O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Amos 5.14-15, 21-24
14 Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
just as you have said.
15 Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
21 I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt-offerings and grain-offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
24 But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
from Psalm 50.7-14
Hear, O my people, and I will speak:
‘I will testify against you, O Israel;
for I am God, your God.
‘I will not reprove you for your sacrifices,
for your burnt offerings are always before me.
‘I will take no bull out of your house,
nor he-goat out of your folds,
‘For all the beasts of the forest are mine,
the cattle upon a thousand hills.
‘I know every bird of the mountains
and the insect of the field is mine.
‘If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the whole world is mine and all that fills it.
‘Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls,
or drink the blood of goats?
‘Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and fulfil your vows to God Most High.