SONGS FROM THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS
—Music and lyrics by Wilbur Skeels—
Series A - The Thanksgiving Scroll (see octavo CQ2103)
I. GRACE AT ALL TIMES I shall cast myself down
And pray for grace at all times, unceasingly—
When day turns to evening,
At the beginning of the rule of darkness;
When night turns to morning,
And is gathered to its dwelling;
At the birthing of the seasons,
In their ordered changes.
There is nothing other,
Beside it there has not been,
Nor shall it be otherwise,
For the faithful plan of the mouth of God
Has determined it,
And there is no other but Him.
II. THE LIMITLESS PLAIN
I give thanks, O Lord, for You have redeemed my soul,
You have raised me up to an eternal height
To walk about on a limitless plain
And to know there is hope for one whom You've created.A creature of clay, what am I?
Kneaded with water, what is my strength?—Eternal destiny, with the spirits who know Your soul
To praise Your name with shouts of joy,
To walk about on a limitless plain
And to know there is hope for me whom You've created.
III. LIGHT SHINES OUT Light shines out, joy pours forth,
Mourning has ended, grief has fled,
Peace is here, gone is fear,
The fountain of blessing and healing now flows
For ever through the ages.
IV. NOTHING MORE TO BE SAID What can I say that is not known,
What can I sing that is not told,
Written for aye with the ink of memory,
Engraved before You from years of old.You gave my tongue the breath to speak,
Ordered my sayings and measured each word,
Mystery, insight, sing praise to Your glory,
For ever they bless You, Eternal Lord.© Copyright 2001 by Cantus Quercus Press. All rights reserved. For information please write the publisher.
Text adapted from "The Thanksgiving Scroll," trans. Martin Abegg, Jr., in The Dead Sea Scrolls,
edd. Wise, Abegg and Cook, Harper SanFrancisco, 1996.In preparation: Series B — "The Psalms of Qumran."