Today is the 5th Day of Elul

(Only 25 days left for Rosh HaShana - The Day of Judgement) We pray:

Tehilim Chapter 27

King David acknowledges and praises God, placing his trust in Him because of his victories in war. "Nevertheless, it is not wars that I desire, for I cannot gain perfection with them. Only one thing do I ask: to abide day and night in the study hall studying Torah, to gain perfection so that my soul may merit the life of the World to Come."

1. Of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; from whom shall I be frightened? 2. When evildoers draw near to me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies against me-they stumbled and fell. 3. If a camp encamps against me, my heart shall not fear; if a war should rise up against me, in this I trust. 4. One [thing] I ask of the Lord, that I seek-that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to see the pleasantness of the Lord and to visit His Temple every morning. 5. That He will hide me in His tabernacle on the day of calamity; He will conceal me in the secrecy of His tent; He will lift me up on a rock. 6. And now, my head will be raised over my enemies around me, and I will sacrifice in His tent sacrifices with joyous song; I will sing and chant praise to the Lord. 7. Hearken, O Lord, to my voice [which] I call out, and be gracious to me and answer me. 8. On Your behalf, my heart says, "Seek My presence." Your presence, O Lord, I will seek. 9. Do not hide Your presence from me; do not turn Your servant away with anger. You were my help; do not forsake me and do not abandon me, O God of my salvation. 10. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord gathers me in. 11. Instruct me, O Lord, in Your way, and lead me in the straight path because of those who lie in wait for me. 12. Do not deliver me to the desires of my adversaries, for false witnesses and speakers of evil have risen against me. 13. Had I not believed in seeing the good of the Lord in the land of the living! 14. Hope for the Lord, be strong and He will give your heart courage, and hope for the Lord.

And Psalms 13,14,15

Chapter 13

A prayer for an end to the long exile. One in distress should offer this prayer for his troubles and for the length of the exile.

1. To the conductor, a song of David. 2. How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 3. How long will I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart by day; how long will my enemy have the upper hand over me? 4. Look and answer me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes lest I sleep the sleep of death. 5. Lest my enemy say, "I have overwhelmed him"; my adversaries will rejoice when I totter. 6. But I trusted in Your loving-kindness, my heart will rejoice in Your salvation; I will sing to the Lord for He has bestowed [it] upon me.

Chapter 14

This psalm speaks of the destruction of the two Holy Temples-the first by Nebuchadnezzar, and the second by Titus.

1. For the conductor, of David; The fool said in his heart, "There is no God"; they have dealt corruptly; they have committed abominable deeds; no one does good. 2. The Lord in Heaven looked down upon the sons of men to see whether there is a man of understanding, who seeks the Lord. 3. All have turned away; together they have spoiled; no one does good, not even one. 4. Did not all the workers of iniquity know? Those who devoured My people partook of a feast; they did not call upon the Lord. 5. There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of a righteous man. 6. You put to shame the counsel of the poor, for the Lord is his refuge. 7. O that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion; when the Lord returns the captivity of His people, Jacob shall rejoice, Israel shall be glad.

Chapter 15

This psalm speaks of several virtues and attributes with which one should conduct oneself. He is then assured that his soul will rest in Gan Eden.

1. A song of David; O Lord, who will sojourn in Your tent, who will dwell upon Your holy mount? 2. He who walks uprightly and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. 3. He did not slander with his tongue; he did his neighbor no harm, neither did he take up reproach upon his kinsman. 4. A base person is despised in his eyes, and he honors the God-fearing; he swears to [his own] hurt and does not retract. 5. He did not give his money with interest, nor did he accept a bribe against the innocent; he who does these shall not falter forever.