Poetry and Music in Ancient Israel

(20) Surely the day of the Adonai shall be Not light, but darkness, Blackest night without a glimmer. (21) I loathe, I spurn your festivals, I am not appeased by your solemn assemblies. (22) If you offer Me burnt offerings—or your meal offerings— I will not accept them; I will pay no heed To your gifts of fatlings. (23) Spare Me the sound of your hymns, And let Me not hear the music of your lutes. (24) But let justice well up like water, Righteousness like an unfailing stream.

Z.M.R

(28) Yet turn, O Adonai my God, to the prayer and supplication of Your servant, and hear the cry and prayer which Your servant offers before You this day. (29) May Your eyes be open day and night toward this House, toward the place of which You have said, ‘My name shall abide there’; may You heed the prayers which Your servant will offer toward this place. (30) And when You hear the supplications which Your servant and Your people Israel offer toward this place, give heed in Your heavenly abode—give heed and pardon.

P.L.L

(20) Adonai [is ready] to save me. We will play songs [of string instruments] all the days of our lives at the House of Adonai.

N.G.N

(10) Thus said Adonai: Again there shall be heard in this place, which you say is ruined, without man or beast—in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man, without inhabitants, without beast— (11) the voice of mirth and gladness, the voice of groom and bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to the Adonai of Hosts, for the Adonai is good, for His kindness/love is eternal!” as they bring thanksgiving offerings to the House of Adonai. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as of old—said Adonai.

hodu et Adonai Tzeva-ot

ki tov Adonai

ki le'olam hasdo

(1) A psalm for praise. Raise a shout for Adonai, all the earth; (2) worship Adonai in gladness; come into His presence with shouts of joy. (3) Acknowledge that Adonai is God; He made us and we are His, His people, the flock He tends. (4) Enter His gates with praise, His courts with acclamation. Praise Him! Bless His name! (5) For Adonai is good; His kindness/love is eternal; His faithfulness is for all generations.

(1) Praise Adonai, for He is good, His kindness/love is eternal.

(2) Let Israel declare, “His kindness/love is eternal.”

(3) Let the house of Aaron declare, “His kindness/love is eternal.”

(4) Let those who fear the Adonai declare, “His kindness/love is eternal.”

(1) Praise Adonai; for He is good, His kindness/love is eternal.

(2) Praise the God of gods, His kindness/love is eternal.

(3) Praise the Lord of lords, His kindness/love is eternal

...

(25) Who gives food to all flesh, His kindness/love is eternal.

(26) Praise the God of heaven, His kindness/love is eternal.

(1) Praise Adonai, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples, (2) for great is His kindness/love toward us; the faithfulness of Adonai is eternal. Hallelujah.

(4) He [David] appointed Levites to minister before the Ark of Adonai, to invoke, to praise, and to extol Adonai God of Israel:

(1) Hallelujah. Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in the sky, His stronghold.

(2) Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him for His exceeding greatness.

(3) Praise Him with blasts of the horn; Praise Him with harp and lyre.

(4) Praise Him with timbrel and dance; Praise Him with lute and pipe.

(5) Praise Him with resounding cymbals; Praise Him with loud-clashing cymbals.

(6) Let all that breathes praise Adonai. Hallelujah.

(1) When David reached a ripe old age, he made his son Solomon king over Israel. (2) Then David assembled all the officers of Israel and the priests and the Levites. (3) The Levites, from the age of thirty and upward, were counted; the head-count of their males was 38,000: (4) of these there were 24,000 in charge of the work of the House of Adonai, 6,000 officers and magistrates, (5) 4,000 gatekeepers, and 4,000 for praising Adonai “with instruments I devised for singing praises.” (6) David formed them into divisions...

(6) There were never less than twelve Levites standing on the platform and their number could be increased indefinitely. No minor could enter the [Temple] courtyard to take part in the service except when the Levites stood up to sing. Nor did [the minors] join in the singing with harp and lyre, but with the mouth alone, to add flavor to the music...