Psalm for Day 2 - Psalm 48

(1) A song. A psalm of the Korahites.

(2) Hashem is great and highly praised

in the city of our God, His holy mountain,

(3) Of lovely heights, joy of all the earth,

Mount Zion, far end of Tzafon,

city of the great king.

(4) God in its citadels is known to be fortress.

(5) Behold, the kings assembled;

they advanced together.

(6) They saw it and, indeed, were stunned, they were terrified and alarmed.

(7) Trembling seized them,

pangs (hil) like a woman in labor.

(8) In an eastern wind which wrecks the ships of Tarshish.

(9) What he had heard of we have now seen

in the city of Hashem of hosts,

in the city of our God —

may God establish it forever! Selah.

(10) We think, God, of Your love

in the midst of Your temple.

(11) Like Your name, God, so Your praise,

to the ends of the earth;

With justice Your right hand is filled.

(12) Let Mount Zion rejoice!

Let the towns of Judah celebrate,

because of Your judgments.

(13) Go around Zion, encircle it;

count its towers.

(14) Set your heart on its fortifications (helah);

scale its citadels,

to recount them to the last generation

(15) For this is God, our God forever;

He will lead us evermore/over death.

(14) The peoples hear, they tremble;

Pangs (hil) grip the dwellers in Philistia.

(15) Now are the clans of Edom terrified;

The tribes of Moab—trembling grips them;

All the dwellers in Canaan melted.

(17) You will bring them and plant them

in Your own mountain,

The place You made to dwell in, Hashem, The sanctuary, Hashem, which Your hands established.

(18) Hashem will reign for ever and ever!

(1) When the king was settled in his palace and Hashem had granted him safety from all the enemies around him, (2) the king said to the prophet Nathan: “Here I am dwelling in a house of cedar, while the Ark of Hashem abides in a tent!” (3) Nathan said to the king, “Go and do whatever you have in mind, for Hashem is with you.” (4) But that same night the word of Hashem came to Nathan: (5) “Go and say to My servant David: Thus said Hashem: Are you the one to build a house for Me to dwell in? (6) From the day that I brought the people of Israel out of Egypt to this day I have not dwelt in a house, but have moved about in Tent and Tabernacle. (7) As I moved about wherever the Israelites went, did I ever reproach any of the tribal leaders whom I appointed to shepherd My people Israel: Why have you not built Me a house of cedar? (8) Further, say thus to My servant David: Thus said Hashem of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler of My people Israel, (9) and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut down all your enemies before you. Moreover, I will give you great renown like that of the greatest men on earth. (10) I will establish a home for My people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Evil men shall not oppress them any more as in the past, (11) ever since I appointed chieftains over My people Israel. I will give you safety from all your enemies. Hashem declares to you that He, Hashem, will establish a house for you. (12) When your days are done and you lie with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own issue, and I will establish his kingship. (13) He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. (14) I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to Me. When he does wrong, I will chastise him with the rod of men and the affliction of mortals; (15) but I will never withdraw My favor from him as I withdrew it from Saul, whom I removed to make room for you. (16) Your house and your kingship shall ever be secure before you; your throne shall be established forever.” (17) Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all this prophecy.