Confitemini Domino. A confession of the manifold sins and ingratitudes of the Israelites. Alleluia.

[1] Alleluia. Give glory to the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. [2] Who shall declare the powers of the Lord? who shall set forth all his praises? [3] Blessed are they that keep judgment, and do justice at all times. [4] Remember us, O Lord, in the favour of thy people: visit us with thy salvation. [5] That we may see the good of thy chosen, that we may rejoice in the joy of thy nation: that thou mayst be praised with thy inheritance.

[6] We have sinned with our fathers: we have acted unjustly, we have wrought iniquity. [7] Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt: they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies: And they provoked to wrath going up to the sea, even the Red Sea. [8] And he saved them for his own name's sake: that he might make his power known. [9] And he rebuked the Red Sea, and it was dried up: and he led them through the depths, as in a wilderness. [10] And he saved them from the hand of them that hated them: and he redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

[11] And the water covered them that afflicted them: there was not one of them left. [12] And they believed his words: and they sang his praises. [13] They had quickly done, they forgot his works: and they waited not for his counsels. [14] And they coveted their desire in the desert: and they tempted God in the place without water. [15] And he gave them their request: and sent fulness into their souls.

[16] And they provoked Moses in the camp, Aaron the holy one of the Lord. [17] The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan: and covered the congregation of Abiron. [18] And a fire was kindled in their congregation: the flame burned the wicked. [19] They made also a calf in Horeb: and they adored the graven thing. [20] And they changed their glory into the likeness of a calf that eateth grass.

[21] They forgot God, who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, [22] Wondrous works in the land of Cham: terrible things in the Red Sea. [23] And he said that he would destroy them: had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach: To turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them. [24] And they set at nought the desirable land. They believed not his word, [25] And they murmured in their tents: they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord.

[26] And he lifted up his hand over them: to overthrow them in the desert; [27] And to cast down their seed among the nations, and to scatter them in the countries. [28] They also were initiated to Beelphegor: and ate the sacrifices of the dead. [29] And they provoked him with their inventions: and destruction was multiplied among them. [30] Then Phinees stood up, and pacified him: and the slaughter ceased.

[28] "Initiated": That is, they dedicated, or consecrated themselves to the idol of the Moabites and Madianites, called Beelphegor, or Baal-Peor. Num. 25. 3.-- Ibid.

[28] "The dead": Viz., idols without life.

[31] And it was reputed to him unto justice, to generation and generation for evermore. [32] They provoked him also at the waters of contradiction: and Moses was afflicted for their sakes: [33] Because they exasperated his spirit. And he distinguished with his lips. [34] They did not destroy the nations of which the Lord spoke unto them. [35] And they were mingled among the heathens, and learned their works:

[33] "He distinguished with his lips": Moses, by occasion of the people's rebellion and incredulity, was guilty of distinguishing with his lips; when, instead of speaking to the rock, as God had commanded, he said to the people, with a certain hesitation in his faith, Hear ye, rebellious and incredulous: Can we from this rock bring out water for you? Num. 20. 10.

[36] And served their idols, and it became a stumblingblock to them. [37] And they sacrificed their sons, and their daughters to devils. [38] And they shed innocent blood: the blood of their sons and of their daughters which they sacrificed to the idols of Chanaan. And the land was polluted with blood, [39] And was defiled with their works: and they went aside after their own inventions. [40] And the Lord was exceedingly angry with his people: and he abhorred his inheritance.

[41] And he delivered them into the hands of the nations: and they that hated them had dominion over them. [42] And their enemies afflicted them: and they were humbled under their hands: [43] Many times did he deliver them. But they provoked him with their counsel: and they were brought low by their iniquities. [44] And he saw when they were in tribulation: and he heard their prayer. [45] And he was mindful of his covenant: and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.

[46] And he gave them unto mercies, in the sight of all those that had made them captives. [47] Save us, O Lord, our God: and gather us from among nations: That we may give thanks to thy holy name, and may glory in thy praise. [48] Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say: So be it, so be it.