From the beginning of Elul we include Psalms 27
א לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יהוה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי
מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א
יהוה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י
מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃
1 Yah, you are my Light, my Savior,
Whom need I dread?
Yah, With You as my strong Protector
Who can make me panic?
ב בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮
לֶאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י
צָרַ֣י וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י
הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃
2 When hateful bullies gang up on me,
Wanting to harass me,
To oppress and terrorize me,
They are the ones who stumble and fall.
ג אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮
לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י
אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה
בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃
3 Even if a gang surrounds me
My heart is not weakened.
If a battle is joined around me
My trust in You is firm.
ד אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יהוה
אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ
שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יהוה
כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י
לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יהוה
וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃
4 Only one thing do I ask of You, Yah,
Just this alone do I seek:
I want to be at home with You, Yah,
All the days of my life.
I want to delight in seeing You,
When I come to visit You in Your Temple.
ה כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה
יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ
בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃
5 You hide me in Your Sukkah on a foul day.
You conceal me unseen in Your tent
And also raise me beyond anyone’s reach.
ו וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י
עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י
וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה
אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיהוה׃
6 And now, as You have held my head high,
Despite the presence of my powerful foes,
I prepare to celebrate and thrill,
Singing and making music to You, Yah!
ז שְׁמַע־יהוה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א
וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃
7 Listen, Yah, to the sound of my cry
And, being kind, answer me.
ח לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י
אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יהוה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃
8 My heart has said: I turn to seek You,
Your Presence is what I beg for.
ט אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ ׀ מִמֶּנִּי֮
אַֽל־תַּט־בְּאַ֗ף
עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ
אַֽל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי וְאַל־תַּֽ֝עַזְבֵ֗נִי
אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃
9 Don’t hide Your Face from me.
Don’t just put me down,
You, who have been my helper
Don’t abandon me, don’t forsake me,
God, my support.
י כִּי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי
וַֽיהוה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי׃
10 Though father and mother have left me
You, Yah, will hold me securely.
יא ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יהוה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ
וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃
11 Please teach me Your way
And guide me on the straight path.
יב אַֽל־תִּ֭תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י
כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר
וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס׃
12 Discourage those who defame me.
False witnesses stood up against me,
Belching out violence.
Don’t let me become the victim of my foes.
יג לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת
בְּֽטוּב־יהוה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃
[I would not have survived]
13 If I had not hoped that I would yet see
Yah’s goodness fully alive on Earth.
יד קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יהוה
חֲ֭זַק
וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ
וְ֝קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יהוה׃
14 So friend, you too, hope to Yah.
Be sturdy!
And make strong your heart!
And most of all —keep hoping to Yah..
א לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יהוה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי
מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א
יהוה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י
מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃
1 Yah, you are my Light, my Savior,
Whom need I dread?
Yah, With You as my strong Protector
Who can make me panic?
ב בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮
לֶאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י
צָרַ֣י וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י
הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃
2 When hateful bullies gang up on me,
Wanting to harass me,
To oppress and terrorize me,
They are the ones who stumble and fall.
ג אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮
לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י
אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה
בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃
3 Even if a gang surrounds me
My heart is not weakened.
If a battle is joined around me
My trust in You is firm.
ד אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יהוה
אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ
שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יהוה
כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י
לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יהוה
וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃
4 Only one thing do I ask of You, Yah,
Just this alone do I seek:
I want to be at home with You, Yah,
All the days of my life.
I want to delight in seeing You,
When I come to visit You in Your Temple.
ה כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה
יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ
בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃
5 You hide me in Your Sukkah on a foul day.
You conceal me unseen in Your tent
And also raise me beyond anyone’s reach.
ו וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י
עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י
וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה
אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיהוה׃
6 And now, as You have held my head high,
Despite the presence of my powerful foes,
I prepare to celebrate and thrill,
Singing and making music to You, Yah!
ז שְׁמַע־יהוה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א
וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃
7 Listen, Yah, to the sound of my cry
And, being kind, answer me.
ח לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י
אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יהוה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃
8 My heart has said: I turn to seek You,
Your Presence is what I beg for.
ט אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ ׀ מִמֶּנִּי֮
אַֽל־תַּט־בְּאַ֗ף
עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ
אַֽל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי וְאַל־תַּֽ֝עַזְבֵ֗נִי
אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי׃
9 Don’t hide Your Face from me.
Don’t just put me down,
You, who have been my helper
Don’t abandon me, don’t forsake me,
God, my support.
י כִּי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי
וַֽיהוה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי׃
10 Though father and mother have left me
You, Yah, will hold me securely.
יא ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יהוה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ
וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃
11 Please teach me Your way
And guide me on the straight path.
יב אַֽל־תִּ֭תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י
כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר
וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס׃
12 Discourage those who defame me.
False witnesses stood up against me,
Belching out violence.
Don’t let me become the victim of my foes.
יג לׅׄוּלֵׅׄ֗אׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת
בְּֽטוּב־יהוה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃
[I would not have survived]
13 If I had not hoped that I would yet see
Yah’s goodness fully alive on Earth.
יד קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יהוה
חֲ֭זַק
וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ
וְ֝קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יהוה׃
14 So friend, you too, hope to Yah.
Be sturdy!
And make strong your heart!
And most of all —keep hoping to Yah..
https://opensiddur.org/readings-and-sourcetexts/mekorot/tanakh/ketuvim/sifrei-emet/tehilim/book-one/psalms-027-interpretive-translation-by-zalman-schachter-shalomi/
Psalm 27
August 18, 2017
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יהוה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יהוה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃
August 18, 2017
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg
לְדָוִ֨ד ׀ יהוה ׀ אוֹרִ֣י וְ֭יִשְׁעִי מִמִּ֣י אִירָ֑א יהוה מָֽעוֹז־חַ֝יַּ֗י מִמִּ֥י אֶפְחָֽד׃
Awareness is sunlight in the mind. No one can take that from me. Awareness is my life’s stronghold. It absorbs all fear.
בִּקְרֹ֤ב עָלַ֨י ׀ מְרֵעִים֮ לֶאֱכֹ֪ל אֶת־בְּשָׂ֫רִ֥י צָרַ֣י וְאֹיְבַ֣י לִ֑י הֵ֖מָּה כָשְׁל֣וּ וְנָפָֽלוּ׃
The hindrances and defilements are as close as my flesh and mind, but they dissolve in the light of being known.
אִם־תַּחֲנֶ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ מַחֲנֶה֮ לֹֽא־יִירָ֪א לִ֫בִּ֥י אִם־תָּק֣וּם עָ֭לַי מִלְחָמָ֑ה בְּ֝זֹ֗את אֲנִ֣י בוֹטֵֽחַ׃
Even though I feel assaulted by hostile forces, my heart remains confident, balanced and patient.
אַחַ֤ת ׀ שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵֽאֵת־יהוה אוֹתָ֪הּ אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ שִׁבְתִּ֣י בְּבֵית־יהוה כָּל־יְמֵ֣י חַיַּ֑י לַחֲז֥וֹת בְּנֹֽעַם־יהוה וּלְבַקֵּ֥ר בְּהֵיכָלֽוֹ׃
I seek only one thing, one thing alone: to connect to this moment. Nowhere else. Only this. Nothing less. My palace in time.
כִּ֤י יִצְפְּנֵ֨נִי ׀ בְּסֻכֹּה֮ בְּי֪וֹם רָ֫עָ֥ה יַ֭סְתִּרֵנִי בְּסֵ֣תֶר אָהֳל֑וֹ בְּ֝צ֗וּר יְרוֹמְמֵֽנִי׃
When difficulties arise, I have a hiding place in my own heart— a secret tent where I can go and feel safe, a rock to rest my head upon.
וְעַתָּ֨ה יָר֪וּם רֹאשִׁ֡י עַ֤ל אֹֽיְבַ֬י סְֽבִיבוֹתַ֗י וְאֶזְבְּחָ֣ה בְ֭אָהֳלוֹ זִבְחֵ֣י תְרוּעָ֑ה אָשִׁ֥ירָה וַ֝אֲזַמְּרָ֗ה לַיהוה׃
Greed, hatred, and delusion don’t stop coming, but when they are met with a spacious heart, they don’t stick around. Leaving me so grateful, I want to sing out loud:
שְׁמַע־יהוה קוֹלִ֥י אֶקְרָ֗א וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וַעֲנֵֽנִי׃
Listen, world! The power of love sets me free.
לְךָ֤ ׀ אָמַ֣ר לִ֭בִּי בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ פָנָ֑י אֶת־פָּנֶ֖יךָ יהוה אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ׃
When I turn to face my heart—then everyone and everything is revealed.
אַל־תַּסְתֵּ֬ר פָּנֶ֨יךָ ׀ מִמֶּנִּי֮ אַֽל־תַּט־בְּאַ֗ף עַ֫בְדֶּ֥ךָ עֶזְרָתִ֥י הָיִ֑יתָ אַֽל־תִּטְּשֵׁ֥נִי וְאַל־תַּֽ֝עַזְבֵ֗נִי אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׁעִֽי
Let this truth not be hidden from me. If only I could remember always what seems so clear right now. Wisdom would guide my every moment.
כִּי־אָבִ֣י וְאִמִּ֣י עֲזָב֑וּנִי וַֽיהוה יַֽאַסְפֵֽנִי׃
Awareness and compassion would be a father and a mother to me.
ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי יהוה דַּ֫רְכֶּ֥ךָ וּ֭נְחֵנִי בְּאֹ֣רַח מִישׁ֑וֹר לְ֝מַ֗עַן שׁוֹרְרָֽי׃
But I can follow the guidance of those who have walked this path before.
אַֽל־תִּ֭תְּנֵנִי בְּנֶ֣פֶשׁ צָרָ֑י כִּ֥י קָֽמוּ־בִ֥י עֵֽדֵי־שֶׁ֝֗קֶר וִיפֵ֥חַ חָמָֽס׃
Trying to stay alert to the obstacles along the way because delusion and hatred aren’t disappearing so fast.
לוּלֵא הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּֽטוּב־יהוה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים׃
Still, I affirm my faith in the power of goodness.
קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יהוה חֲ֭זַק וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יהוה׃
May we take courage; may we be strong; may our hearts be so filled with love there is no room for anything else! May we see the arising and passing of all conditioned things. May we open to the Unconditioned: Y*H*V*H
Psalm 27 – Meditation for Elul
To the Beloved,
The Infinite Presence is my light and expanse, who should I fear?
The Infinite Presence is the strength of my life, what shall I dread?
When forces come close
Seeming to devour me,
When narrowness threatens,
And opposition attacks,
All that is menacing stumbles and falls.
Even as an army of mistrust besieges me
My heart does not fear.
Even as thoughts and desires rise up against me
I still have trust.
One thing I ask of the Infinite,
One thing I seek,
To dwell in the Presence all the days of my life.
To awaken to the beauty of each moment
as I pass through this world.
The Infinite shelters me as I encounter difficulty and pain.
The Infinite holds me close in deep and hidden places.
And lifts me high upon a rock.
Now I can see through to what is true.
And I will offer my gifts of thanks
And I will sing and make music to the Eternal.
Please, Infinite One, Listen to my voice, hear my call.
Be gracious with me.
Answer me.
You call to my heart, “Seek my presence”
Your presence I seek.
Please don’t hide from me.
Please don’t let me turn away in anger.
I long to serve.
You are my help.
Do not let me feel abandoned. Do not let me turn away.
In You I am safe.
For my Mother and father have left me
And it is you who gathers me in.
Teach me Your ways. Guide me on the path of integrity.
There is so much to lead me astray.
Don’t let me give in to all that torments me,
the lies, the illusions, the menacing threats.
I must have faith that I can see through all of this
I can see the good, the blessings, the ways of life.
Cultivate hope in the Infinite Presence.
Let your heart be strong and filled with courage.
Cultivate hope.
The Infinite Presence is my light and expanse, who should I fear?
The Infinite Presence is the strength of my life, what shall I dread?
When forces come close
Seeming to devour me,
When narrowness threatens,
And opposition attacks,
All that is menacing stumbles and falls.
Even as an army of mistrust besieges me
My heart does not fear.
Even as thoughts and desires rise up against me
I still have trust.
One thing I ask of the Infinite,
One thing I seek,
To dwell in the Presence all the days of my life.
To awaken to the beauty of each moment
as I pass through this world.
The Infinite shelters me as I encounter difficulty and pain.
The Infinite holds me close in deep and hidden places.
And lifts me high upon a rock.
Now I can see through to what is true.
And I will offer my gifts of thanks
And I will sing and make music to the Eternal.
Please, Infinite One, Listen to my voice, hear my call.
Be gracious with me.
Answer me.
You call to my heart, “Seek my presence”
Your presence I seek.
Please don’t hide from me.
Please don’t let me turn away in anger.
I long to serve.
You are my help.
Do not let me feel abandoned. Do not let me turn away.
In You I am safe.
For my Mother and father have left me
And it is you who gathers me in.
Teach me Your ways. Guide me on the path of integrity.
There is so much to lead me astray.
Don’t let me give in to all that torments me,
the lies, the illusions, the menacing threats.
I must have faith that I can see through all of this
I can see the good, the blessings, the ways of life.
Cultivate hope in the Infinite Presence.
Let your heart be strong and filled with courage.
Cultivate hope.
Translation by Rabbi Yael Levy
Elul 5773 /2013
Elul 5773 /2013