5781

24 December 2020 Thursday Psalm 74 (0) A maskil of Asaf: (1) Why have you rejected us forever, God, with your anger smoking against the sheep you once pastured? 2 Remember your community, which you acquired long ago, the tribe you redeemed to be your very own. Remember Mount Tziyon, where you came to live. 3 Hurry your steps to these endless ruins, to the sanctuary devastated by the enemy. 4 The roar of your foes filled your meeting-place; they raised their own banners as a sign of their conquest. 5 The place seemed like a thicket of trees when lumbermen hack away with their axes. 6 With hatchet and hammer they banged away, smashing all the carved woodwork. 7 They set your sanctuary on fire, tore down and profaned the abode of your name. 8 They said to themselves, “We will oppress them completely.” They have burned down all God’s meeting-places in the land. 9 We see no signs, there is no prophet any more; none of us knows how long it will last. 10 How much longer, God, will the foe jee...

23 December 2020 Tuesday night Psalm 73 (0) A psalm of Asaf: (1) How good God is to Isra’el, to those who are pure in heart! 2 But as for me, I lost my balance, my feet nearly slipped, 3 when I grew envious of the arrogant and saw how the wicked prosper. 4 For when their death comes, it is painless; and meanwhile, their bodies are healthy; 5 they don’t have ordinary people’s troubles, they aren’t plagued like others. 6 So for them, pride is a necklace; and violence clothes them like a robe. 7 Their eyes peep out through folds of fat; evil thoughts overflow from their hearts. 8 They scoff and speak with malice, they loftily utter threats. 9 They set their mouths against heaven; their tongues swagger through the earth. 10 Therefore his people return here and [thoughtlessly] suck up that whole cup of water. 11 Then they ask, “How does God know? Does the Most High really have knowledge?” 12 Yes, this is what the wicked are like; those free of misfortune keep increasing their wealth. 13 It’...