If you’re looking for Obama’s Inaugration speech transcript ABC news has a decent page with it. CNN does as well.
The BENEDICTION transcript is presented below.
watch the video:
or read the transcript (I found it in the comments posted below [thanks!] and here):
Transcript courtesy Federal News Service
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand — true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we’ve shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord, you’re able and you’re willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed — the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won’t get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: Say amen –
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: — and amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen! (Cheers, applause.)
————-
My thoughts:
Good news! Non believers got some representation!
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus – and non-believers.
There’s a particularly elegant quip on power:
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
I also thought this bit in the benediction was good:
When the tanks are beaten into tractors
Good stuff.
Now back to work.
Share around for others to find it…
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I transcribed this myself.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears:
Thou who has brought us thus far along the way,
Thou who has by thy might led us into the light
Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places our God, where we met thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee.
Shadowed beneath thy hand
May we forever stand,
True to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we’ve shared this day.
We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family, and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national, and indeed the global, fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hands, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills, for we know that Lord, you’re able, and you’re willing, to work through faithful leadership, to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds, and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor – or the least of these – and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed, the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in the spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now Lord, in the complex arena of human relations: help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance. And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle, look over our little angelic Sasha and Meleah. We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won’t get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone with your hands of power and your heart of love. Help us then now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid. When justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream. Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right. Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen, say amen, and amen.
Thanks! good stuff.
Jesus ! There’s the race card AGAIN !
“White will embrace what is right” !?
When…..recently ,were black’s asked to get to the back !
I guess Whitey is the source of all evil . AGAIN !
Absolutely insulting !
so much for the realization of “the dream”.
Loved this benediction. Wish Obama would have used words closer to this. If you think blacks have not been asked to go to the back anymore then I know for sure you are not black and damned it the whites need to do right. If you do not see this then you are color blind. How many whites are there in Quatamino???
I believe blacks are the ones who are constantly bringing up the race issue. Most whites are over it. People do not have slaves these days and wish everyone had an excellent paying job. You choose what you wish to do in life. You have a choice. Anyone can go to college. Get a student loan like most white people. Not every white person was raised in a wealthy home. I’m white, my parents didn’t make a lot of money (by not a lot i mean less than 30,000 a year), they gave 10% in tithe and we had food on our table every day. Some days, we even had dessert. Get over the fact that Africa sold slaves to the United States, then when the proclamation of emancipation was signed by Lincoln, Africa didn’t want your ancestors back. That was Lincoln’s plan, send the slaves back to Africa. Thank your lucky stars the people of Africa didn’t want your ancestors back. GET OVER THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN!!!! We Have! Take advantage of every opportunity you are given to receive an education and get a good job. Anything worth having takes hard work and sacrifice.
Obama may actually make a good president. I do pray he’ll change his decision on abortion and gay marriage. Neither one are bibically correct. Abortion in the end is murdering a baby. I voted for McCain; but will pray for Obama’s safety and for the safety of his family. I will also pray for him to make wise decisions. I won’t spend the next for years counting down to a new election. He is the president and deserves the respect as a president, I just pray he’ll seek the wisdom of God, who’s wisdom was sought when our country was founded.
Thank goodness that i am not alone in hearing the race card in the Obama benediction! I was listening as I worked and as soon as he said “when white embrace what is right” my jaw dropped to my desk and I thought, omg! it’s starting already,
putting the “white man” in his place. I guess whites have never embraced what is right. Perhaps it wouldn’t bother me so much had I not seen it replayed over and over again in Obama’s past, yet I guess he is the holy man who would not be swayed…sorry folks, he’s human. Not only that but here he is telling us how hard things are and he is spending more money than anyone in history for his campaign, and now an icredible, what 150 mil for his inauguration? Busch got fried in the press for his 45 mil? What happen to helping the poor man right out of the starting gate? that certainly doesn’t look like the spending habits of a man who truly has his hand on the pulse of the poor man’s predicament. How many out of work families could have been supported long enough to find work, food, or shelter with that 150 mil!!!!! Lastly… Could the press be any more biased in their coverage? I swear they think he walks on water and have since the campaign started. Blinded by his kennedy speeches and charm…i thought they were supposed to be objective. I didn’t hear a single comment today about “when white will embrace what’s right”! But, i guess it’s easy to be blind when the media only serves up what it wants to.
thank you melody, that was very well put! It has never been about the color of the skin, but the color of the attitude.
You are right… all one can do is to pray that it all plays out just as God intends in all his wisdom.
I hate that line about the white man. It makes me really angry. Someone needs to stand-up against racism – and in this case – it is racism against white people. I don’t like racism in any form, even if it is against white people. I really want to move out of this country.
and go where?
what stops you?
what’s so offensive about the line?
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Obama’s speech was really good; i appreciate his candor and general classiness
The white man must do what’s right? Didn’t he do that when he freed the slaves? Blacks did not accomplish this. Of course, discrimination continued, and continues today, but this is not a perfect world, and some blacks are just as prejudice as some whites. We all need to recognize that prejudice is just one of the many imperfect things in this world, there are plenty of other social ills that are just as bad. The fact that Obama was nominated, promoted, and elected, again by (mostly) whites, seems to indicate that, to a great degree, discrimination has declined. Let’s use our energies to accomplish worthwhile things, and stop with the devisive rhetoric – by everyone! John
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Thanks for posting this.. I’ve been searching for it to post to my blog since after I heard it. To me this was my favorite exspression given that day, and Joseph Lowery couldn’t of said it clearer. It was spoken respectfuly, heartfelt and honest from someone whose came an entirely long way.
Everyone, just like to say..Let us pray for Obama he is going to need it. Look what is in store for him.. i love the hope I see in the eyes of those i speek with about our new President it’s refreshing i must say. I prey that we put our hope in God for he alone can fix our world. God bless every AMERICAN!
Oh yes.. and about all the color issue rhetoric; only someone who doesn’t live internally in this skin could say something like that. To the outside and non-black it looks as if it’s that way, We (meaning Black people) have made it, we’re running around free with because we don’t have chains around our necks, hands and feet. This is extremely more than the physical brown epidermis you are so ignorantly thinking of. This is opportunity of the end of the silent oppression, the end to SELF DOUBT, end of not belonging. Yes, even here in America. True, I’m no longer getting spit on in the streets, and raped in the out houses on the cotton plantation but my future now, today is and will burn a little bit brighter. The pendelom swing of oppression today has changed from being in our face to behind our backs. Just look around you, were not still absent in this world cause we want to be!! And yes, Some of the issues are the same for everyone with jobs and family but statiscally we have it worse. Until our hope renders differently, and the fight less difficult nothing will ever be able to change for OUR people. Sad thing is, we’re still not even close, even with this Election. This is just the very beginning, even after Lincoln freed the slaves, this is the real, true beginning.
It’s more than you can possibly ever take in to account without actually living, working, communicating, walking, eating, and breathing in this body through the eyes of this concept. It’s more than just skin, it’s the people behind that skin. From the past to the present . If you can’t understand that then just be happy for ME. Little old woman from Overland Park, Kansas. JUST BE HAPPY FOR US.
Open your mind people, here is a very good article from CNN if you want to see a different spectrum from our eyes:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/15/obama.family/index.html
I was deeply offended by this benediction.
We’re white, we’re not allowed to be offended. Apparently, we’re the great evil in the world. *rolls eyes*
so comment made in this benediction is really not a big deal so dont make it one! and yes its accurate bcuz it not the blacks who bring out the issues of racism its the whites!!! the whites are just jealous that why do blacks now all of a sudden get more attention then them. Im white, yet i was not offended bcuz IM NOT LOOKING FOR WAYS TO BRING DOWN BLACK PEOPLE OR TO MAKE MYSELF LOOK BETTER OR VICTIMIZED TO GAIN SUPPORT! EVERYONE WHO COMPLAINED HERE IS JUST A FREAKING LOSER WHO PROVE THAT OBAMA IS RIGHT THAT THERE IS STILL DISCRIMINATION IN THIS COUNTRY! AND THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE IT! AND SOME ONE UP THERE SAID THAT MOSTLY WHITES VOTED FOR OBAMA, SORRY BUT UR WAY WRONG AS IT IS THOSE BLACKS THAT WERE OPPRESSED IN THE 60S AND 70S FROM VOTING, WO CAME OUT AND ALL THE YOUNG AND MIDDLE AGED BLACKS THAT SUPPORTED OBAMA! GET OVER URSELVES TO MAKE U LOOK LIKE THE BETTER ONES! IM NOT RACIST TOWARDS ANYONE BUT MY OPINION IS THAT THE WHITES SHOULD NOT E JEALOUS AND JUST LET THE BLACKS BE PROUD AND HAPPY WITHOUT ANY OBSTACLES!
Another racist comment by not only this bigotted REV, wantta be, but a;lso by the many, ignorant racist bloggers on this site. One idiot said, how many whites in Gitmos? Can you be anymore stupid? Those in Gitmo want to kill your family and put your moronic head on a stick! Whites didn’t do this or they would be there,and they are not Black either. European Americans are the reason why Obama was able to be elected, so thank you for the assistance you racist bastard! Without European Americans, Obama would be Nobama. Again, thank you, but your lack of appreciation is nothing new to European Americans everywhere. Meaghan above has no idea what she is saying as there are not enough Blacks in America to win an election. Obama won because of the poor economy, which resulted from an unusual high vote from European Americans! Why didn’t the Rev talk about the Black on White violent crime in America? In crime between Blacks and Whites, Whites are victims 85% of the time. Over 700,000 White women are raped by Blacks every year, 90% of all armed robbery are committed by Blacks and the list goes on and on. These are FBI stats. Racism against European Americans is nothing new and will only continue. We allow you to say whatever you like, but when you come into our homes, we put a bullet in your head. Open your mind little women from Overland Park, KS. You have no idea the ass kissing for you that goes on behind closed doors. We can be happy for anyone when racist things are not said about us and our family. Since you are not White, you have no idea of the racism that we get from the media, Networks, etc. You talk about your past, we live it everyday. You live in Overland park,KS, because the inner city of KC in rough, violent and disgusting because of how your people have destoyed it as is the case in so many Midwestern and Northern cities. And Blacks are never held accountable for it. We can be happy for anyone, just stop the crime, the verbal attacks, the smugness on your part. Again, you have no idea what you are talking about. Stop your attacks! European Americans could never get away with saying that racist comment by that bigot, that tells you everything about how things really are right there! Get your head out!
Black people voting played a major role in Obama’s win in the election and this cannot be denied! so John dont think ur so smart…..