5781

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’...

22 December 2020 Tuesday   Psalm 71 (0) By Shlomo: (1) God, give the king your fairness in judgment, endow this son of kings with your righteousness, 2 so that he can govern your people rightly and your poor with justice. 3 May mountains and hills provide your people with peace through righteousness. 4 May he defend the oppressed among the people, save the needy and crush the oppressor. 5 May they fear you as long as the sun endures and as long as the moon, through all generations. 6 May he be like rain falling on mown grass, like showers watering the land. 7 In his days, let the righteous flourish and peace abound, till the moon is no more. 8 May his empire stretch from sea to sea, from the [Euphrates] River to the ends of the earth. 9 May desert-dwellers bow before him; may his enemies lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and the coasts will pay him tribute; the kings of Sh’va and S’va will offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings will prostrate themselves before him; all nations will s...

  9 December 2020   Psalm 59  (0) For the leader. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” By David; a mikhtam, when Sha’ul sent men to keep watch on David’s house in order to kill him: 2 (1) My God, rescue me from my enemies! Lift me up, out of reach of my foes! 3 (2) Rescue me from evildoers,save me from bloodthirsty men. 4 (3) For there they are, lying in wait to kill me. Openly they gather themselves against me, and not because I committed a crime or sinned, Adonai. 5 (4) For no fault of mine, they run and prepare. Awaken to help me, and see! 6 (5) You, Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot, God of Isra’el, arouse yourself to punish all the nations; spare none of those wicked traitors. (Selah) 7 (6) They return at nightfall, snarling like dogs as they go around the city. 8 (7) Look what pours out of their mouth, what swords are on their lips, [as they say to themselves,] “No one is listening, anyway.” 9 (8) But you, Adonai, laugh at them, you mock all the nations. 10 (9) My Strength, I will wa...

December 8, 2020 Tuesday Psalm 113:9 He gives the childless woman a household, making her the joyful mother of children. Hallelujah!             Psalm 58 (0) For the leader. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” By David, a mikhtam: 2 (1) [Rulers,] does your silence really speak justice? Are you judging people fairly? 3 (2) [No!] In your hearts you devise wrongs, your hands dispense violence in the land. 4 (3) From the womb, the wicked are estranged, liars on the wrong path since birth. 5 (4) Their venom is like snake’s venom; they are like a serpent that stops its ears, 6 (5) so as not to hear the voice of the charmer, no matter how well he plays. 7 (6) God, break their teeth in their mouth! Shatter the fangs of these lions, Adonai! 8 (7) May they vanish like water that drains away. May their arrows be blunted when they aim their bows. 9 (8) May they be like a slug that melts as it moves, like a stillborn baby that never sees the sun. 10 (9) Before your cook-pots feel ...

  Sunday Evening Psalm 57 (0) For the leader. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” By David, a mikhtam, when he fled from Sha’ul into the cave: 2 (1) Show me favor, God, show me favor; for in you I have taken refuge. Yes, I will find refuge in the shadow of your wings until the storms have passed. 3 (2) I call to God, the Most High, to God, who is accomplishing his purpose for me. 4 (3) He will send from heaven and save me when those who would trample me down mock me. (Selah) God will send his grace and his truth. 5 (4) I am surrounded by lions, I am lying down among people breathing fire, men whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongues sharp-edged swords. 6 (5) Be exalted, God, above heaven! May your glory be over all the earth! 7 (6) They prepared a snare for my feet, but I am bending over [to avoid it]. They dug a pit ahead of me, but they fell into it themselves. (Selah) 8 (7) My heart is steadfast, God, steadfast. I will sing and make music. 9 (8) Awake, my glory! Awake, lyre a...

  Sunday 6 December 2020     Psalm 56 (0) For the leader. Set to “The Silent Dove in the Distance.” By David; a mikhtam, when the P’lishtim captured him in Gat: 2 (1) Show me favor, God; for people are trampling me down — all day they fight and press on me. 3 (2) Those who are lying in wait for me would trample on me all day. For those fighting against me are many. Most High, 4 (3) when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 5 (4) In God — I praise his word — in God I trust; I have no fear; what can human power do to me? 6 (5) All day long they twist my words; their only thought is to harm me. 7 (6) They gather together and hide themselves, spying on my movements, hoping to kill me. 8 (7) Because of their crime, they cannot escape; in anger, God, strike down the peoples. 9 (8) You have kept count of my wanderings; store my tears in your water-skin — aren’t they already recorded in your book? 10 (9) Then my enemies will turn back on the day when I call; this I know: that Go...