with brief introductory comments
(Commentary in preparation and will be posted shortly)
Psalm 131
Childlike trust
Yahweh, my heart is not haughty,
I do not set my sights too high.
I have taken no part in great affairs,
in wonders beyond my scope.
No, I hold myself in quiet and silence,
like a little child in its mother's arms,
like a little child, so I keep myself.
Let Israel hope in Yahweh
henceforth and for ever.
Psalm 132
For the anniversary of the transfer of the ark
Yahweh, remember David
and all the hardships he endured,
the oath he swore to Yahweh,
his vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:
'I will not enter tent or house,
will not climb into bed,
will not allow myself to sleep,
not even to close my eyes,
till I have found a place for Yahweh,
a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob!'
Listen, we heard of it in Ephrathah,
we found it at Forest-Fields.
Let us go into his dwelling-place,
and worship at his footstool.
Go up, Yahweh, to your resting-place,
you and the ark of your strength.
Your priests are robed in saving justice,
your faithful are shouting for joy.
For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed.
Yahweh has sworn to David,
and will always remain true to his word,
'I promise that I will set
a son of yours upon your throne.
If your sons observe my covenant
and the instructions I have taught them,
their sons too for evermore
will occupy your throne.'
For Yahweh has chosen Zion,
he has desired it as a home.
'Here shall I rest for evermore,
here shall I make my home as I have wished.
'I shall generously bless her produce,
give her needy their fill of food,
I shall clothe her priests with salvation,
and her faithful will sing aloud for joy.
'There I shall raise up a line of descendants for David,
light a lamp for my anointed;
shall clothe his enemies with shame,
while his own crown shall flourish.'
Psalm 133
Love of the brethren
How good, how delightful it is
to live as brothers and sisters all together!
It is like a fine oil on the head,
running down the beard,
running down Aaron's beard,
onto the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
falling on the heights of Zion;
for there Yahweh bestows his blessing,
everlasting life.
Psalm 134
For the evening liturgy
Come, bless Yahweh,
all you who serve Yahweh,
serving in the house of Yahweh,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Through the night watches
stretch out your hands towards the sanctuary
and bless Yahweh.
May Yahweh bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!
Psalm 135
Hymn of praise
Alleluia!
Praise the name of Yahweh,
you who serve Yahweh, praise him,
serving in the house of Yahweh,
in the courts of the house of our God.
Praise Yahweh, for Yahweh is good,
make music for his name -- it brings joy-
for Yahweh has chosen Jacob for himself,
Israel as his own possession.
For I know that Yahweh is great,
our Lord is above all gods.
Yahweh does whatever he pleases
in heaven, on earth,
in the waters and all the depths.
He summons up clouds from the borders of earth,
sends rain with lightning-flashes,
and brings the wind out of his storehouse.
He struck the first-born in Egypt,
man and beast alike,
he sent signs and wonders into the heart of Egypt,
against Pharaoh and all his officials.
He struck down many nations,
he slaughtered mighty kings,
Sihon king of the Amorites,
and Og king of Bashan,
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
He gave their land as a birthright,
a birthright to his people Israel.
Yahweh, your name endures for ever,
Yahweh, your memory is fresh from age to age.
For Yahweh vindicates his people,
feels compassion for his servants.
The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
These have mouths but say nothing,
have eyes but see nothing,
have ears but hear nothing,
and they have no breath in their mouths.
Their makers will end up like them,
everyone who relies on them.
House of Israel, bless Yahweh,
House of Aaron, bless Yahweh,
House of Levi, bless Yahweh,
you who fear Yahweh, bless Yahweh.
Blessed be Yahweh from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Psalm 136
Litany of thanksgiving
Alleluia!
Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He alone works wonders,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
In wisdom he made the heavens,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He set the earth firm on the waters,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He made the great lights,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
The sun to rule the day,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Moon and stars to rule the night,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He struck down the first-born of Egypt,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He brought Israel out from among them,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
With mighty hand and outstretched arm,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He split the Sea of Reeds in two,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Let Israel pass through the middle,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
And drowned Pharaoh and all his army,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He led his people through the desert,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He struck down mighty kings,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Slaughtered famous kings,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Sihon king of the Amorites,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
And Og king of Bashan,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He gave their land as a birthright,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
A birthright to his servant Israel,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He kept us in mind when we were humbled,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
And rescued us from our enemies,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
He provides food for all living creatures,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Psalm 137
Song of the exiles
By the rivers of Babylon
we sat and wept
at the memory of Zion.
On the poplars there
we had hung up our harps.
For there our gaolers had asked us
to sing them a song,
our captors to make merry,
'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.'
How could we sing a song of Yahweh
on alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand wither!
May my tongue remain stuck to my palate
if I do not keep you in mind,
if I do not count Jerusalem
the greatest of my joys.
Psalm 138
Hymn of thanksgiving
I thank you, Yahweh, with all my heart,
for you have listened to the cry I uttered.
In the presence of angels I sing to you,
I bow down before your holy Temple.
I praise your name for your faithful love and your constancy;
your promises surpass even your fame.
You heard me on the day when I called,
and you gave new strength to my heart.
All the kings of the earth give thanks to you, Yahweh,
when they hear the promises you make;
they sing of Yahweh's ways,
'Great is the glory of Yahweh!'
Sublime as he is, Yahweh looks on the humble,
the proud he picks out from afar.
Though I live surrounded by trouble
you give me life -- to my enemies' fury!
You stretch out your right hand and save me,
Yahweh will do all things for me.
Yahweh, your faithful love endures for ever,
do not abandon what you have made.
Psalm 139
In praise of God’s omniscience
Yahweh, you examine me and know me,
you know when I sit, when I rise,
you understand my thoughts from afar.
You watch when I walk or lie down,
you know every detail of my conduct.
A word is not yet on my tongue
before you, Yahweh, know all about it.
You fence me in, behind and in front,
you have laid your hand upon me.
Such amazing knowledge is beyond me,
a height to which I cannot attain.
Where shall I go to escape your spirit?
Where shall I flee from your presence?
If I scale the heavens you are there,
if I lie flat in Sheol, there you are.
If I speed away on the wings of the dawn,
if I dwell beyond the ocean,
even there your hand will be guiding me,
your right hand holding me fast.
I will say, 'Let the darkness cover me,
and the night wrap itself around me,'
even darkness to you is not dark,
and night is as clear as the day.
You created my inmost self,
knit me together in my mother's womb.
For so many marvels I thank you;
a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders.
You knew me through and through,
my being held no secrets from you,
when I was being formed in secret,
textured in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes could see my embryo.
In your book all my days were inscribed,
every one that was fixed is there.
How hard for me to grasp your thoughts,
how many, God, there are!
If I count them, they are more than the grains of sand;
if I come to an end, I am still with you.
God, examine me and know my heart,
test me and know my concerns.
Make sure that I am not on my way to ruin,
and guide me on the road of eternity.
Psalm 140
Against the wicked
Rescue me, Yahweh, from evil people,
protect me from violent people,
whose heart is bent on malice,
day after day they harbour strife;
their tongues as barbed as a serpent's,
viper's venom behind their lips.
Keep me, Yahweh, from the clutches of the wicked,
protect me from violent people,
who are bent on making me stumble,
laying out snares where I walk,
in their arrogance hiding pitfall and noose
to trap me as I pass.
I said to Yahweh, 'You are my God.'
Listen, Yahweh, to the sound of my prayer.
Yahweh my Lord, my saving strength,
you shield my head when battle comes.
Yahweh, do not grant the wicked their wishes,
do not let their plots succeed.
Do not let my attackers prevail,
but let them be overwhelmed by their own malice.
I know that Yahweh will give judgement for the wretched,
justice for the needy.
The upright shall praise your name,
the honest dwell in your presence.
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