Easter Vigil, Year C

Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 143

Ezekiel 37:1-14

37:1 The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.

37:2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.

37:3 He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."

37:4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

37:5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

37:6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD."

37:7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

37:8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.

37:9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live."

37:10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

37:11 Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.'

37:12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

37:13 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.

37:14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act," says the LORD.

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Psalm 143

143:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness; answer me in your righteousness.

143:2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.

143:3 For the enemy has pursued me, crushing my life to the ground, making me sit in darkness like those long dead.

143:4 Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.

143:5 I remember the days of old, I think about all your deeds, I meditate on the works of your hands.

143:6 I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

143:7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.

143:8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, for in you I put my trust. Teach me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

143:9 Save me, O LORD, from my enemies; I have fled to you for refuge.

143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.

143:11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life. In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.

143:12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all my adversaries, for I am your servant.

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