Week 29 (Book 5): Reviewing the Fourth Week of Nissan - Psalms 85-87; 90:5-7; 89:30

PSALMS (Introductions and Translations from Chabad.org):

Chapter 85

In this prayer, lamenting the long and bitter exile, the psalmist asks why this exile is longer than the previous ones, and implores G-d to quickly fulfill His promise to redeem us. Every individual should offer this psalm when in distress.

1. For the Conductor, a psalm by the sons of Korach. 2. O Lord, You favored Your land; You returned the captives of Jacob. 3. You forgave the iniquity of Your people, and covered all their sin forever. 4. You withdrew all Your fury, and retreated from Your fierce anger. 5. Return us, O G-d of our salvation, and annul Your anger toward us. 6. Will You forever be angry with us? Will You draw out Your anger over all generations? 7. Is it not true that You will revive us again, and Your people will rejoice in You? 8. Show us Your kindness, O Lord, and grant us Your deliverance. 9. I hear what the Almighty Lord will say; for He speaks peace to His nation and to His pious ones, and they will not return to folly. 10. Indeed, His deliverance is near those who fear Him, that [His] glory may dwell in the land. 11. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed. 12. Truth will sprout from the earth, and righteousness will peer from heaven. 13. The Lord, too, will bestow goodness, and our land will yield its produce. 14. Righteousness shall walk before him, and he shall set his footsteps in [its] path.

Chapter 86

This psalm contains many prayers regarding David's troubles, and his enemies Doeg and Achitophel. It also includes many descriptions of G-d's praise. Every individual can offer this psalm when in distress.

1. A prayer by David. Lord, turn Your ear, answer me, for I am poor and needy. 2. Guard my soul, for I am pious; You, my G-d, deliver Your servant who trusts in You. 3. Be gracious to me, my Lord, for to You I call all day. 4. Bring joy to the soul of Your servant, for to You, my Lord, I lift my soul. 5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, and exceedingly kind to all who call upon You. 6. Lord, hear my prayer and listen to the voice of my supplications. 7. On the day of my distress I call upon You, for You will answer me. 8. There is none like You among the supernal beings, my Lord, and there are no deeds like Yours. 9. All the nations that You have made will come and bow down before You, my Lord, and give honor to Your Name, 10. for You are great and perform wonders, You alone, O G-d. 11. Lord, teach me Your way that I may walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your Name. 12. I will praise You, my Lord, my G-d, with all my heart, and give honor to Your Name forever. 13. For Your kindness to me has been great; You have saved my soul from the depth of the grave. 14. O G-d, malicious men have risen against me; a band of ruthless men has sought my soul; they are not mindful of You. 15. But You, my Lord, are a compassionate and gracious G-d, slow to anger and abounding in kindness and truth. 16. Turn to me and be gracious to me; grant Your strength to Your servant, and deliver the son of Your maidservant. 17. Show me a sign of favor, that my foes may see and be shamed, because You, Lord, have given me aid and consoled me.

Chapter 87

Composed to be sung in the Holy Temple, this psalm praises the glory of Jerusalem, a city that produces many great scholars, eminent personalities, and persons of good deeds. It also speaks of the good that will occur in the Messianic era.

1. By the sons of Korach, a psalm, a song devoted to the holy mountains [of Zion and Jerusalem]. 2. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. 3. Glorious things are spoken of you, eternal city of G-d. 4. I will remind Rahav Egypt and Babylon concerning My beloved; Philistia and Tyre as well as Ethiopia, "This one was born there.” 5. And to Zion will be said, "This person and that was born there"; and He, the Most High, will establish it. 6. The Lord will count in the register of people, "This one was born there," Selah. 7. Singers as well as dancers [will sing your praise and say], "All my inner thoughts are of you."

TIKKUN HAKLALI

Chapter 90

5. You carry them away as a flood; they are like a sleep; in the morning, like grass it passes away.
6. In the morning, it blossoms and passes away; in the evening, it is cut off and withers.
7. For we perish from Your wrath, and from Your anger we are dismayed.

PSALM 89

30. And I shall make his seed endure forever, and his throne as the days of the heavens.