The following psalm (27) is recited at the conclusion of services, morning and evenings, from the first day of Elul, through Shemini Atzeres. Others say only until Hoasha’na Rabbah. The psalm voices our prayer that God will be our light on Rosh Hashana enabling us to repel the darkness of sin through true repentance, and that He will be our salvation on Yom Kippur, through His compassionate atonement of our sins.

By David: Adonoy is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? Adonoy is the strength¹ of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers approach me to devour my flesh— my tormentors and my foes they stumble and fall. If an army should encamp against me, my heart would not fear; if war were to rise against me, in this² I trust. One thing I request of Adonoy, [only] that shall I seek, that I may dwell³ 40b in the House of Adonoy all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of Adonoy, and to meditate in His Sanctuary. For He will hide me in His Tabernacle⁴ on the day of distress, He will conceal me in the shelter of His Tent, upon a rock He will lift me. And now my head is raised high above my enemies around me;⁵ and I will offer in His Tent, sacrifices accompanied by trumpets of joy; I will sing and chant to Adonoy. Adonoy, hear my voice⁶ when I call; be gracious to me and answer me. Of You, my heart has said, Seek My Presence; Your Presence, Adonoy I will seek. Conceal not Your Presence from me, do not turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my help; neither cast me off nor abandon me, God of my deliverance. When my father and mother abandon⁷ me, Adonoy will gather me up. Adonoy, teach me Your way, and lead me in the path of uprightness, because of my watchers.⁸ Do not deliver me to the will of my tormentors, for false witnesses have risen against me, who breathe violence. Had I not believed⁹ that I would see the goodness of Adonoy in the land of living.¹⁰ holds that it refers to the World-to-Come; and Malbim says that it refers to Eretz Yisroel. Hope to Adonoy, be strong and He will give you courage; and hope to Adonoy.

footnotes: ¹ Rav S.R. Hirsch translates, “Adonoy is the source of my life’s strength,” thus David declares that God is the fount from which his life derives its power to resist all foes. ² David says that he trusts in the declaration stated in the opening verse, “Adonoy is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?—Rashi, Radak ³ The literal translation of שבתי is “my sitting.” The Talmud states that “no man may ‘sit’ in the courtyard of the Temple except for the kings of the House of David.”—Maseches Sotah ⁴ The Vilna Gaon comments that all the commandments pertaining to Succos are implied in this verse and the next. ⁵ David declares, “Because I look up to God in every aspect of my existence, I am so exalted that no enemy can harm me.—S.R. Hirsch ⁶ This verse alludes to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. “Hear my voice,” refers to Rosh Hashana when we sound the shofar. The word “my voice (sound)” refers to the “voice” of the shofar. “When I call” refers to Yom Kippur, about which Isaiah (55:6) said, “call to Him when He is near.”—Siddur HaGra ⁷ Even if I were so depraved that my own mother and father would abandon me to my own devices, God would still gather me up and believe in my ability to mend my ways.—S.R. Hirsch ⁸ I.e., his enemies. David asks for Divine help that he be saved even from the mere semblance of wrongdoing so that his foes should not be able to rejoice over his faults.—S.R. Hirsch ⁹ “These false witnesses would have destroyed me had I not believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.”—Rashi, Radak ¹⁰ There are various interpretations of the “Land of the living.” Some hold that it refers to the present world in which we live—Metsudas Tzion; Ramban

Exalted and sanctified¹. One should be very careful to emphasize the letter gimel (ג) when saying the word “Yisgadal (יִתְגַּדַּל),” in order that it not be heard as “Yiskadal (יִתְקַּדַל),” from the word קְדָל which means neck.—Mishnah Berurah 56:2 be His great Name

footnotes: ¹ These opening words refer to the fulfillment of God’s prophecy, through Ezekiel (38:23) “And I will thus exalt Myself and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of the many nations, and they will know that I am Adonoy.”—Levush, Siddur HaGra

in the world which He created according to His will and may He rule His kingdom.² In your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire House of Israel, speedily and in the near future³— and say Amein.

footnotes: ² May His sovereignty be revealed. ³ We pray that the redemption will come speedily and that the process of the redemption itself will not be prolonged.—Siddur HaGra

May His great Name be blessed forever and for all eternity.⁴

footnotes: ⁴ This phrase, the heart of the Kaddish, is found almost verbatim in Daniel 2:20.

Blessed and praised, glorified, and exalted and uplifted, honored and elevated and extolled⁵ be the Name of the Holy One, blessed is He;

footnotes: ⁵ The ten expressions of praise in the Kaddish refer to the ten utterances by which God created the world. (See Maseches Avos 5:1.)

above (Ten Days of Penitence: far above) all the blessings and hymns,⁶in the name of the Vilna Gaon 56:14. praises and consolations⁷ which we utter in the world—and say Amein.

footnotes: ⁶ May God be praised and exalted far beyond all the blessings, hymns and praises that are uttered.—Mishnah Berurah ⁷ Consolations are uttered because God is in mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of His people.

May there be abundant peace from heaven and a good life for us and for all Israel, —and say Amein.

He Who makes peace (Ten Days of Penitence: the peace) in His high heavens may He, in His mercy, make peace for us and for all Israel, —and say Amein.