Psalm 14 – Expresses despair at human corruption while holding hope for

Israel’s ultimate salvation.

 

Psalm 53 – Describes mankind’s folly and the longing for G-d’s redemption and restoration of His people.

 

Psalm 126 – Celebrates the joy and renewal that come when Hashem restores His people from exile.

 

Psalm 130 – A heartfelt plea from the depths of the soul, seeking forgiveness, mercy, and redemption.

 

Psalm 13 – A personal outcry during times of loneliness and despair, reaffirming trust in Hashem’s kindness.

 

Psalm 42 – Reflects deep spiritual longing and the yearning of the soul to feel close to Hashem once again.

 

Psalm 55 – Speaks from pain and betrayal, encouraging one to cast their burdens upon Hashem and find peace.

 

Psalm 142 – A prayer recited in isolation and fear, recognizing that even in darkness Hashem knows one’s path.

תהילים י״ג | Psalm 13

​

לַמְנַצֵּחַ מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד
For the conductor, a psalm of David.

 

עַד־אָ֣נָה יְ֭הוָה תִּשְׁכָּחֵ֣נִי נֶצַח עַד־אָ֣נָה תַּסְתִּ֖יר אֶת־פָּנֶ֣יךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי
How long, LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

 

עַד־אָ֣נָה אָשִׁ֣ית עֵצ֣וֹת בְּנַפְשִׁ֑י יָג֥וֹן בִּלְבָבִ֥י יוֹמָ֗ם עַד־אָ֥נָה יָר֖וּם אֹיְבִ֣י עָלָֽי
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

 

הַבִּ֣יטָה עֲנֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה אֱלֹהָ֑י הָאִ֥ירָה עֵינַ֥י פֶּן־אִישַׁ֥ן הַמָּֽוֶת
Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.

 

פֶּן־יֹאמַ֣ר אֹיְבִ֣י יְכַלְתִּיו צָרַ֥י יָגִ֗ילוּ כִּֽי־אֶמּ֥וֹט
And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

 

וַאֲנִי֮ בְּחַסְדְּךָ֪ בָטַ֫חְתִּי יָגֵ֥ל לִבִּ֗י בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ
But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation.

 

אָשִׁ֣ירָה לַ֭יהוָה כִּי־גָמַ֣ל עָלָֽי
I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.

 

תהילים י״ד | Psalm 14

 

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ לְדָוִ֗ד אָמַ֚ר נָבָ֨ל בְּלִבּ֗וֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִשְׁחִ֥יתוּ הִתְעִ֥יבוּ עֲלִילָ֗ה אֵ֣ין עֹשֵֽׂה־טֽוֹב
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.

 

יְֽהוָ֗ה מִשָּׁמַ֗יִם הִשְׁקִ֣יף עַל־בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֑ם לִרְא֗וֹת הֲיֵ֥שׁ מַשְׂכִּ֑יל דֹּרֵ֥שׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִֽים
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

 

הַכֹּ֣ל סָ֭רוּ יַחְדָּו֙ נֶאֱלָ֣חוּ אֵֽין־עֹ֣שֵׂה ט֑וֹב אֵ֥ין גַּם־אֶחָֽד
They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

 

הֲלֹא־יָ֭דְעוּ כָּל־פֹּעֲלֵ֣י אָ֑וֶן אֹכְלֵ֥י עַמִּ֥י אָ֝כְלוּ לֶ֗חֶם יְהוָ֥ה לֹֽא־קָרָֽאוּ
Do all these workers of iniquity know nothing? They devour My people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD.

 

שָׁ֣ם פָּ֭חֲדוּ פָּ֑חַד כִּֽי־אֱלֹהִ֥ים בְּד֝וֹר צַדִּֽיק
There they are in great fear, for God is with the generation of the righteous.

 

עֲצַ֣ת עָ֭נִי תָּב֣וּשׁ כִּֽי־יְהוָ֥ה מַחְסֵֽהוּ
You may frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.

 

מִֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּ֣יּוֹן יְשׁוּעַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּשׁ֥וּב יְ֝הוָ֗ה שְׁב֣וּת עַמּֽוֹ יָגֵ֣ל יַעֲקֹ֑ב יִשְׂמַ֖ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל
Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores His people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

 

תהילים מ״ב | Psalm 42

 

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ מַשְׂכִּ֬יל לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח
For the conductor; a Maskil of the sons of Korach.

 

כְּאַיָּ֗ל תַּעֲרֹ֥ג עַל־אֲפִיקֵי־מָ֑יִם כֵּֽן נַפְשִׁ֥י תַעֲרֹ֥ג אֵלֶ֗יךָ אֱלֹהִֽים
As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for You, O God.

 

צָמְאָה נַפְשִׁי לֵאלֹהִים לְאֵל חָי מָתַי אָבוֹא וְאֵרָאֶה פְּנֵי אֱלֹהִים
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

 

הָיְתָה־לִּי דִמְעָתִי לֶחֶם יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה בֶּאֱמֹר אֵלַי כָּל־הַיּוֹם אַיֵּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ
My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

 

אֵלֶּה אֶזְכְּרָה וְאֶשְׁפְּכָה עָלַי נַפְשִׁי כִּי אֶעֱבוֹר בַּסָּךְ אֶדַּדֵּם עַד בֵּית אֱלֹהִים בְּקוֹל רִנָּה וְתוֹדָה הָמוֹן חוֹגֵג
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I went with the multitude to the house of God, with voice of joy and praise, a festive crowd.

 

מַה־תִּשְׁתּוֹחֲחִי נַפְשִׁי וַתֶּהֱמִי עָלָי הוֹחִילִי לֵאלֹהִים כִּי־עוֹד אוֹדֶנּוּ יְשׁוּעוֹת פָּנָיו
Why are you downcast, O my soul, and why do you moan within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence.

 

תהילים נ״ג | Psalm 53

​

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ עַל־מַחֲלַ֣ת מַשְׂכִּ֣יל לְדָוִ֑ד
For the conductor; upon Mahalath, a Maskil of David.

 

אָמַר־נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִשְׁחִ֥יתוּ וְהִתְעִ֥יבוּ עָ֝וֶ֗ל אֵ֣ין עֹשֵֽׂה־טֽוֹב
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt and commit abominable wickedness; there is none who does good.

 

אֱלֹהִים מִשָּׁמַיִם הִשְׁקִיף עַל בְּנֵי אָדָם לִרְאוֹת הֲיֵשׁ מַשְׂכִּיל דֹּרֵשׁ אֶת־אֱלֹהִים
God looks down from heaven upon mankind to see if any understand, if any seek God.

 

כֻּלּוֹ סָג יַחַד נֶאֱלָחוּ אֵין עֹשֵׂה טוֹב אֵין גַּם־אֶחָד
Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

 

הֲלֹא יָדְעוּ פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן אֹכְלֵי עַמִּי אָכְלוּ לֶחֶם אֱלֹהִים לֹא קָרָאוּ
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? They devour My people as they eat bread; they do not call upon God.

 

שָׁם פָּחֲדוּ פָחַד לֹא־הָיָה פָחַד כִּי־אֱלֹהִים פִּזַּר עַצְמוֹת חֹנָךְ הֱבִישׁוֹ כִּי אֱלֹהִים מְאָסָם
There they were in great fear where no fear was, for God scattered the bones of those who encamped against you; you put them to shame, for God rejected them.

 

מִי יִתֵּן מִצִּיּוֹן יְשׁוּעַת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּשׁוּב אֱלֹהִים שְׁבוּת עַמּוֹ יָגֵל יַעֲקֹב יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל
Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When God restores His people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

​

​

תהילים נ״ה | Psalm 55

 

לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינוֹת מַשְׂכִּיל לְדָוִד
For the conductor, with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

 

הַאֲזִינָה אֱלֹהִים תְּפִלָּתִי וְאַל־תִּתְעַלַּם מִתְּחִנָּתִי
Give ear to my prayer, O God; do not hide Yourself from my plea.

 

הַקְשִׁיבָה לִּי וַעֲנֵנִי אָרִיד בְּשִׂיחִי וְאָהִימָה
Attend to me and answer me; I am distraught in my complaint and moan noisily,

 

מִקּוֹל אוֹיֵב מִפְּנֵי עָקַת רָשָׁע כִּי יַמְטִילוּ עָלַי אָוֶן וּבְאַף יִשְׂטְמוּנִי
Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast iniquity upon me, and in anger they hate me.

 

לִבִּי יָחִיל בְּקִרְבִּי וְאֵימוֹת מָוֶת נָפְלוּ עָלָי
My heart writhes within me, and the terrors of death fall upon me.

 

פַּחַד וָרָעָד בָּא בִי וַתְּכַסֵּנִי פַלָּצוּת
Fear and trembling come upon me; horror overwhelms me.

 

וָאֹמַר מִי יִתֶּן לִּי אֵבֶר כַּיּוֹנָה אָעוּפָה וְאֶשְׁכֹּנָה
And I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”

 

הִנֵּה אַרְחִיק נְדֹד אָלִין בַּמִּדְבָּר סֶלָה
Behold, I would wander far off; I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.

 

אָחִישָׁה מִפְּלֵט לִי מֵרוּחַ סֹעָה מִסְעָר
I would hasten my escape from the raging wind and tempest.

 

בַלַּע אֲדֹנָי פַּלַּג לְשׁוֹנָם כִּי רָאִיתִי חָמָס וְרִיב בָּעִיר
Confound them, O Lord, divide their tongues, for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

 

יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה יְסוֹבְבֻהָ עַל־חוֹמֹתֶיהָ וְאָוֶן וְעָמָל בְּקִרְבָּהּ
Day and night they go about it upon its walls; iniquity and trouble are within it.

 

הַוּוֹת בְּקִרְבָּהּ וְלֹא־יָמִישׁ מֵרְחֹבָהּ תּוֹךְ וּמִרְמָה
Destruction is in its midst; oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets.

 

כִּי לֹא אוֹיֵב יְחָרְפֵנִי וְאֶשָּׂא לֹא מְשַׂנְאִי עָלַי הִגְדִּיל וְאֶסָּתֵר מִמֶּנּוּ
For it was not an enemy who taunted me—then I could bear it; it was not one who hated me who magnified himself against me—then I could hide from him.

 

וְאַתָּה אֱנוֹשׁ כְּעֶרְכִּי אַלּוּפִי וּמְיֻדָּעִי
But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend.

 

אֲשֶׁר יַחְדָּו נַמְתִּיק סוֹד בְּבֵית אֱלֹהִים נְהַלֵּךְ בְּרָגֶשׁ
We who took sweet counsel together walked to the house of God in company.

 

יַשִּׁימָוֶת עָלֵימוֹ יֵרְדוּ שְׁאוֹל חַיִּים כִּי רָעוֹת בִּמְגוּרָם בְּקִרְבָּם
Let death seize them; let them go down alive into Sheol, for evil dwells in their midst.

 

אֲנִי אֶל־אֱלֹהִים אֶקְרָא וַיהוָה יוֹשִׁיעֵנִי
As for me, I will call upon God, and the LORD shall save me.

 

עֶרֶב וָבֹקֶר וְצָהֳרַיִם אָשִׂיחָה וְאֶהֱמֶה וַיִּשְׁמַע קוֹלִי
Evening, morning, and noon I will pray and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.

 

פָּדָה בְשָׁלוֹם נַפְשִׁי מִקְּרָב לִי כִּי בְרַבִּים הָיוּ עִמָּדִי
He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many with me.

 

יִשְׁמַע אֵל וַיַּעֲנֵם וְיוֹשֵׁב קֶדֶם סֶלָה אֲשֶׁר אֵין חֲלִיפוֹת לָהֶם וְלֹא יָרְאוּ אֱלֹהִים
God will hear and afflict them, He who sits enthroned of old, Selah—because they do not change and do not fear God.

 

שָׁלַח יָדָיו בִּשְׁלֹמָיו חִלֵּל בְּרִיתוֹ
He has put forth his hands against those at peace with him; he has profaned his covenant.

 

חָלְקוּ מַחְמָאוֹת פִּיו וְקָרֶב לִבּוֹ רַכּוּ דְבָרָיו מִשֶּׁמֶן וְהֵמָּה פְתִחוֹת
The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

 

הַשְׁלֵךְ עַל־יְהוָה יְהָבְךָ וְהוּא יְכַלְכְּלֶךָ לֹא־יִתֵּן לְעוֹלָם מוֹט לַצַּדִּיק
Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

 

וְאַתָּה אֱלֹהִים תּוֹרִידֵם לִבְאֵר שַׁחַת אַנְשֵׁי דָמִים וּמִרְמָה לֹא יֶחֱצוּ יְמֵיהֶם
But You, O God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction; bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days.

 

וַאֲנִי אֶבְטַח בָּךְ
But as for me, I will trust in You.

​

​

​

תהילים קכ״ו | Psalm 126

​

שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת בְּשׁוּב יְהוָה אֶת שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים
A Song of Ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.

 

אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה אָז יֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם הִגְדִּיל יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִם־אֵלֶּה
Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with songs of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”

 

הִגְדִּיל יְהוָה לַעֲשׂוֹת עִמָּנוּ הָיִינוּ שְׂמֵחִים
The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

 

שׁוּבָה יְהוָה אֶת שְׁבִיתֵנוּ כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּגֶב
Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.

 

הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ
Those who sow in tears shall reap with joy.

 

הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה נֹשֵׂא מֶשֶׁךְ־הַזָּרַע בֹּא יָבוֹא בְרִנָּה נֹשֵׂא אֲלֻמֹּתָיו
He who goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

​

​

​

תהילים קל׳ | Psalm 130

​

שִׁיר הַמַּעֲלוֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ יְהוָה
A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD.

​

אֲדֹנָי שִׁמְעָה בְקוֹלִי תִּהְיֶינָה אָזְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁבוֹת לְקוֹל תַּחֲנוּנָי
Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

 

אִם עֲו‍ֹנוֹת תִּשְׁמָר יָהּ אֲדֹנָי מִי יַעֲמֹד
If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?

 

כִּי עִמְּךָ הַסְּלִיחָה לְמַעַן תִּוָּרֵא
But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.

 

קִוִּיתִי יְהוָה קִוְּתָה נַפְשִׁי וְלִדְבָרוֹ הוֹחָלְתִּי
I wait for the LORD; my soul waits, and in His word I hope.

 

נַפְשִׁי לַאדֹנָי מִשֹּׁמְרִים לַבֹּקֶר שֹׁמְרִים לַבֹּקֶר
My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning—more than watchmen for the morning.

 

יַחֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל יְהוָה כִּי עִם יְהוָה הַחֶסֶד וְהַרְבֵּה עִמּוֹ פְדוּת
Let Israel hope in the LORD; for with the LORD is mercy, and with Him is plentiful redemption.

 

וְהוּא יִפְדֶּה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכֹּל עֲו‍ֹנוֹתָיו
And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

​

​

​

תהילים קמ״ב | Psalm 142

​

מַשְׂכִּיל לְדָוִד בִּהְיוֹתוֹ בַמְּעָרָה תְּפִלָּה
A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave — a prayer.

 

קוֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָה אֶזְעָק קוֹלִי אֶל־יְהוָה אֶתְחַנָּן
I cry aloud to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.

 

אֶשְׁפֹּךְ לְפָנָיו שִׂיחִי צָרָתִי לְפָנָיו אַגִּיד
I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him.

 

בְּהִתְעַטֵּף עָלַי רוּחִי וְאַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ נְתִיבָתִי בְּאֹרַח זוּ אֲהַלֵּךְ טָמְנוּ פַח לִי
When my spirit grows faint within me, You know my path; in the way where I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.

 

הַבֵּט יָמִין וּרְאֵה וְאֵין לִי מַכִּיר אָבַד מָנוֹס מִמֶּנִּי אֵין דוֹרֵשׁ לְנַפְשִׁי
Look to my right and see: no one is concerned for me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.

 

זָעַקְתִּי אֵלֶיךָ יְהוָה אָמַרְתִּי אַתָּה מַחְסִי חֶלְקִי בְּאֶרֶץ הַחַיִּים
I cried to You, LORD; I said, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

 

הַקְשִׁיבָה אֶל־רִנָּתִי כִּי דַלּוֹתִי מְאֹד הַצִּילֵנִי מֵרֹדְפַי כִּי אָמְצוּ מִמֶּנִּי
Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I.

 

הוֹצֵיאָה מִמַּסְגֵּר נַפְשִׁי לְהוֹדוֹת אֶת שְׁמֶךָ בִּי יַכְתִּרוּ צַדִּיקִים כִּי תִגְמֹל עָלָי
Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous will surround me, for You will deal bountifully with me.