Psalms for Grieving & Strength

(א) מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִ֑ד ה' רֹ֝עִ֗י לֹ֣א אֶחְסָֽר׃ (ב) בִּנְא֣וֹת דֶּ֭שֶׁא יַרְבִּיצֵ֑נִי עַל־מֵ֖י מְנֻח֣וֹת יְנַהֲלֵֽנִי׃ (ג) נַפְשִׁ֥י יְשׁוֹבֵ֑ב יַֽנְחֵ֥נִי בְמַעְגְּלֵי־צֶ֝֗דֶק לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמֽוֹ׃ (ד) גַּ֤ם כִּֽי־אֵלֵ֨ךְ בְּגֵ֪יא צַלְמָ֡וֶת לֹא־אִ֘ירָ֤א רָ֗ע כִּי־אַתָּ֥ה עִמָּדִ֑י שִׁבְטְךָ֥ וּ֝מִשְׁעַנְתֶּ֗ךָ הֵ֣מָּה יְנַֽחֲמֻֽנִי׃ (ה) תַּעֲרֹ֬ךְ לְפָנַ֨י ׀ שֻׁלְחָ֗ן נֶ֥גֶד צֹרְרָ֑י דִּשַּׁ֥נְתָּ בַשֶּׁ֥מֶן רֹ֝אשִׁ֗י כּוֹסִ֥י רְוָיָֽה׃ (ו) אַ֤ךְ ׀ ט֤וֹב וָחֶ֣סֶד יִ֭רְדְּפוּנִי כׇּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑י וְשַׁבְתִּ֥י בְּבֵית־ה' לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ {פ}

Psalms 23

(1) A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd; I lack nothing. (2) God makes me lie down in green pastures; God leads me to water in places of repose;^-a (3) God renews my life; God guides me in right paths as befits the Divine name. (4) Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness,^-bI fear no harm, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me. (5) You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my drink is abundant. (6) Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for many long years.

While this is a Psalm often connected to a funeral or other time of mourning it really speaks to our everyday life. We live our lives walking through the "valley" that the Psalmist speaks about. While sometimes the sides are higher than others, blocking out more light than at other times, we keep on walking through looking to see light in our lives.

תהילים ל״ד

(א) לְדָוִ֗ד בְּשַׁנּוֹת֣וֹ אֶת־טַ֭עְמוֹ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ וַ֝יְגָרְשֵׁ֗הוּ וַיֵּלַֽךְ׃ (ב) אֲבָרְכָ֣ה אֶת־ה' בְּכׇל־עֵ֑ת תָּ֝מִ֗יד תְּֽהִלָּת֥וֹ בְּפִֽי׃ (ג) בַּ֭ה' תִּתְהַלֵּ֣ל נַפְשִׁ֑י יִשְׁמְע֖וּ עֲנָוִ֣ים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ׃ (ד) גַּדְּל֣וּ לַה' אִתִּ֑י וּנְרוֹמְמָ֖ה שְׁמ֣וֹ יַחְדָּֽו׃ (ה) דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־ה' וְעָנָ֑נִי וּמִכׇּל־מְ֝גוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃ (ו) הִבִּ֣יטוּ אֵלָ֣יו וְנָהָ֑רוּ וּ֝פְנֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃ (ז) זֶ֤ה עָנִ֣י קָ֭רָא וַה' שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכׇּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗יו הוֹשִׁיעֽוֹ׃ (ח) חֹנֶ֤ה מַלְאַךְ־ה' סָ֘בִ֤יב לִירֵאָ֗יו וַֽיְחַלְּצֵֽם׃ (ט) טַעֲמ֣וּ וּ֭רְאוּ כִּֽי־ט֣וֹב ה' אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הַ֝גֶּ֗בֶר יֶחֱסֶה־בּֽוֹ׃ (י) יְר֣אוּ אֶת־ה' קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִירֵאָֽיו׃ (יא) כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ וְדֹרְשֵׁ֥י ה' לֹא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כׇל־טֽוֹב׃ (יב) לְֽכוּ־בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י יִֽרְאַ֥ת ה' אֲלַמֶּדְכֶֽם׃ (יג) מִֽי־הָ֭אִישׁ הֶחָפֵ֣ץ חַיִּ֑ים אֹהֵ֥ב יָ֝מִ֗ים לִרְא֥וֹת טֽוֹב׃ (יד) נְצֹ֣ר לְשׁוֹנְךָ֣ מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝שְׂפָתֶ֗יךָ מִדַּבֵּ֥ר מִרְמָֽה׃ (טו) ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרׇדְפֵֽהוּ׃ (טז) עֵינֵ֣י ה' אֶל־צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְ֝אׇזְנָ֗יו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָֽם׃ (יז) פְּנֵ֣י ה' בְּעֹ֣שֵׂי רָ֑ע לְהַכְרִ֖ית מֵאֶ֣רֶץ זִכְרָֽם׃ (יח) צָ֭עֲקוּ וַה' שָׁמֵ֑עַ וּמִכׇּל־צָ֝רוֹתָ֗ם הִצִּילָֽם׃ (יט) קָר֣וֹב ה' לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵ֑ב וְֽאֶת־דַּכְּאֵי־ר֥וּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ (כ) רַ֭בּוֹת רָע֣וֹת צַדִּ֑יק וּ֝מִכֻּלָּ֗ם יַצִּילֶ֥נּוּ ה'׃ (כא) שֹׁמֵ֥ר כׇּל־עַצְמוֹתָ֑יו אַחַ֥ת מֵ֝הֵ֗נָּה לֹ֣א נִשְׁבָּֽרָה׃ (כב) תְּמוֹתֵ֣ת רָשָׁ֣ע רָעָ֑ה וְשֹׂנְאֵ֖י צַדִּ֣יק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ (כג) פֹּדֶ֣ה ה' נֶ֣פֶשׁ עֲבָדָ֑יו וְלֹ֥א יֶ֝אְשְׁמ֗וּ כׇּֽל־הַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃ {פ}

Psalms 34

(1) Of David, when he feigned madness in the presence of Abimelech, who turned him out, and he left.^-a (2) I bless the LORD at all times; praise of God is ever in my mouth. (3) I glory in the LORD; let the lowly hear it and rejoice. (4) Exalt the LORD with me; let us extol God's name together. (5) I turned to the LORD, and God answered me; God saved me from all my terrors. (6) Men look to God and are radiant; let their faces not be downcast. (7) Here was a lowly man who called, and the LORD listened, and delivered him from all his troubles. (8) The angel of the LORD camps around those who fear Him and rescues them. (9) Taste and see how good the LORD is; happy the man who takes refuge in God ! (10) Fear the LORD, you God's consecrated ones, for those who fear God lack nothing. (11) Lions have been reduced to starvation, but those who turn to the LORD shall not lack any good. (12) Come, my sons, listen to me; I will teach you what it is to fear the LORD. (13) Who is the man who is eager for life, who desires years of good fortune? (14) Guard your tongue from evil, your lips from deceitful speech. (15) Shun evil and do good, seek amity and pursue it. (16) The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, God's ears attentive to their cry. (17) The face of the LORD is set against evildoers, to erase their names from the earth. (18) They cry out, and the LORD hears, and saves them from all their troubles. (19) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; those crushed in spirit God delivers. (20) Though the misfortunes of the righteous be many, the LORD will save him from them all, (21) Keeping all his bones intact, not one of them being broken. (22) One misfortune is the deathblow of the wicked; the foes of the righteous shall be ruined. (23) The LORD redeems the life of God's servants; all who take refuge in God shall not be ruined.

There are a number of references to being supported by God in this Psalm. Particular note is verse 19 that God is close to those with a broken heart. We are not meant to be perfect. We know we all have flaws and are broken in some way. This aspect of the human condition is what God desires to fix, even if it will take a long time to do so.

תהילים קכ״א

(א) שִׁ֗יר לַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֣א עֵ֭ינַי אֶל־הֶהָרִ֑ים מֵ֝אַ֗יִן יָבֹ֥א עֶזְרִֽי׃ (ב) עֶ֭זְרִי מֵעִ֣ם ה' עֹ֝שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ג) אַל־יִתֵּ֣ן לַמּ֣וֹט רַגְלֶ֑ךָ אַל־יָ֝נ֗וּם שֹׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ (ד) הִנֵּ֣ה לֹֽא־יָ֭נוּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ה) ה' שֹׁמְרֶ֑ךָ ה' צִ֝לְּךָ֗ עַל־יַ֥ד יְמִינֶֽךָ׃ (ו) יוֹמָ֗ם הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ לֹֽא־יַכֶּ֗כָּה וְיָרֵ֥חַ בַּלָּֽיְלָה׃ (ז) ה' יִשְׁמׇרְךָ֥ מִכׇּל־רָ֑ע יִ֝שְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ (ח) ה' יִשְׁמׇר־צֵאתְךָ֥ וּבוֹאֶ֑ךָ מֵ֝עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם׃ {פ}

Psalms 121

(1) A song for ascents.
I turn my eyes to the mountains; from where will my help come? (2) My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth. (3) God will not let your foot give way; your guardian will not slumber; (4) See, the guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps! (5) The LORD is your guardian, the LORD is your protection at your right hand. (6) By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night. (7) The LORD will guard you from all harm; God will guard your life. (8) The LORD will guard your going and coming now and forever.

תהילים כ׳

(א) לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מִזְמ֥וֹר לְדָוִֽד׃ (ב) יַֽעַנְךָ֣ ה' בְּי֣וֹם צָרָ֑ה יְ֝שַׂגֶּבְךָ֗ שֵׁ֤ם ׀ אֱלֹקֵ֬י יַעֲקֹֽב׃ (ג) יִשְׁלַֽח־עֶזְרְךָ֥ מִקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּ֝מִצִּיּ֗וֹן יִסְעָדֶֽךָּ׃ (ד) יִזְכֹּ֥ר כׇּל־מִנְחֹתֶ֑ךָ וְעוֹלָתְךָ֖ יְדַשְּׁנֶ֣ה סֶֽלָה׃ (ה) יִֽתֶּן־לְךָ֥ כִלְבָבֶ֑ךָ וְֽכׇל־עֲצָתְךָ֥ יְמַלֵּֽא׃ (ו) נְרַנְּנָ֤ה ׀ בִּ֘ישׁ֤וּעָתֶ֗ךָ וּבְשֵֽׁם־אֱלֹקֵ֥ינוּ נִדְגֹּ֑ל יְמַלֵּ֥א ה' כׇּל־מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶֽיךָ׃ (ז) עַתָּ֤ה יָדַ֗עְתִּי כִּ֤י הוֹשִׁ֥יעַ ׀ ה' מְשִׁ֫יח֥וֹ יַ֭עֲנֵהוּ מִשְּׁמֵ֣י קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ בִּ֝גְבֻר֗וֹת יֵ֣שַׁע יְמִינֽוֹ׃ (ח) אֵ֣לֶּה בָ֭רֶכֶב וְאֵ֣לֶּה בַסּוּסִ֑ים וַאֲנַ֓חְנוּ ׀ בְּשֵׁם־ה' אֱלֹקֵ֣ינוּ נַזְכִּֽיר׃ (ט) הֵ֭מָּה כָּרְע֣וּ וְנָפָ֑לוּ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ קַּ֝֗מְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָֽד׃ (י) ה' הוֹשִׁ֑יעָה הַ֝מֶּ֗לֶךְ יַעֲנֵ֥נוּ בְיוֹם־קׇרְאֵֽנוּ׃ {פ}

Psalms 20

(1) For the leader. A psalm of David. (2) May the LORD answer you in time of trouble, the name of Jacob’s God keep you safe. (3) May God send you help from the sanctuary, and sustain you from Zion. (4) May God receive the tokens of all your meal offerings, and approve your burnt offerings. Selah. (5) May God grant you your desire, and fulfill your every plan. (6) May we shout for joy in your victory, arrayed by standards in the name of our God. May the LORD fulfill your every wish. (7) Now I know that the LORD will give victory to God's anointed, will answer him from God's heavenly sanctuary with the mighty victories of God's right arm. (8) They [call] on chariots, they [call] on horses, but we call on the name of the LORD our God. (9) They collapse and lie fallen, but we rally and gather strength. (10) O LORD, grant victory!

May the Sovereign answer us when we call.^-c

תהילים ט״ז

(א) מִכְתָּ֥ם לְדָוִ֑ד שׇֽׁמְרֵ֥נִי אֵ֝֗ל כִּֽי־חָסִ֥יתִי בָֽךְ׃ (ב) אָמַ֣רְתְּ לַֽ֭ה' אדושם אָ֑תָּה ט֝וֹבָתִ֗י בַּל־עָלֶֽיךָ׃ (ג) לִ֭קְדוֹשִׁים אֲשֶׁר־בָּאָ֣רֶץ הֵ֑מָּה וְ֝אַדִּירֵ֗י כׇּל־חֶפְצִי־בָֽם׃ (ד) יִרְבּ֥וּ עַצְּבוֹתָם֮ אַחֵ֢ר מָ֫הָ֥רוּ בַּל־אַסִּ֣יךְ נִסְכֵּיהֶ֣ם מִדָּ֑ם וּֽבַל־אֶשָּׂ֥א אֶת־שְׁ֝מוֹתָ֗ם עַל־שְׂפָתָֽי׃ (ה) ה' מְנָת־חֶלְקִ֥י וְכוֹסִ֑י אַ֝תָּ֗ה תּוֹמִ֥יךְ גּוֹרָלִֽי׃ (ו) חֲבָלִ֣ים נָֽפְלוּ־לִ֭י בַּנְּעִמִ֑ים אַף־נַ֝חֲלָ֗ת שָֽׁפְרָ֥ה עָלָֽי׃ (ז) אֲבָרֵ֗ךְ אֶת־ה' אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְעָצָ֑נִי אַף־לֵ֝יל֗וֹת יִסְּר֥וּנִי כִלְיוֹתָֽי׃ (ח) שִׁוִּ֬יתִי ה' לְנֶגְדִּ֣י תָמִ֑יד כִּ֥י מִֽ֝ימִינִ֗י בַּל־אֶמּֽוֹט׃ (ט) לָכֵ֤ן ׀ שָׂמַ֣ח לִ֭בִּי וַיָּ֣גֶל כְּבוֹדִ֑י אַף־בְּ֝שָׂרִ֗י יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶֽטַח׃ (י) כִּ֤י ׀ לֹא־תַעֲזֹ֣ב נַפְשִׁ֣י לִשְׁא֑וֹל לֹֽא־תִתֵּ֥ן חֲ֝סִידְךָ֗ לִרְא֥וֹת שָֽׁחַת׃ (יא) תּֽוֹדִיעֵנִי֮ אֹ֤רַח חַ֫יִּ֥ים שֹׂ֣בַע שְׂ֭מָחוֹת אֶת־פָּנֶ֑יךָ נְעִמ֖וֹת בִּימִינְךָ֣ נֶֽצַח׃ {פ}

Psalms 16

(1) A michtam of David.
Protect me, O God, for I seek refuge in You. (2) I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord, my benefactor; there is none above You.”^-b (3) As to the holy and mighty ones that are in the land, my whole desire concerning them is that (4) those who espouse another [god] may have many sorrows!^-c I will have no part of their bloody libations; their names will not pass my lips. (5) The LORD is my allotted share and portion; You control my fate. (6) Delightful country has fallen to my lot; lovely indeed is my estate. (7) I bless the LORD who has guided me; my conscience admonishes me at night. (8) I am ever mindful of the LORD’s presence; God is at my right hand; I shall never be shaken. (9) So my heart rejoices, my whole being exults, and my body rests secure. (10) For You will not abandon me to Sheol, or let Your faithful one see the Pit. (11) You will teach me the path of life. In Your presence is perfect joy; delights are ever in Your right hand.