; We beat our chests before you; We return to You, for sin corrupted our life. Our return to you will bring the joy of Your salvation back to us. Our return with repentance will let us enjoy the paradisiacal life. + Let us return to You, to see You run to cover us with Your kisses; Let us return to you, so that heaven will rejoice on us; Let us return to You, yet not just with words; But with behavior, according to Your holy will; Let us enjoy work according to Your commandment; Let us separate ourselves from evil, and do good. + Let us, leaders and people, support one another; Let us arise and work together by Your Holy Spirit; Let us be encouraged by You, and practice Your work. + Let us separate ourselves from every corruption; Let us cry out for the sake of the sanctification of sinners; Let us work all together for the sake of edifying Your holy church.
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