A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander, #6)

by Diana Gabaldon

“Eìsd ris! Eìsd ris!” bellowed Kenny Lindsay, seeing him. Evan and Murdo joined him, clapping their hands and shouting “Hear him!” loudly enough that the crowd began to subside and pay attention. “I say the prayer from my mouth, I say the prayer from my heart, I say the prayer to Thee Thyself, O, Healing Hand, O Son of the God of salvation.” He didn’t raise his voice much above its normal speaking level, but everyone quieted at once, so the words rang clear. “Thou Lord God of the angels, Spread over me Thy linen robe; Shield me from every famine, Free me from every spectral shape. Strengthen me in every good, Encompass me in every strait, Safeguard me in every ill, And from every enmity restrain me.” There was a stirring of faint approval in the crowd; I saw a few of the fisher-folk bow their heads, though their eyes stayed fixed on him. “Be Thou between me and all things grisly, Be Thou between me and all things mean, Be Thou between me and all things gruesome Coming darkly toward me. “O God of the weak, O God of the lowly, O God of the righteous, O shield of homesteads: “Thou art calling upon us In the voice of glory, With the mouth of mercy Of Thy beloved Son.”

Prayer