Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=57004
open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedicationDate: 2024-06-20
Last Updated: 2025-02-02
Categories: 🇺🇸 United States of America, Opening Prayers for Legislative Bodies
Tags: 20th century C.E., 58th century A.M., 86th Congress, English vernacular prayer, Prayers of Guest Chaplains, U.S. House of Representatives, תחינות teḥinot
Excerpt: The Opening Prayer given in the U.S. House of Representatives on 9 June 1960. . . .
Contribute a translation | Source (English) |
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Our God, and God of our fathers,
grant wisdom, understanding, and blessedness to the men commissioned to formulate the laws of this blessed country, the United States of America. |
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Teach them what to say;
instruct them how to speak; grant their petitions; and show them the way to glorify Thee. May they walk in the light of Thy favor, invoking Thy own blessings upon all Thy people. O grant a life of happiness, grace, and kindness. |
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Bless us all alike, our span class=”divine-referent”>Father;
and with the light of Thy countenance lead us to a life of uprightness, mercy, and peace. |
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Spread over us the tabernacle of Thy peace;
direct us aright through Thine own good counsel; save us for Thy name’s sake; be Thou a shield about us; remove from us every enemy, pestilence, sword, famine, and sorrow; remove also the Adversary from before us and behind us. O shelter us beneath the shadow of Thy wings; for Thou, O God, art our Guardian and our Deliverer; yea, Thou, O God, art a gracious and merciful King; and guard our life forth and forevermore.[1] Cf. the prayer of protection “Hashkivenu” in the blessings after the Maariv Shema, and in the Bedtime Shema. Amen. |
This prayer of the guest chaplain was offered in the sixth month of the second session of the 86th US House of Representatives, and published in the Congressional Record, vol. 106 part 9 (9 June 1960), page 12240.
Notes
1 | Cf. the prayer of protection “Hashkivenu” in the blessings after the Maariv Shema, and in the Bedtime Shema. |
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Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Co-authors:
Featured Image:
Title: Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg
Caption: Flag of the United States House of Representatives