Prayer and Praise

14 Lord, be like a shepherd to your people.

Take good care of them.

They are your flock.

They live by themselves

in the safety of a forest.

Rich grasslands are all around them.

Let them eat grass in Bashan and Gilead

just as they did long ago.

15The Lord says to his people,

“I showed your people my wonders

when they came out of Egypt long ago.

In the same way, I will show them to you.”

16 When the nations see those wonders,

they will be put to shame.

All of their power will be taken away from them.

They will be so amazed

that they won’t be able to speak or hear.

17 They’ll be forced to eat dust like a snake.

They’ll be like creatures

that have to crawl on the ground.

They’ll come out of their dens

trembling with fear.

They’ll show respect for the Lord our God.

They will also have respect for his people.

18 Lord, who is a God like you?

You forgive sin.

You forgive your people

when they do what is wrong.

You don’t stay angry forever.

Instead, you take delight in showing

your faithful love to them.

19 Once again you will show loving concern for us.

You will completely wipe out

the evil things we’ve done.

You will throw all of our sins

into the bottom of the sea.

20 You will be true to Jacob’s people.

You will show your faithful love

to Abraham’s children.

You will do what you promised to do for our people

when you took an oath long ago.