with brief introductory comments
(Commentary in preparation and will be posted shortly)
Psalm 111
In praise of Yahweh’s deeds
Alleluia!
I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart,
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them.
Full of splendour and majesty his work,
his saving justice stands firm for ever.
He gives us a memorial of his great deeds;
Yahweh is mercy and tenderness.
He gives food to those who fear him,
he keeps his covenant ever in mind.
His works show his people his power
in giving them the birthright of the nations.
The works of his hands are fidelity and justice,
all his precepts are trustworthy,
established for ever and ever,
accomplished in fidelity and honesty.
Deliverance he sends to his people,
his covenant he imposes for ever;
holy and awesome his name.
The root of wisdom is fear of Yahweh;
those who attain it are wise.
His praise will continue for ever.
Psalm 112
Praise of the upright
Alleluia!
How blessed is anyone who fears Yahweh,
who delights in his commandments!
His descendants shall be powerful on earth,
the race of the honest shall receive blessings:
Riches and wealth for his family;
his uprightness stands firm for ever.
For the honest he shines as a lamp in the dark,
generous, tender-hearted, and upright.
All goes well for one who lends generously,
who is honest in all his dealing;
for all time to come he will not stumble,
for all time to come the upright will be remembered.
Bad news holds no fears for him,
firm is his heart, trusting in Yahweh.
His heart held steady, he has no fears,
till he can gloat over his enemies.
To the needy he gives without stint,
his uprightness stands firm for ever;
his reputation is founded on strength.
The wicked are vexed at the sight,
they grind their teeth and waste away.
The desires of the wicked will be frustrated.
Psalm 113
To the God of glory and mercy
Alleluia!
Praise, servants of Yahweh,
praise the name of Yahweh.
Blessed be the name of Yahweh,
henceforth and for ever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting,
praised be the name of Yahweh!
Supreme over all nations is Yahweh,
supreme over the heavens his glory.
Who is like Yahweh our God?
His throne is set on high,
but he stoops to look down on heaven and earth.
He raises the poor from the dust,
he lifts the needy from the dunghill,
to give them a place among princes,
among princes of his people.
He lets the barren woman be seated at home,
the happy mother of sons.
Psalm 114
Passover hymn
Alleluia!
When Israel came out of Egypt,
the House of Jacob from a people of foreign speech,
Judah became his sanctuary,
and Israel his domain.
The sea fled at the sight,
the Jordan turned back,
the mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like sheep.
Sea, what makes you flee?
Jordan, why turn back?
Why skip like rams, you mountains?
Why like sheep, you hills?
Tremble, earth, at the coming of the Lord,
at the coming of the God of Jacob,
who turns rock into pool,
flint into fountain.
Psalm 115
The one true God
Not to us, Yahweh, not to us,
but to your name give the glory,
for your faithful love and your constancy!
Why should the nations ask, 'Where is their God?'
Our God is in heaven,
he creates whatever he chooses.
They have idols of silver and gold,
made by human hands.
These have mouths but say nothing,
have eyes but see nothing,
have ears but hear nothing,
have noses but smell nothing.
They have hands but cannot feel,
have feet but cannot walk,
no sound comes from their throats.
Their makers will end up like them,
and all who rely on them.
House of Israel, rely on Yahweh;
he is their help and their shield.
House of Aaron, rely on Yahweh;
he is their help and their shield.
You who fear Yahweh, rely on Yahweh;
he is their help and their shield.
Yahweh will keep us in mind, he will bless,
he will bless the House of Israel,
he will bless the House of Aaron,
he will bless those who fear Yahweh,
small and great alike.
May Yahweh add to your numbers,
yours and your children's too!
May you be blessed by Yahweh,
who made heaven and earth.
Heaven belongs to Yahweh,
but earth he has given to the children of Adam.
The dead cannot praise Yahweh,
those who sink into silence,
but we, the living, shall bless Yahweh,
henceforth and for ever.
Psalm 116
Thanksgiving
Alleluia!
I am filled with love when Yahweh listens
to the sound of my prayer,
when he bends down to hear me,
as I call.
The bonds of death were all round me,
the snares of Sheol held me fast;
distress and anguish held me in their grip,
I called on the name of Yahweh.
Deliver me, Yahweh, I beg you.
Yahweh is merciful and upright,
our God is tenderness.
Yahweh looks after the simple,
when I was brought low he gave me strength.
My heart, be at peace once again,
for Yahweh has treated you generously.
He has rescued me from death, my eyes from tears,
and my feet from stumbling.
I shall pass my life in the presence of Yahweh,
in the land of the living.
My trust does not fail even when I say,
'I am completely wretched.'
In my terror I said,
'No human being can be relied on.'
What return can I make to Yahweh
for his generosity to me?
I shall take up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of Yahweh.
I shall fulfil my vows to Yahweh,
witnessed by all his people.
Costly in Yahweh's sight
is the death of his faithful.
I beg you, Yahweh! I am your servant,
I am your servant and my mother was your servant;
you have undone my fetters.
I shall offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of Yahweh.
I shall fulfil my vows to Yahweh,
witnessed by all his people,
in the courts of the house of Yahweh,
in your very heart, Jerusalem.
Psalm 117
Summons to praise
Alleluia!
Praise Yahweh, all nations,
extol him, all peoples,
for his faithful love is strong
and his constancy never-ending.
Psalm 118
Processional hymn for the feast of Shelters
Alleluia!
Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
Let the House of Israel say,
'His faithful love endures for ever.'
Let the House of Aaron say,
'His faithful love endures for ever.'
Let those who fear Yahweh say,
'His faithful love endures for ever.'
In my distress I called to Yahweh,
he heard me and brought me relief.
With Yahweh on my side I fear nothing;
what can human beings do to me?
With Yahweh on my side as my help,
I gloat over my enemies.
It is better to take refuge in Yahweh
than to rely on human beings;
better to take refuge in Yahweh
than to rely on princes.
Nations were swarming around me,
in the name of Yahweh I cut them down;
they swarmed around me, pressing upon me,
in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
They swarmed around me like bees,
they flared up like a brushwood fire,
in the name of Yahweh I cut them down.
I was pushed hard, to make me fall,
but Yahweh came to my help.
Yahweh is my strength and my song,
he has been my Saviour.
Shouts of joy and salvation,
in the tents of the upright,
'Yahweh's right hand is triumphant,
Yahweh's right hand is victorious,
Yahweh's right hand is triumphant!'
I shall not die, I shall live
to recount the great deeds of Yahweh.
Though Yahweh punished me sternly,
he has not abandoned me to death.
Open for me the gates of saving justice,
I shall go in and thank Yahweh.
This is the gate of Yahweh,
where the upright go in.
I thank you for hearing me,
and making yourself my Saviour.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
This is Yahweh's doing,
and we marvel at it.
This is the day which Yahweh has made,
a day for us to rejoice and be glad.
We beg you, Yahweh, save us,
we beg you, Yahweh, give us victory!
Blessed in the name of Yahweh is he who is coming!
We bless you from the house of Yahweh.
Yahweh is God,
he gives us light.
Link your processions, branches in hand,
up to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, I thank you,
all praise to you, my God.
I thank you for hearing me,
and making yourself my Saviour.
Give thanks to Yahweh for he is good,
for his faithful love endures for ever.
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