A prayer of David.

Incline Your ear Adonay, and answer me,

for poor and needy am I.

Preserve my soul for I am devoted,

deliver Your servant, my God,

who trusts in You.

Be gracious to me my Master,

for to You I cry out all the day.

Make glad the soul of Your servant,

for, to You, my Master,

I lift up my soul.

For You, my Master,

are good and forgiving,

and abounding in kindness

to all who call upon You.

Give ear, Adonoy, to my prayer,

and listen to the voice of my supplications.

In the day of my distress I call out to You,

for You will answer me.

There is none like You

among gods, my Master,

and there is nothing like Your works.

All nations which You have made

will come and bow down

before You, my Master,

and they will give honor to Your Name.

For You are great

and do wondrous things,

You alone God.

Teach me, Adonoy, Your way

that I may walk in Your truth;

let me be of one heart to fear Your Name.

I will thank You, my Master, my God,

with all my heart,

and I will glorify Your Name, forever.

For Your kindness

has been great toward me,

and You have rescued my soul

from the lowest depths of the grave.

God, the insolent have risen up against me,

and a company of violent men

have sought my soul,

and they have not set [the fear of] You

before them.

But You, my Master,

are the Almighty Who is Merciful

and Gracious,

Slow to Anger and Full of Kindness and Truth.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

give Your strength to Your servant,

and deliver the son of Your handmaid.

Give me a sign of Your kindness,

that my enemies may see it and be ashamed,

for You, Adonoy, have helped me

and comforted me.

House of Jacob,

Come let us walk in the light of Adonoy.

For all the nations

walk in the name of its god,

but we walk in the Name of Adonoy,

our God, forever.

May Adonoy, our God, be with us

as He was with our fathers,

may He not forsake us nor abandon us,

that He may turn our hearts to Him,

to walk in all His ways,

to preserve His commandments, His statutes,

and His precepts,

which He commanded our fathers.

May these words of mine

[with] which I have prayed

before Adonoy,

be near to Adonoy, our God

by day and night;

that He provide the needs of his servant

and the needs of His people Israel

each day.

In order that it become known

to all the peoples of the earth

that Adonoy is God—

there is nothing else.

A Song of Ascents of David.

Had it not been for Adonoy

Who was for us,

let Israel now say.

Had it not been for Adonoy

Who was for us,

when men rose up against us.

They would have then swallowed us alive,

when their wrath blazed against us.

The waters would have then swept us away,

affliction would have passed over our soul.

Then over our soul would have gone

the impetuous waters.

Blessed is Adonoy,

Who did not give us

as prey to their teeth.

Our soul escaped as a bird

out of the fowler's snare;

the snare is broken

and we escaped.

Our help is in the Name of Adonoy,

Maker of heaven and earth.

Today is the first day of the week,

on which the Levites used to recite

in the Holy Temple:

A psalm of David:

the earth is Adonoy's

and the fullness thereof,¹ 31a

footnotes: ¹ Rabbi Judah says in the name of Rabbi Akiva, “On the first day of the week, the Levites sang psalm 24, The earth is Adonoy's and the fullness thereof, because on that day God took possession of His newly created world for Himself, in order to give possession to mankind. Yet He remained the sole Master of the world.”—Maseches Rosh Hashana

the inhabited world

and those who dwell in it.

For He founded it upon the seas,

and established it upon rivers.

Who may ascend the mountain² of Adonoy,

footnotes: ² Ibn Ezra says that “mountain” refers to Mount Moriah, the location of the Temple. David composed this psalm on the day he purchased the Temple site from Aravna the Jebusite.

and who may stand

in the place of His holiness?

The clean of hands and the pure of heart,

who has not borne My soul in vain,

and has not sworn deceitfully.³

footnotes: ³ He whose piety is genuine and who will not use the Name of God to deceive others.—S.R. Hirsch

He will bear Adonoy's blessing⁴

footnotes: ⁴ This person can expect that God will give him whatever will best serve his genuine welfare.—S.R. Hirsch

and righteousness

from the God of his deliverance.

This is the generation of those who seek Him,

the seekers of Your Presence,

[God of] Jacob,⁵ Selah.

footnotes: ⁵ “Jacob” refers to all of Israel, the true descendants of the patriarch Jacob.—Radak

Lift up your heads, gates,

and be uplifted

[you] entranceways to eternity,

so that the King of Glory may enter.

Who is this King of Glory?

Adonoy, strong and mighty;

Adonoy, the Mighty One in battle.

Lift up your heads, gates,

and lift, entranceways to eternity,

so that the King of Glory may enter.

Who is He, this King of Glory?

Adonoy of hosts,

He is the King of Glory, Selah.

Today is the second day of the week,

on which the Levites used to recite

in the Holy Temple:

A song, a psalm by the sons of Korach.⁶ 31a

footnotes: ⁶ On the second day, psalm 48, “Adonoy is great and highly extolled,” was sung by the Levites because on the second day of creation God separated the heavenly and earthly parts of the universe and ruled over both.—Maseches Rosh Hashana

Adonoy is great and highly extolled

in the city of our God,

the mountain of His Sanctuary.

Beautiful in its panoramic vista,

the joy of all the earth is Mount Zion,

on the northern extremities (of Jerusalem);⁷ Tziyun is the Hebrew word for a monument, a memorial for someone who has died. When it is spelled “Tziyon, it refers to the site of God's Sanctuary, a timeless memorial for the preservation of truth in the midst of mankind. Even though the Temple has been destroyed, the mountain symbolically reminds man of the presence of the true God.—S.R. Hirsch

footnotes: ⁷ Jerusalem is the source of all the joy in the world. Joy radiates from Jerusalem to the rest of the world because it is the center of the universe, both in terms of geography and history. The Temple era is the midpoint of the generations—of the generations which preceded the Temple, and of those which followed its destruction. The generations before the Temple were uplifted and imbued with the hopes of its realization; the later generations are drawn to its light by recalling its radiant glory and by anticipating its rebuilding. We mention Jerusalem at every joyous occasion to emphasize that it is the true source of joy.—Sfas Emes

the city of the great King.⁸

footnotes: ⁸ Some commentators say that the great king refers to David, rather than to God.

God, in its palaces,

has become known as a Stronghold.

For behold, the kings assembled,⁹

footnotes: ⁹ The kings had assembled to attack Jerusalem.—Rashi

they passed by together.

They saw and were astounded,¹⁰

footnotes: ¹⁰ When the kings, who assembled to attack Jerusalem, witnessed the wondrous deeds which God performed in His victorious battle against their armies, they were astounded and terrified.—Radak

they panicked and fled in haste.

Trembling siezed them there,

like the pangs of a woman in labor.

With an east wind

You smashed the ships of Tarshish.

As we heard, so we saw

in the city of Adonoy of hosts,

in the city of our God;

may God establish it for eternity, Selah.

We hoped, God, for Your lovingkindness

in the midst of Your Sanctuary.

As Your Name, God, so is Your praise—¹¹

footnotes: ¹¹ We testify that Your wondrous deeds match the praise and exalted names which the Prophets used to describe Your might.—Radak

to the ends of the earth;

Your right hand is full of righteousness.

Let Mount Zion rejoice,

let the daughters¹² of Judah exult,

footnotes: ¹² Or cities of Judah.

because of Your judgments.

Rally around Zion and encircle her,

count her towers.

Consider well her ramparts,

raise high her citadels,

that you may recount it to future generations.

That this is God, our God

forever and ever,

He will lead us like children.¹³ into two words al mus. Our translation follows Rashi, who renders it as one word.

footnotes: ¹³ Hirsch and others translate, “He will lead us beyond death.” They divide almus

Today is the third day of the week,

on which the Levites used to recite

in the Holy Temple:

A psalm of Assaf¹⁴ he wrote eleven psalms (73-83). The leading Levite musician of his times, he was also endowed with the spirit of prophecy.

footnotes: ¹⁴ Assaf was one of the ten composers who contributed to the Book of Psalms;

God stands

in the congregation of the Almighty,¹⁵.—Maseches Rosh Hashana 31a

footnotes: ¹⁵ The Talmud designates psalm 82 for the third day of the week because on the third day of Creation, God in His wisdom revealed the earth and established the world for His chosen “congregation.” This psalm is an allusion to Genesis 1:9 where we read, “God said, ‘Let the waters beneath the heavens be gathered (congregate) into one place, so that the dry land may appear’.”

in the midst of the judges He gives judgement.

How long will you judge lawlessly

and show partiality to the wicked forever?

Render justice to the lowly and the orphan,

deal righteously with the poor and destitute.

Rescue the lowly and the needy,

save them from the hand of the wicked.

They neither know nor understand,¹⁶

footnotes: ¹⁶ “They” refers to the judges.

they walk along in darkness,

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.¹⁷ 1:18). Without justice there is no stability in the world.

footnotes: ¹⁷ Justice is one of the three pillars upon which the earth rests (Maseches Avos

I had said "You are godlike beings,

all of you, sons of the Most High."

Nevertheless, you shall die like men,

and fall like one of the princes.

Arise, God, judge the earth,

for You will inherit all the nations.

Today is the fourth day of the week,

on which the Levites used to recite

in the Holy Temple:

Almighty of vengeance, Adonoy,¹⁸

footnotes: ¹⁸ Psalm 94, “Almighty of vengeance” was sung on the fourth day because God created the sun and the moon on the fourth day, and He will punish those who worship them.—Maseches Rosh Hashana

Almighty of vengeance, reveal Yourself.

Arise Judge of the earth,

repay the arrogant their just reward.

How long shall the wicked—

Adonoy—

how long shall the wicked exult?

They express, they speak with arrogance;

all the evildoers are boastful.

Adonoy, they crush Your people

and Your heritage they oppress.

The widow and stranger they kill,

and orphans they murder.

And they say, "God does not see,

the God of Jacob is not concerned."

Consider,

[you] stupid [ones] among the people,—

and you fools when will you become wise?

He Who implanted the ear, does He not hear?

He Who formed the eye, does He not see?

He Who chastises nations,

does He not reprove—

He that teaches man knowledge?

Adonoy knows the thoughts of men,

that they are vanity.

Fortunate is the man

whom You chastise, God,

and whom You instruct from Your Torah.

To grant him tranquility from days of evil,

until the pit is dug for the wicked.

for Adonoy will not abandon His people

and His inheritance, He will not forsake.

For justice shall return unto righteousness,

and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked,

who will stand up for me

against the evildoers?

Had Adonoy not been my help,

in an instant

my soul would have dwelt in the silent grave.

If [Whenever] I said, my foot has slipped,

Your kindliness, Adonoy upheld me.

When (worrisome) thoughts multiply

within me,

Your consolations soothe my soul.

Can a tribunal of evil have accord with You—

[a tribunal] that makes iniquity into law?

They gang up against the life of the righteous,

and blood of the innocent they condemn.

Adonoy has been my stronghold,

my God the Rock of my refuge.

He turns their violence against them,

and with their own wickedness

destroys them;

Adonoy, my God, destroys them.

Come let us sing to Adonoy;

let us shout for joy

to the Rock of our Deliverance.¹⁹

footnotes: ¹⁹ This verse and the following two are from Psalms 95:1-3.

Let us greet Him with thanksgiving;

with song let us shout for joy to Him.

for a great Almighty is Adonoy;

a great King over all godlike beings.

Today is the fifth day of the week,

on which the Levites used to recite

in the Holy Temple:

To Him Who grants victory—²⁰ 31a

footnotes: ²⁰ Psalm 81 was designated for the fifth day “Because God created the birds and fish on that day.” These creatures bring joy to the world and when people observe the vast variety of the bird and fish species, they are awed by God's creativity. They are thus inspired to sing joyously to God.—Maseches Rosh Hashana

upon the Gittis,²¹ a psalm of Assaf:

footnotes: ²¹ Gittis was a musical instrument that was manufactured in the town of Gat.

Sing joyously to God, our strength,

shout for joy to the God of Jacob.²² Thus the verse reads, “Sound the shofar to the God of Jacob.”

footnotes: ²² Meiri associates the word הריעו with תרועה, sounding the shofar.

Take up the hymn, sound the drum,

the pleasant harp and the lute.

Blow the shofar on the Rosh Chodesh,

at the appointed time for our festive day.²³ All other festivals occur when the moon is clearly visible. Rosh Hashana occurs at the beginning of the month when the moon is barely visible.—Maseches Rosh Hashana 8a

footnotes: ²³ The Talmud relates the word כסה with כסה, covering.

For it is a statute for Israel,

a [day of] judgement of the God of Jacob.²⁴

footnotes: ²⁴ S.R. Hirsch translates, “The God of Jacob sits in judgment.”

As a testimony for Yehosef, He ordained it²⁵ from God's Name should be added to his name, making it Yehosef, יהוסף.—Maseches Sotah 10b.

footnotes: ²⁵ Joseph feared God's Name and refused to give in to the wiles of Potiphar's wife. Because he sanctified God's Name, he merited that the letter hei

when he went out over the land of Egypt,

[where] an unfamiliar language I heard.

From the burden, I removed his shoulder,

his hands were removed from the cauldron.²⁶

footnotes: ²⁶ Rashi says that this refers to the cooking and menial kitchen tasks which the Jewish slaves were forced to do in Egypt.

In distress you called out, and I released you,

I answered you

[though you called] in secret

[I answered you] thunderously;

I tested you at the waters of Merivah. Selah.

Hear, My people, I will testify about you,

Israel, if you would just listen to Me.

Let no strange god be within you,

nor bow before a foreign god.

I am Adonoy, your God,

Who brought you up from the land of Egypt,

open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.²⁷

footnotes: ²⁷ “Open your mouth wide” and state all your desires.

But My people did not heed My voice,

and Israel did not want Me.

So I sent them to follow their heart's desires,

let them follow their own devices.

If only My people would heed Me,

if Israel would walk in My ways.

I would immediately subdue their enemies,

and turn My hand against their tormentors.

Those who cause hate of Adonoy

deceive [pretend obedience to] Him,

but their time (of punishment)

will be forever.

But He would feed him (Israel)

from the cream of the wheat,

and from the rock,

I would sate you with honey.

Today is the sixth day of the week,

on which the Levites used to recite

in the Holy Temple:

Adonoy has begun His reign,²⁸ 31a

footnotes: ²⁸ On the sixth day, the Levites sang Psalm 93, “Adonoy has begun his reign, with majesty He has clothed Himself,” because He completed the work of creation and reigned over all His creatures.—Maseches Rosh Hashana

with majesty He has clothed Himself;

Adonoy clothed Himself,

with strength He has girded Himself;

He has firmly established the world,

so that it cannot be moved.

Your throne stands firm from of old,

You are from eternity.

The rivers have raised—Adonoy—

the rivers have raised their voice,

the rivers raise their raging waves.

More than the roar of many waters,

mightier than the breakers of the sea,

mighty on high are You "Adonoy."

Your testimonies are extremely faithful;

holiness is becoming to Your House,

Adonoy,—for the length of days.

Deliver us, God of our deliverance;

gather us and save us from the nations

to give thanks to Your holy Name,

to be extolled in Your praise.

Blessed is Adonoy, the God of Israel

for all eternity,

and all the people said: "Amen"

Praise God.

Blessed is Adonoy from Zion,

Who dwells in Jerusalem.

Praise God.

Blessed is Adonoy, God,

God of Israel

Who alone performs wonders.

And blessed is the Name of His glory forever,

and may His glory fill the whole earth.

Amen and Amen!