Chants, Psalms

Help!

Chushah l’ezrati, Adonai t’shu’ati
Graphic: Help in Hebrew
Hasten to my aid,
O Lord, my deliverance. (Psalm 38:23)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 38 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

When our burdens seem too heavy; when our thoughts are tangled; when we feel surrounded by enemies; when we’re at the end of our rope … it’s time to ask for help. When we surrender and realize that we’re going round in circles of futility, it is possible to step out of the trap of our complaint. Then we can stop, come to stillness and call out to the larger Mystery to save us from our smallness. Our deliverance comes not in anything being “fixed” but in opening to the widest perspective and getting out of our own way to allow for the unfolding of grace in its time.

To hear the chants, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Help! PDF. For the musical notation, click Help! notation PDF.

Chants, Psalms

Sing Out!

Ran’nu Tzadikim B’Adonai, La’y’sharim navah t’hlilah
Hodu La’adonai, Hodu La’Shechina
Graphic: Sing Out in Hebrew
Sing out, Oh you righteous ones, to God.
It is so lovely when the upright celebrate the Divine.
Praise God. (Psalm 33:1-2)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 33 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

We are instructed to express our awe, joy and wonderment; to do it without shame or embarrassment; to not hide our holy example but rather to sing it out, putting that beauty into the world. Our celebration of the Divine can inspire others to acknowledge the mystery all around us. Our praise can balance all the negativity in the world and encourage others towards hope, unveiling the miracle before us.

To hear the chant, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Sing Out! PDF. For the musical notation, click Sing Out! notation PDF.

Chants, Psalms

Almost Divine

Va’t’chas’ray’hu m’at may’elohim, v’chavod v’hadar t’at’ray’hu
Graphic: Almost Divine in Hebrew
You have made us almost Divine,
and crowned us with glory and splendor. (Psalm 8:6)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 8 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

When we look into the Heavens, at the great expanse of stars, we might feel so very small and insignificant, and yet… God has hidden within us a Divine spark, that connects us with the infinite. That spark can serve as a kind of homing device, showing us the way back to the truth of our limitless soul.

To hear the chants, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Almost Divine PDF. For the musical notation, click Almost Divine notation PDF.

Chants, Psalms

Strength and Peace

Adonay Oz l’amo yitayn, Adonay y’varech et-amo v’shalom.
Graphic: Strength and Peace in Hebrew
May God give us strength and the blessing of Peace. (Psalm 29:11)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 29 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

Oh God, your voice thunders in great beauty, shattering all our plans and conceptions, leaving us vulnerable, defenseless yet filled with awe at the majesty of Your great power that reverberates through all Creation. We attune ourselves to this Divine vibration, opening to a nascent strength that emerges through our faith. In knowing that strength, we open to the blessing of peace, the blessing of wholeness, which is found in experiencing our interconnectedness with all of Creation.

To hear the chants, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Strength and Peace PDF. For the musical notation, click Strength and Peace notation PDF.

Chants, Psalms

In Freedom and Grace

Va’ani b’toomi aylech, p’dayni v’chanayni
Graphic: In Freedom and Grace in Hebrew
And as for me I will walk in whole-hearted simplicity;
Free me and let your grace flow to me. (Psalm 26:11)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 26 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

When I walk in whole-hearted simplicity, I am walking in complete authenticity, and yet I feel so completely vulnerable. I am surrounded by corruption and depravity. All around me immorality has been normalized. I asked to be freed from its influence and impact. I ask to be protected by your blessing and connected up to the flow of grace that is your Presence.

To hear the chants, use the audio players. To download a chant, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click In Freedom and Grace PDF. For the musical notation, click In Freedom and Grace notation PDF.