I was a young man;[1] in the past, I had strayed — but then I found her. She came to me in shapely form, and I will seek her to the end. “Even a withered blossom delights the heart when the grapes ripen.” My foot walked straightforwardly — for I knew her from my youth. I inclined my ear, just a little, and I discovered an abundance of teaching. Then she became my nurse. (I give my honor to my instructor!) I thought, “let’s have fun!” I craved pleasure unrepentantly. My spirit burned for her; I couldn’t turn my face away. My spirit obsessed over her; I couldn’t ignore her stature. My hand opened her gates and I contemplated her nudity. I cleansed my hand ...
Unite your souls with the good ones and with the perfect ones to glorify the Most High. Join together to make his salvation known and do not hesitate to proclaim his power and his glory to all ordinary people. For, wisdom has been granted in order to make YHWH’s glory known, and in order to recount his many deeds she has been taught to man: to make his power known to ordinary people, to instruct his greatness to those lacking judgment, those who are far from her gates, those who are withdrawn from her entrances. For the Most High is the Lord of Jacob and his glory is upon all his deeds. The person who gives glory to the Most High is accepted like one who brings an offering, like one who offers rams and calfs, like one who makes the altar greasy with many holocausts, like the sweet fragrance from the hand of just ones. Her voice is heard from the gates of just ones, and from the assembly of devout ones her song; when they eat to bursting they speak about it, and when they drink in unison with one another; their meditation is on the Law of the Most High, their words (are meant) to make his power known. How distant from wicked people is her word, from all arrogant people her knowledge! See, YHWH’s eyes have pity on good people; he increases his compassion on those who give him glory; he frees their soul at the instant of danger. Bless YHWH who ransoms the humble from the hand of foreigners, who frees the perfect from the wicked man’s hand; who raises a horn from Jacob and judges
For a maggot can not give you thanks, and a worm can not tell of your kindness. The living, the living can praise you, even can praise you all those who stumble when you make known your kindness to them, and your justice you instruct to them. For in your hand is the soul of every living being, the breath of all flesh you have given. Deal with us, YHWH, according to your goodness, according to the abundance of your compassion and the abundance of your just acts. YHWH has heard the voice of those loving his Name and has not denied them his kindness. Blessed be YHWH who performs just deeds, who crowns his devout with kindness and compassion. My soul cried out to extol your Name, to give thanks with shouts for your kind deeds, to proclaim your faithfulness; to the praise of you there is no end. I was near to death because of my sins, and my iniquities have sold me to Sheol, but you, YHWH, saved me, according to the abundance of your compassion and the abundance of your just acts. I, too, have loved your Name and I have found refuge in your shelter. When I recall your power my heart is strengthened, and I rely on your kind deeds. Forgive my sin, YHWH, and cleanse me from my iniquity. Bestow on me a spirit of faith and knowledge. Let me not stumble in transgression. Let not Satan rule over me, nor an evil spirit; let neither pain nor evil purpose take possession of my bones. Because you, YHWH, are my praise and in you I hope all day. May my brothers be happy with me and my father’s house, who are baffled by your favour ... for ever I shall rejoice in you
I remember you, Zion, for blessing; with all my strength I have loved you. May your memory be blessed for ever! Great is your hope, O Zion; peace will come and the expectation of your salvation. Generation after generation shall dwell in you, and generations of the devout (shall be) your splendour, those hungering for the day of your salvation and who rejoice in the abundance of your glory. At your glorious breast they shall suckle, and they shall scamper about your marvellous squares. The kindnesses of your prophets you will remember, and in the deeds of your devout ones you will revel. Purge ferocity from your midst, may lying and sin be eradicated from you. Your sons will rejoice in your midst and your loved ones will be united with you. How they have waited for your salvation, how your perfect ones have mourned for you! The hope for you does not perish, O Zion, nor is the expectation of you forgotten. Who is the one who perishes being just or who is the one who has been saved in his iniquity? Man is examined according to his path, each one is rewarded according to his deeds. All round (you), O Zion, your enemies are quelled and all those who hate you are scattered. A pleasant scent is your praise, O Zion, rising throughout the whole world. Many times I remember you for blessing; with all my heart I bless you. May you receive everlasting justice and the blessings of the glorious ones may you obtain! Acquire a vision spoken in your regard, and dreams of prophets requested for you! Be glorified and magnified, O Zion! Praise the Most High, your Saviour! May my soul be happy in your glory!
YHWH, I call to you, listen to me; I extend my hands to your holy dwelling; bend your ear and grant my plea, and what I ask, do not deny me; build up my soul and do not demolish it; and do not forsake it in the presence of wicked people. May the judge of truth turn away from me the recompenses of evil. O YHWH, do not judge me by my sin because no-one living is just in your presence. Instruct me, YHWH, in your law, and teach me your precepts so that many may hear your deeds and nations may honour your glory. Remember me and do not forget me or lead me into difficulties to great for me. Remove the sin of my childhood from me and may my offences not be remembered against me. Purify me, O YHWH, from evil plague, and may it stop coming back to me; dry up its roots from me, may its leaves not become green in me. Glory are you, YHWH, therefore my plea is achieved in your presence. To whom may I shout that he would grant it to me? The sons of men: what can their strength do? My trust stems from before you, YHWH. I called “YHWH” and he answered me, and he healed my broken heart. I slumbered and slept; I dreamt, also ... YHWH
Great and Holy are you, YHWH, the Most Holy from generation to generation. In front of him walks glory and behind him the din of many waters. Kindness and truth are around his face, truth, uprightness and justice are the base of his throne. He separated light from darkness, the dawn he established with the knowledge of his heart. Then all his angels saw and sang for he showed them what they had not known. He crowns the mountains with produce perfect nourishment for all the living. Blessed be he who made the earth with his strength, who established the world with his wisdom. With his knowledge he spread out the heavens, and brought out the wind from his storehouses: lightning flashes he made for the rain and made the fogs go up from the end of
and the wood of an axe, and with fire they are completely burned on the place. And David, son of Jesse, was wise, and a light like the light of the sun, and learned, and discerning, and perfect in all his paths before God and men. And YHWH gave him a discerning and enlightened spirit. And he wrote psalms: three thousand six hundred; and songs to be sung before the altar over the perpetual offering of every day, for all the days of the year: three hundred and sixty-four; and for the sabbath offerings: fifty-two songs; and for the offerings of the first days of the months, and for all the days of the festivals, and for the Day of Atonement: thirty songs. And all the songs which he spoke were four hundred and forty-six. And songs to perform over the possessed: four. The total was four thousand and fifty. All these he spoke through (the spirit of) prophecy which had been given to him from before the Most High.
A Halleluia of David, son of Jesse. I was smaller than my brothers and the youngest of my father’s sons; he made me shepherd of his flock and ruler over his kid goats. My hands made a flute, my fingers a lyre, and I gave glory to YHWH. I said to myself: the mountains do not witness to me, nor do the hills proclaim on my behalf, the trees my words and the flock my deeds. Who, then, is going to announce and who will speak and who will recount my deeds? The Lord of all saw, the God of all, he heard, and he listened. He sent his prophet to anoint me, Samuel to make me great. My brothers went out to meet him, handsome of figure and handsome of appearance. Though they were tall of stature, handsome by their hair, YHWH God did not choose them, but sent to fetch me from behind the flock and anointed me with holy oil, and made me leader of his people and ruler over the sons of his covenant. Beginning of David’s power, after God’s prophet had anointed him. Then I saw a Philistine threatening from the ranks of the Philistines. I ...