By Sigurd Neubauer
10/10/2023
As the Jewish people mourn the recent savage terrorist attacks in Israel, which was marked by brutality and inhumanity, it is time to return to prayer. Over 1200 people, including women and children, have been killed. The death toll is expected to rise. Within the Jewish tradition, it is customary to recite Psalms during a time of distress and extreme agony.
Here’s Chapter 142 from the book of Psalms – or תהילים – in Hebrew.
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1A maskil of David, when he was in the cave, a prayer. |
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2[With] my voice, I cry out to the Lord; [with] my voice, I supplicate the Lord. |
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3I pour out before Him my speech; my distress I recite before Him. |
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4When my spirit enwraps itself upon me, and You know my path. In whichever way I go, they have hidden a snare for me. |
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5Looking to the right, I see that no one recognizes me; escape is lost from me; no one seeks my soul. |
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6I cried out to You, O Lord; I said, “You are my refuge, my lot in the land of the living.” |
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7Hearken to my cry for I have become very low; save me from my pursuers for they have overpowered me. |
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8Take my soul out of confinement to give thanks to Your name; because of me the righteous will crown You, because You will recompense me. |
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אמַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְדָוִ֑ד בִּֽהְיוֹת֖וֹ בַמְּעָרָ֣ה תְפִלָּֽה: |
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בקוֹלִי אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה אֶזְעָ֑ק ק֜וֹלִ֗י אֶל־יְ֘הֹוָ֥ה אֶתְחַנָּֽן: |
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גאֶשְׁפֹּ֣ךְ לְפָנָ֣יו שִׂיחִ֑י צָֽ֜רָתִ֗י לְפָ֘נָ֥יו אַגִּֽיד: |
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דבְּהִתְעַטֵּ֬ף עָלַ֜י | רוּחִ֗י וְאַתָּה֘ יָדַ֪עְתָּ נְתִֽיבָ֫תִ֥י בְּאֹֽרַח־ז֥וּ אֲהַלֵּ֑ךְ טָֽמְנ֖וּ פַ֥ח לִֽי: |
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ההַבֵּ֚יט יָמִ֨ין | וּרְאֵה֘ וְאֵין־לִ֪י מַ֫כִּ֥יר אָבַ֣ד מָנ֣וֹס מִמֶּ֑נִּי אֵ֖ין דּוֹרֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשִֽׁי: |
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וזָעַ֥קְתִּי אֵלֶ֗יךָ יְהֹ֫וָ֥ה אָ֖מַרְתִּי אַתָּ֣ה מַחְסִּ֑י חֶ֜לְקִ֗י בְּאֶ֣רֶץ הַֽחַיִּים: |
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זהַקְשִׁ֚יבָה | אֶל־רִנָּתִי֘ כִּֽי־דַלּ֪וֹתִי מְ֫אֹ֥ד הַצִּילֵ֥נִי מֵרֹֽדְפַ֑י כִּ֖י אָֽמְצ֣וּ מִמֶּֽנִּי: |
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חה֘וֹצִ֚יאָה מִמַּסְגֵּ֨ר | נַפְשִׁי֘ לְהוֹד֪וֹת אֶת־שְׁ֫מֶ֥ךָ בִּ֖י יַכְתִּ֣רוּ צַדִּיקִ֑ים כִּ֖י תִגְמֹ֣ל עָלָֽי: |
I pray for the swift and full recovery of the injured, I pray for the bereaved families, and I pray for the wellbeing of those taken hostage: President Isaac Herzog of the State of Israel
The heinous terrorist attacks were committed on a Jewish holiday - which also coincided with the Sabbath - will mark another grim day in the 3,000 years of Jewish history. Israelis consider this day their own 'Pearl Harbor'