Psalm 86 for today's PsalmChallenge.
Our host, Robert Geiss in Athens, has a wonderful photo today for Verse 16--not to be missed!
.
PSALM 86. A prayer. Of David.
.jpg)
Incline Your ear, O LORD, answer me, for afflicted and needy am I.
2. Preserve my soul, for I am steadfast; deliver, O You, my God, Your servant who trusts in You.
3. Be merciful to me, O my Lord, for to You I call all day long.
4. Bring joy to Your servant's soul, for to You, my Lord, I lift up my soul.
5. For You, my Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in loving kindness to all who call on You.
6. Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; heed the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7. In the time of my trouble I call on You, so that You will answer me.
8. There is none like You among gods, O LORD, and there is nothing like You have created.
9. All the nations that You have created will come to bow down before You, O my Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
10. Indeed, great are You and creator of wonders; You are God, You alone.
.jpg)
11. Teach me Your way, O my LORD; I will go forward with your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart to fear Your name.
12. I will praise You, O my Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forever.
13. Indeed, Your loving kindness toward me is great, and You will save my soul from the depths of Sheol.
14. O God, arrogant men have arisen against me; a band of ruthless men seek my soul―men without regard for You.
15.
But You, my Lord, are the Deity Who is compassionate and merciful, slow
to anger, abounding in loving kindness and faithfulness.
.jpg)
16. Turn to me and have mercy on me; grant Your strength to Your servant and deliver Your maidservant's child.
17. Create for me a miracle, for good, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame, for You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
.
.
Translation: Rabbi Benjamin J. Segal. See also his explanations and the Hebrew original.
PHOTOS:
1. An Ethiopian monk prays at the door to their church at the Holy Sepulchre.
2. Pilgrims softly singing on the way, in the hill country of John the Baptist. Probably devout Russian Orthodox Christians. I met them as I hiked today. They and I were the only ones out in the wilderness.
3. Libby daughter of Naomi. My youngest grandchild. At Jerusalem's Biblical Zoo.
All the photos can be enlarged.
All the photos can be enlarged.
Great capture of the Ethiopian monk and what a cute granddaughter. Her portrait is just lovely. All the best for 2013, Dina.
ReplyDeleteDina, your shots are ex exceptional. Shaloha. BTW, our new Hi senator is 40 year old nephew of Madeline Albright! A mensch.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos to this psalm. I like this translation. Cute and nice photo of your granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Dina:-)
I love the second photo a lot and of course Libby-bug.
ReplyDeleteShalom Dina. Thank you for these photos, I love them all. The wilderness is looking rather green these days (I enlarged that photo).
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about Robert's choice of photo for this psalm . . . so poignant.
My favorite verse is 11. I've seen it also translated as "...knit my heart to You" . . . love that!
wishing you a very happy new year Dina and thank you for such an enjoyable blog. i always find it entertaining and educational. shalom. Fran
ReplyDeleteYes, it is a long way to go to reach wisdom, peace, the ahead.
ReplyDeleteAdmit, that there are many days, when I wish to be as old as your monk having such a walking stick.
Always a safe step ahead, especially for your young granddaughter.
Thank you very much for your effort and kind participation. Please have a good start into the new week.
Robert, it is not exactly a walking stick. During their long communal prayers the people stand (no chairs) and these long wooden staffs have a carved chin rest to support them.
ReplyDeleteSee more about them at
http://jerusalemhillsdailyphoto.blogspot.co.il/2011/02/inside-ethiopian-church.html
which shows pictures from the big Ethiopian church, NOT from the Holy Sepulchre.
Friends, thanks for your kind thoughts.
ReplyDeleteSara, yes, the rains have brought a greening.
"Knit my heart to You" is a nice image but the translation stretches it a bit. The Hebrew is yached levavi.
Cloudia, I knew your new Senator from Hawaii was a nice Jewish boy but didn't know the relation to Madeline Albright.
Your grand daughter is a dolly. If I had my time again, I wouldn't have bothered with children - I would have gone straight to having gorgeous grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteWe do need to look to the Lord to carry us through the wanderings of life. The monk and the pilgrims seem to be placing their faith with him...and thank the Lord for our blessings, such as your beautiful granddaughter. A great post!
ReplyDeleteShe is a sweetie - enjoy! Those sculptures are one of the best parts of that zoo - always fun, always shiny, and so picturesque!
ReplyDeleteLove the last picture: it is so sweet!
ReplyDelete