JBFCS: Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs

Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services

January 2008

Psalm Thirty: A psalm of David

This Psalm was used as part of the holiday bereavement program described below. For more information on how this psalm was used, please contact Rabbi Stephanie Dickstein at 212.399.2320 ext. 224 or Robin Schoenfeld at ext. 211. The translation is from The Book of Psalms: A New Translation According to Traditional Hebrew Text.

A psalm of David. A song for the dedication of the House.

I extol you, O Lord,
  for You have lifted me up,
  and not let me enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord, my God,
  I cried out to You,
  and You healed me.
O Lord, You brought me up from Sheol,
  preserved me from going down into the Pit.

O you faithful of the Lord, sing to Him,
  and praise His holy name.
For He is angry but a moment,
  and when He is pleased there is life.
One may life down weeping at nightfall;
  but at dawn there are shouts of joy.

When I was untroubled,
  I thought, "I shall never be shaken,"
  for You, O Lord, when You were pleased,
  made [me] firm as a mighty mountain.
When You hid Your face,
  I was terrified.
I calld to You, O Lord,
  to my Lord I made appeal,
  what is to be gained from my death,
  from my descent into the Pit?
Can dust praise You?
Can it declare Your faithfulness?
Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
  O Lord, be my help!

You turned my lament into dancing,
  You undid my sackcloth and girded me with joy,
  that [my] whole being might sing hymns to You endlessly;
  O Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

These "Spirituality Notes" are excerpts from our monthly E-newsletter. Articles are © JBFCS Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs and may be reprinted free of charge as long as this credit line is included.

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