Daily Tehillim: Day 21

Prayer before Tehillim on a Weekday

May it be the will before You, Hashem, our G-d, and the G-d of our forefathers, Who chose David His servant and his offspring after him, and Who chose songs and praises - that you attend with mercy to the recitation of psalms that I shall merit and consider it as if they were recited by King David, of blessed memory, himself, may his merit be a shield over us. And stand in our favor may the merit of the verses of the psalms together with the merit of their words and their letters and their vowels and their cantilations, and together with the Holy Names that are formed from them, from the initial (letters) of the words and from the final (letters) of the words - may their merit serve to bring atonement for our transgressions, iniquities, and sins, and to cut down ruthless men, and slash away all the thorns and briars which surround the Rose, Celestial; and to unite the Bride of Youth with her Beloved in love, brotherhood, and companionship. And from that (unification) may be drawn to us an abundant blessing to our spirit, breath and soul, to purify us of our iniquities, to forgive our sins and to atone for our transgressions, just as You forgave David who recited these very same psalms before You - as it is said: Hashem also has forgiven your sin, you shall not die. May you not take us from This World before our time, until the completion of our years, (among them are seventy years,) in a manner that we be able to rectify anything that we have ruined. May the merit of King David, of blessed memory, shield over us and for us; that You may be patient (with us), (and wait) until we return to You in repentance that is complete before You. From your treasury of grace that is undeserved, be gracious to us - as it is written: I am Compassionate to those whom I favor, and I am Merciful to those upon whom I have mercy. And just as we recite before You a song in This World, so let us merit to recite before You - O Hashem, our G-d - songs and praises in the World to Come. And through the recitation of the psalms arouse the Rose of Sharon to sing with a voice that is pleasant, with ecstasy and joy. May the glory of the Levanon be given to her, majesty and splendor in the House of our G-d, speedily in our days. Amein. Selah!

Before Saying Tehillim it is customary to say these Three Verses

Come! Let us sing joyfully to Hashem, let us call out to the Rock of our Salvation,
Let us greet Him with thanksgiving, with praiseful songs let us call out to Him.
For a great G-d is Hashem, and a great King above all heavenly powers.

1. Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with glory and majesty,
2. Who covers himself with light as with a garment; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain;
3. Who lays the beams of his chambers in the waters; who makes the clouds his chariot; who walks upon the wings of the wind;
4. Who makes the winds his messengers; the flames of fire his ministers;
5. Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not move forever!
6. You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains!
7. At your rebuke they fled; at the voice of your thunder they hurried away!
8. They went up the mountains; they flowed down the valleys to the place which you appointed for them!
9. You have set a bound that they may not pass over, so that they might not again cover the earth!
10. He sends the springs into the valleys, they flow between the mountains!
11. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst!
12. Beside them dwell the birds of the sky, among the branches they sing!
13. He waters the mountains from his high abode; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your works!
14. He makes the grass grow for the cattle, and plants for the service of man, that he may bring forth food from the earth;
15. And wine that gladdens the heart of man, and oil to make his face shine, and bread which strengthens man’s heart!
16. The trees of the Lord have their fill; the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted,
17. Where the birds make their nests; as for the stork, the cypress trees are her house!
18. The high mountains are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the badgers!
19. He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its setting time!
20. You make darkness, and it is night; when all the beasts of the forest creep forth!
21. The young lions roar for their prey, and seek their food from God!
22. The sun rises, they gather themselves together, and lie down in their dens!
23. Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening!
24. O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures!
25. So is this great and wide sea, where there are innumerable creeping things, living things, both small and great!
26. There go the ships; and Leviathan which you have made to play in it!
27. These wait all upon you; that you may give them their food in due season!
28. When you give to them they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good!
29. When you hide your face, they are troubled; when you take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust!
30. When you send forth your breath, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth!
31. May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; may the Lord rejoice in his works!
32. He looks on the earth, and it trembles; he touches the mountains, and they smoke!
33. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being!
34. My meditation of him shall be sweet; I will rejoice in the Lord!
35. Let the sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah!

1. O give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the people!
2. Sing to him, sing psalms to him; talk you of all his wondrous works!
3. Glory in his holy name; let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4. Seek the Lord, and his strength; seek his face continually!
5. Remember his marvelous works that he has done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6. O seed of Abraham, his servant! O children of Jacob, his chosen!
7. He is the Lord our God; his judgments are over all the earth!
8. He has remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations!
9. The covenant which he made with Abraham, and his oath to Isaac;
10. And confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant;
11. Saying, To you I will give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance;
12. When they were but a few men in number; of little account and sojourners there!
13. When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; 14. He did not allow any man to do them wrong; he reproved kings for their sakes;
15. Saying, Do not touch my anointed, and do not do any harm to my prophets!
16. Moreover he called for a famine upon the land; he broke every staff of bread!
17. He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave;
18. Whose foot they hurt with fetters; he was laid in iron;
19. Until the time that his word came to pass; the word of the Lord had tested him!
20. The king sent and released him; the ruler of the people let him go free!
21. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions;
22. To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his elders wisdom!
23. And Israel came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham!
24. And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies!
25. He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants!
26. He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen!
27. They performed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham!
28. He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they did not rebel against his word!
29. He turned their waters into blood, and caused their fish to die!
30. Their land swarmed with frogs, in the chambers of their kings!
31. He spoke, and there came swarms of flies and gnats in all their borders!
32. He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land!
33. He struck their vines also and their fig trees; and broke the trees of their country!
34. He spoke, and the swarming locusts came, and the hopping locusts without number!
35. And they ate up all the plants in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground!
36. And he struck all the firstborn in their land, the first issue of all their strength!
37. And he brought them out with silver and gold; and among their tribes there was no one who stumbled!
38. Egypt was glad when they departed; for the fear of them had fallen upon them!
39. He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night!
40. They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with bread from heaven!
41. He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; it ran in the dry places like a river!
42. For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant!
43. And he brought out his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness; 44. And he gave them the lands of the nations; and they seized the labor of the people, 45. That they might observe his statutes, and keep his Torot. Hallelujah! Lord!

May it be the will before You, Hashem, our G-d, and the G-d of our forefathers, Who chose David His servant and his offspring after him, and Who chose songs and praises - that you attend with mercy to the recitation of psalms that I shall merit and consider it as if they were recited by King David, of blessed memory, himself, may his merit be a shield over us. And stand in our favor may the merit of the verses of the psalms together with the merit of their words and their letters and their vowels and their cantilations, and together with the Holy Names that are formed from them, from the initial (letters) of the words and from the final (letters) of the words - may their merit serve to bring atonement for our transgressions, iniquities, and sins, and to cut down ruthless men, and slash away all the thorns and briars which surround the Rose, Celestial; and to unite the Bride of Youth with her Beloved in love, brotherhood, and companionship. And from that (unification) may be drawn to us an abundant blessing to our spirit, breath and soul, to purify us of our iniquities, to forgive our sins and to atone for our transgressions, just as You forgave David who recited these very same psalms before You - as it is said: Hashem also has forgiven your sin, you shall not die. May you not take us from This World before our time, until the completion of our years, (among them are seventy years,) in a manner that we be able to rectify anything that we have ruined. May the merit of King David, of blessed memory, shield over us and for us; that You may be patient (with us), (and wait) until we return to You in repentance that is complete before You. From your treasury of grace that is undeserved, be gracious to us - as it is written: I am Compassionate to those whom I favor, and I am Merciful to those upon whom I have mercy. And just as we recite before You a song in This World, so let us merit to recite before You - O Hashem, our G-d - songs and praises in the World to Come. And through the recitation of the psalms arouse the Rose of Sharon to sing with a voice that is pleasant, with ecstasy and joy. May the glory of the Levanon be given to her, majesty and splendor in the House of our G-d, speedily in our days. Amein. Selah! Come! Let us sing joyfully to Hashem, let us call out to the Rock of our Salvation, Let us greet Him with thanksgiving, with praiseful songs let us call out to Him. For a great G-d is Hashem, and a great King above all heavenly powers.