Dear Friends,

As we all know our brothers and sisters in Israel are undergoing an

extremely difficult time. Let us all accept upon ourselves to cry out to

G-d and say the following three Psalms every day on their behalf: 83,

130, and 142. Here is an English translation of the following three

Psalms. With the hope for an end to all suffering,

                                                                        

  Rabbi Jay Spero

Psalm 83

1. A song, a psalm of Assaf.

2. O G-d who sits in judgement,silence does not become You, You cannot

hold your peace and be still O Almighty One,

3. For it is Your enemies that are in an uproar and that spread the

hatred of You, they have raised their head

4. It is against Your people that they plot craftily, and they take

counsel against those sheltered by You.

5. They say, "Come, let us destroy them as a nation, the name of Israel

shall be remembered no more.

6. For when they convene together with a unanimous heart, then it is

against You that they make a covenant.

7. The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites. (all

names mentioned here were the enemies of Israel in the time of Assaf (1st

Temple period) Although these are not our specific enemies today, the

principal of people attacking the Jewish nation remains true).

8. Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre.

9. Even Ashur has joined them; they have become the arm of the sons of

Lot.

10. Do to them as to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin in the valley of

Kishon.

11.They were destroyed at Ein-Dor, they became fertilizer for the soil.

12. Make them, their nobles, like Oreb and like Zeeb, and like Zebach and

like Zalmuna those who have become their princes.

13. Who  have also said, "we will conquer for ourselves the pleasant

habitations of G-d."

14. O my G-d, make them as chaff, as stubble before the wind.

15. As the fire that kindles the forest, as the flame that sets the

mountain ablaze.

16. So pursue them with Your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.

17. Fill their faces with shame, so that they may seek Your name at last,

O Lord.

18. Let them be deceived and dismayed forever; let them be unmasked and

sense that they are.

19. And know that You, whose name alone is "The Lord", are the most high

over all the earth.

Psalm 130

1. A song of ascents. Out of the depths have I called to, O G-d.

2. O my Master, hear my voice; let Your ears remain alert to hear my

supplications

3. If You my Lord would carefully watch sins, who could stand before You?

4. For with You is forgiveness, so that you may be feared.

5. Therefore it was for G-d I hoped when my soul hoped, and I waited upon

His word.

6. My soul is my Master's more so than they can keep watch for the

morning, keep watch for the morning (morning being a metaphor for the

messiah, after the long "night" of exile.)

7. Therefore, O Israel, wait upon the Lord, for with the Lord there is

Loving-kindness,and with Him there is redemption in infinite abundance.

8. He will redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

Psalm 142

1. An instruction from David, a prayer when he was in the cave.(When he

was on the run from king Saul)

2. When I weep, it is to the Lord that I cry; when i weep it is to the

Lord that i struggle to become worthy of favor.

3. I will pour out my words before Him, I shall declare my distress

before Him.

4. When my spirit wraps itself around me,You know my path. In the way in

which I openly walked, they have hidden a snare for me.

5. And yet, look on my right hand and see, there is none that will know

me, every refuge has gone from me. No man care for my soul.

6. Therefore I have cried to You,O G-d; I have said: "You are my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living."

7.Attend to the outpouring of my spirit, for I have been brought very

low. Deliver me from my pursuers for they are too mighty for me.

8. Bring my soul out of prison, so that it may acknowledge Your name.

Because of me they will crown the righteous when You will bring my

destiny to fruition.

End with this prayer:

"Our brothers, the entire family of Israel, who are delivered into

distress and captivity, whether they are on sea or dry land--may the

Omnipresent One have mercy on them and remove them from distress to

relief, from darkness to light, from subjugation to redemption, now

speedily and soon- and let us say, Amen."