[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21215]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

                                 prayer

  The guest Chaplain, Father Paul Lavin, offered the following prayer:
  In Psalm 103 David sings:

Bless the Lord, O my soul
and all my being bless His holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul
and forget not all His benefits.
He pardons all your inequities,
He heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
He crowns you with kindness and compassion.
He does not always chide,
nor does He keep His wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does He deal with us,
nor does He requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the Earth
so surpassing is His kindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as east is from the west,
so far has He put our transgressions from us.

  Let us pray.
  Almighty and eternal God, You have revealed Your glory to all 
nations. God of power and might, wisdom and justice, through You 
authority is rightly administered, laws enacted, and judgment is 
decreed. Let the light of Your divine wisdom direct the deliberations 
of the Senate and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws formed 
for our rule and government. May they seek to preserve peace, promote 
national happiness, and continue to bring us the blessings of liberty 
and equality.
  We likewise commend to Your unbounded mercy all citizens of the 
United States, that we may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified 
in the observance of Your holy law. May we be preserved in union and 
that peace which the world cannot give; and, after enjoying the 
blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.
  We pray to You, who are Lord and God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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