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Yechezkel IX
1 He called in my ears with a loud voice, saying: ´Bring near those appointed over the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand.´
2 And see! six men coming from the way of the upper gate which faces northward, each man with his sledgehammer in his hand. One man among them was clothed in linen with the slate of the scribe at his hips. And they came and stood by the copper altar.
3 The glory of the God of Israel rose up from atop the cheruv on which it had been to the threshold of the house; and He called to the man clothed in linen, on which was the slate of the scribe.
4 And HASHEM said to him, ´Pass in the midst of the city, in the midst of Jerusalem, and mark a sign on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan for all the abominations that are done within it.
5 Then He said to these in my hearing: ´Follow him through the city and strike. Let your eyes neither spare nor show mercy. 6 Old man, young man and maiden, children and women, massacre to utter destruction. But any man upon whom is the sign do not approach. And begin from My Sanctuary´; so they began with the old men who were in front of the House.
7 So He said to them, ´Defile the House and fill the courtyard with slain men, Get out!´So they went out and slayed in the city.
8 It was while they slew, and I alone was left that I threw myself down upon my face and I cried and said: ´Alas, my Lord HASHEM / ELOHIM are You destroying the entire remnant of Israel as You pour out Your anger on Jerusalem?´
9 The He said to me, ´The iniquity of the Family of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great: the land was filled with bloodshed, and the city was filled with injustice. For they said: “HASHEM sees not.“ 10 And I, too – My eye will not spare nor will I have mercy. I have placed their way upon their head.´
11 But behold! The man clothed in linen, with the slate upon his hips brings back an answer, saying: ´I have done as You commanded me.´
Psalm VIII (Tehillim Vol. 1)
1 For the Conductor; on the Gitis.
A song of David.
2 HASHEM, our Lord,
how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth,
For it were fit that You place Your majesty above the heavens.
3 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings
You have established strength,
Because of Your tormentors:
to silence foe and avenger.
4 When I behold Your heavens,
the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars,
which You have set in place …
5 What is the frail human
that You should remember him?
And what is the son of mortal man
that You should be mindful of him?
6 Yet you have made him
only a little less than the angels,
And crowned him with a soul and a splendor
7 You gave him dominion
over the works of Your hand,
You placed everything under his feet.
8 Sheep and cattle, everything,
even the beasts of the open field;
9 The birds of the sky
and the fish of the sea.
10 HASHEM, our Master,
how mighty is Your Name throughout the earth!
Psalm 129 (Tehillim Vol. 2)
1 A Song of Ascents.
Much have they distressed me since my youth,
let Israel declare now.
2 Much have they distressed me since my youth,
but they never conquered me.
3 On my back the plowers plowed,
they lengthened their furrow.
4 HASHEM is righteous,
He cut the ropes of the wicked.
5 Ashamed and turned back,
will be all who hate Zion.
6 They shall be like the grass on rooftops,
that withers before it is plucked –
7 With which the reaper cannot fill his hand,
nor the binder of sheaves his arm.
8 And passers–by have never said,
´HASHEM´s blessing upon you;
we bless you in the Name of HASHEM.´
Psalm 61 (Tehillim, 1988)
1 For the Conductor, on Neginas, by David.
2 Hear, O God, my cry, listen to my prayer.
3 From the end of the land unto You I call, when my heart grows faint.
To a rock which is to high for me [to climb alone] – lead me!
4 For You have been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy.
5 May I dwell in Your tent forever, may I take refuge in the shelter of Your wings, Selah.
6 For You, O God, have heard my vows, You have granted the heritage of those who fear Your Name.
7 May You add days unto days of the king, may his years be like all generations.
8 May he sit forever before God; kindness and truth appoint, that they may preserve him.
9 Thus shall I praise Your Name forever, to fulfill my vows day after day.
