Psalm 40:1-10 (The Inclusive Bible)

Unyielding, I called to you, Yhwh,
now at last you have stooped to me
and answered my cry for help.
You have pulled me out of the Pit of Destruction,
out of its mud and quicksand;
you set my feet on a rock
and made my steps firm.
You put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to you.
Many will look on in wonder
and so will put their trust in you.
Happiness comes to those
who put their trust in Yhwh,
instead of in human egos
or people blind to the truth!

Psalm 41 – Nan Merrill in Psalms for Praying, an Invitation to Wholeness

Who among us hears the cry of the poor?

            How many open their hearts

                        and heed the call?

The plight of the world is a wound

            to the very Heart of Love,

                        a scar on our own souls.

Blessed are those who lovingly respond!

            The Friend, who knows all hearts,

                        will remember their kindness.

They will know joy, peace, and deep

            fulfillment working in harmony

            with all who serve toward healing

                        the needs of this troubled world.

As for me, I prayed, “O Soul Mender,

            be gracious unto me.

For I have been deaf to those in need;

            my fears paralyzed me.

I am bound like a prisoner held

            in my own house

            alone and abandoned.

Each fear I push away or deny

                        rises up with power;

            feeling anxious, lies and deceipt

                        take the place of truth.

I can hide no longer; my confusion,

                        the way I blame others,

            have turned even my friends away.”

“O Divine Healer, help me face the fears

                        that threaten to overwhelm me;

            without your guidance, they will

                        bring about what I most fear!

I am on my knees asking forgiveness;

            give me strength to turn all

                        that separates me from You

                        into love and kindness.

You, who are Unconditional Love, You

            so not judge our weaknesses;

            raise me up, that I may be renewed

                                    in body, mind, and soul!

By this I know that You have

                        graciously forgiven me;

            fear did not triumph over me,

                        though my heart was broken open

                                    so the light could enter in.

You upheld me, filled me with integrity,

            and opened my heart to the poor.

Blessed be the Beloved, loving Presence

            to all hearts open to Love,

            from everlasting to everlasting!

                        Amen.

Psalm 100 – Virtual Choir

Psalm 100 (The Inclusive Bible)

Acclaim Yhwh  with joy,  all the earth!

serve Yhwh  with gladness! 

enter into God’s presence with a joyful song!

Know that Yhwh  is God! 

Yhwh  made us, and we belong to the creator; 

we are God’s people  and the sheep of God’s pasture.

Enter God’s gates with thanksgiving  and the courts with praise! 

Give thanks to God!  bless God’s name!  for Yhwh  is good;

 God’s steadfast love endures forever,  and God’s faithfulness  to all generations.

Psalm 100 (New Revised Standard Version)

A Psalm of thanksgiving.

¹ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
²     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come into his presence with singing.

³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he that made us, and we are his;^[a]
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him, bless his name.

⁵ For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Rest in the goodness of God,

U2 – Psalm 40

Psalm 150 – In Memory of Leonard Cohen

This beautiful version was done on November 7, 2017 which was the one year anniversary of the passing of Leonard Cohen, one of the greatest Jewish poet-songwriters of the 20th century.Here is one of his most famous songs, Hallelujah, with the Hebrew lyrics of Psalm 150 which is recited daily in Jewish prayer. May the memory of Leonard Cohen be for an eternal blessing.

Cantor Azi Schwartz of Park Avenue Synagogue Arrangement: Raymond Goldstein Music Director: Colin Fowler Cello: Alexander Scheirele Production Manager: Gil Smuskowitz Recording engineer and audio editing: Doug Yoel Video production: WIWU Productions From “Moments of Awe, Music of the High Holidays”, 2017

11 Come, children, listen to me.
Let me teach you how to honor the Lord:
12 Do you love life;
do you relish the chance to enjoy good things?
13 Then you must keep your tongue from evil
and keep your lips from speaking lies!
14 Turn away from evil! Do good!
Seek peace and go after it!

15 The Lord’s eyes watch the righteous,
his ears listen to their cries for help.
16 But the Lord’s face is set against those who do evil,
to eliminate even the memory of them from the earth.
17 When the righteous cry out, the Lord listens;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
he saves those whose spirits are crushed.

19 The righteous have many problems,
but the Lord delivers them from every one.
20 He protects all their bones;
not even one will be broken.
21 But just one problem will kill the wicked,
and those who hate the righteous will be held responsible.
22 The Lord saves his servants’ lives;
all those who take refuge in him
won’t be held responsible for anything.

Psalm 27
Triumphant Song of Confidence
Of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold[a] of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.

3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.

4 One thing I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.

5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.

6 Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud,
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 “Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, Lord, do I seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off, do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
10 If my father and mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.