Aaron Lichtenstein - The Book of Psalms in Plain English: A Contemporary Reading of Tehillim

The Book of Psalms in Plain English by Aaron Lichtenstein Copyright 2011, 2006 by Aaron Lichtenstein All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission from the copyright owner, except in the case of brief quotations with credit to the book title and translator and publisher, as follows: Excerpted from The Book of Psalms in Plain English by Aaron Lichtenstein (Urim). First hardcover edition printed in Jerusalem. Epub format ISBN: 978-965-524-070-2 Kindle format ISBN: 978-965-524-071-9 Hardcover format ISBN: 965-7108-86-1 Urim Publications, P.O. Box 52287, Jerusalem 91521 Israel Lambda Publishers, Inc. 527 Empire Blvd., Brooklyn, NY 11225 U.S.A.

Tel: 718-972-5449 Fax: 718-972-6307 publisher@urimpublications.com www.UrimPublications.com

In the following pages, you will find the Book of Psalms itself, its ideas and emotions. The English rendition is in verse, just as the Hebrew original is in poetry in the various poetic modes required by the varied moods and messages. Our intention is to convey clear insights, accomplished by highlighting the interpretations instead of the words. Maimonides instructed his translator Shmuel ibn Tibbon to render the idea, not the word, and our contemporary readings of the Tehillim follow this advice. Aaron Lichtenstein Jerusalem, 2006/5766 Fortunate is the man who never went the way of the wicked, Nor consorted with the sinners, Nor sat around with the cynics, Who instead yearns for Gods teachings, And who studies Gods Torah day and night. Thereby he will be like a tree near a stream, That gives fruit in season and whose leaves never wilt.

Just so, everything the man undertakes will succeed. Not so the evildoers, who are like wind-blown chaff, For evildoers shall not stand with the righteous on judgment day, For God embraces the ways of the righteous, While the ways of evildoers are doomed.

For nothing do the nations gather at a summit, To conspire against God and His elect, resolving: We shall cut all our ties with them, And free ourselves from their heavy bonds. But the Lord in heaven is laughing at them, And to their confusion, responds with anger: It is I who has installed a king on holy Mt. Zion. Now Ill tell you what the Lord said to me: You are like a new-born child to me, Just ask and I shall give you those nations As your birthright possession to the end of the earth, You can beat them with an iron club, Smash them as if they were earthenware.

So now, you monarchs and magistrates, get smart: Obey and serve the Lord energetically, Distribute food, lest He ignite His wrath With a burst of fire that wrecks your rule. Fortunate are those who put their trust in Him.

Davids psalm, when he ran away from his son Absalom: O Lord, I have so many foes attacking me, They say that now even God cannot save me. But you, O Lord, are my shield and protection, So I can uphold my honor and raise my head. I could always call to God and He would respond, Indeed, answering me from His holy mountain, I could lie down to sleep and wake in His care, And I would not fear the political fights around me. O Lord, my God, come now and rescue me, Slap my attackers and break their teeth.

But Lord of salvation, always have blessings for Your nation.

A composition for voices, a psalm of David: My just Lord, have mercy and accept my prayers. Among men, who pursue meaningless illusions, I am a disgraceful foul blot, But know that God takes cognizance of His devotees, So He answers me when I cry out to Him. Agitate against sin and you will sleep soundly, Make the righteous sacrifice, putting your trust in God. Many are asking to be shown the way to virtue, So Lord, do shine Your bright countenance on us, Already my heart is filled with happiness, Greater than the joy over a bumper-crop harvest, And I can lie down to sleep in perfect peace, Because, O Lord, You provide me with Your security. A composition for band, psalm of David: O Lord, hear me and listen to my statements, O King, accept my plea, as I pray to You.

By early morning I put my case to You and wait: Surely clowns will not gain access to You, As indeed You disdain the workers of iniquity, And repulse liars, sneaks, and assassins. But mercifully, I frequent Your temple for worship, So I ask that You grant me a clear success, Because the Other has never spoken an honest word, His throat opens to tragedy and the grave, Condemn him to falling into his own plot, Crush him for repeated sins and for defying You. Then those who love Your majesty can rejoice assured, By bursting into song to celebrate with You, For You extend constant blessings to the righteous, And protect them with a crown of good wishes.

A composition for chorus and strings, a psalm of David: O Lord, do not punish me in Your anger, Have mercy, for I hurt and am weary to the bone, My soul has been in confusion for too long, Help, O Lord, save my soul out of pity, For the dead and buried cannot acknowledge Your Being. Weary with sobs, I drench my bedding in tears, My eyes grow dim from confronting the enemies. Away! all you devils, because God now hears my cry, God accepts my pleas and answers my prayer.

My attackers turn away in abashed disarray, Retreating from the shock of disgrace.

A caprice by David which he sang to God
about Cush ben Yemini: My Lord God, save me from those who pursue me, Who are ready to tear me apart like a lion. My Lord God, if I am guilty as they accuse, If I committed the crime of repaying evil for good, If I am the upstart aggressor for no real reason, Then let my opponents loose for the kill, To beat my life and honor into the ground. Instead, O Lord, apply the judgment You have set for me, And let Your anger flare against my opponents wrongs, Then the whole world will cheer and acquiesce to Your lordship, So Lord who judges nations, see me in my innocence. The just Lord will put an end to wickedness, He weighs the merit in the righteous heart, Helps those who are true, and I rely on Him. The Lord is an honest judge, dispensing continual retribution To the unrepentant who keeps his weapons ready.

But his knife may cause his own death, as happens, As when Mischief marries Crime and they engender Falsehood, As when one hides the ditch he dug and falls himself into it, As when an act of violence turns to harm its perpetrator. Thus, I praise the Lord for His rule of law, And sing my song to His transcendent name.

A composition for instrument, a psalm of David: Our Lord and Master, how glorious is Your name throughout the land, And not only in Your heavenly place of splendor. Your famed power is there in the talk of children, And is a refutation to the embittered heretics. As I gaze at the workings of Your heavens, The moon and the stars which You coordinate, Why would You be concerned with man and woman, This human race which You appointed? You fashioned it just short of divine, And crowned it with respect and dignity, With dominion over all creation, serving at its feet, The sheep and cattle and beasts of the field as well, The birds on high and the fish off distant seashores. Composed on the death of his son, a psalm of David: O God, I thank You from my heart and will reveal Your miracles, I am overjoyed over You and shall sing of Your divinity, Because You have defeated my foes, having scattered them into retreat, For You have given me justice while presiding in Your court, You had warned the people, then condemned the wicked to oblivion, The enemy is no more, his cities destroyed and forgotten, Whereas the Lords justice endures forever, adjudicating the nations, The Lord remains the recourse for the unlucky and downtrodden, And the source of hope for the devout and seekers of the Lord. Next page