Prayer During War.

O Lord God, who art righteous in Thy judgment, and plenteous in mercy, whose faithfulness endureth from generation to generation, who rulest even above the din of war: may all nations learn to know that Thou alone art God, that Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and that all who truly confess Thy name are the people of Thy pasture and the sheep of Thy hand. Thou hast permitted the nations to rise up in war against each other and our own beloved country to become engulfed in its throes. O Lord God, our Father, we know that war is a punishment for sin and that we, too, have justly merited Thy punishment through our sins. Therefore we humbly confess our sins, and supplicate Thy pity and compassion, lay not our iniquities against us, but graciously forgive us our sins and shortcomings for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. To Thy fatherly goodness and care we commend our people, and especially our soldiers and sailors now in the service 132 of their country. They are absent from their loved ones, beset by dangers on all sides. Be Thou ever near. Keep them from all evil. O Thou, without whose consent not even a sparrow falleth to the ground and who hast numbered the very hairs of our heads, take them under the shadow of Thy wings. Give them courage and obedience, fortitude and valor in the hour of danger, and compassion and mercy in the flush of victory. Prosper their arms to the establishment of justice, peace, and truth among all peoples. Lead them safely back to their homes and their loved ones, better citizens, better Christians than before. And to Thy holy name be glory, laud, and honor, world without end. Amen.