On the way through the wilderness the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’

At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

Give heed, my people, to my teaching;
  turn your ear to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable
  and reveal hidden lessons of the past.

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

When he slew them then they would seek him,
  return and seek him in earnest.
they would remember that God was their rock,
  God the Most High their redeemer.

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

But the words they spoke were mere flattery;
  they lied to him with their lips.
For their hearts were not truly with him;
  they were not faithful to his covenant.

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

Yet he who is full of compassion
  forgave them their sin and spared them.
So often he held back his anger
  when he might have stirred up his rage.

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
 

His state was divine,
yet Christ Jesus did not cling
to his equality with God
but emptied himself
to assume the condition of a slave
and became as men are;
and being as all men are,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death,
death on a cross.
But God raised him high
and gave him the name
which is above all other names
so that all beings
in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Alleluia, alleluia!
We adore you, O Christ,
and we bless you;
because by your cross
you have redeemed the world.
Alleluia!