Supplications for my hymn
Tehinot L'Tehillah
My voice goes hoarse, I barely breathe
O, L-rd, I am not a person of words
So how can dust praise You?
The utterance of my lips comes with toil, in sorrow
My words are muddled, they are fumbled as I try to sing
O, G-d, turn my words into a song, a new song make them
May my heart sing; lift me from the ash-heap, my King!
I taste peace; my insides are calm at night
Yet in the morning, my insides instruct me; I am afflicted and longing
Why for has it been turned around? Does not joy come with the morning?
The aromas are displeasing; my palate is bittered
By the injustice that surrounds, the prayers of the wicked confound me
They who offer sacrifices in vanity, who show contempt in their affairs
Outwardly they appear righteous, paying heed to your commands
Yet inwardly they scheme and prey, false weights and measures are theirs
Why, O L-rd, are they the mighty? When shall the princes be fallen?
Have you not declared they should fall, none of us judges or superior!
Asked us to hear and do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly?
Why then, do my bowels ache upon hearing uncontrite cries?
Do you not ask for praise? Why then am I so bitter?
Affronted by those who contrive deceit with their right hands,
afflicted by those who praise you only to do wickedness in the streets
and dwell amongst the harsh, scoffing, insincere, and angry?
I sing for joy, but my heart is still heavy
The poor afflicted in the streets, the lonely crying,
All your creatures cry to you, all under toil of pain.
My tongue hard pressed, but still my soul rejoices
For the beauty in this world, for the gift of life that is so fair
To feel the wonder of a smile given and to breathe in the dance of someone so full of spirit
Why has Your Presence been so far, why has justice been so elusive?
Uphold Your Words, for You are true; Torah is not in Heaven that we cannot reach it
Why are You so far away; why are all peoples so divisive and angry?
Lines drawn in the sand, while tolerance preached on both sides
Apathy and lethargy from all our sorrows and toils, we barely notice the downtrodden
For we are so burdened; oppressed by the wicked who appear as light
Should my hoarseness be my own undoing? Shall I be afflicted for having my breath stolen?
Plots and schemes against Your people, against the weak and meek
They fill me with words, with unutterable words and zealotry
I am not a person of words; my heart contracts and expands
Unable to express the depth and breadth of all that is me
Those who stand against injustice, those who smite the jaws of the wicked
Are not true judges, they pervert the cause of the innocent and the right.
Grant us a blessing, relieve us that we may declare Your faithfulness
That right and justice come from the G-d of Ya'akov (Jacob)
So that it is heard; that the wicked perceive
Rather than detest us, mock us for our faithfulness to You
To humiliate us for our praises, to spurn our joy of life.
How can they be blamed, have they seen? Have they heard from their ancestors of You, truly?
O, if only we were to have compassion for all creation, to pursue just-peace
To focus on the good, to find and admire beauty, and bring alive this world
With zest and love of life, for all life; to protect and honor that which values life
And to cast aside the weeds so that no more shall they starve precious seed
Only one weed in the garden will destroy it, though that weed protests its removal
It says, it must kill the weak to stay alive, it must destroy to create and it's presence is justified
So the mighty oaks and trees concede, they allow the flowers to wither and be starved
Sitting aloft they speak with wisdom and compassion, gardening as if they the gardener
Flowers so easy to plant they surmise, therefore the weeds let loose to be contained
Encroaching forever, always lusting for more and getting their wishes
O L-rd, water the thirsty garden; nourish the earth no longer with the corpses of flowers!
Arise and render a requittal to the tyrannous; from the depths of the whirlwind, make the corrupt quiver
Out of the majestic zephyr arising through the whirlwind, let our voices sing aloft
The praises of our lips be swift as the feet of hinds, afflicting us to quiver with sheer joy!
Pity us, L-rd, have mercy on your trampled garden.
Who else can any turn to? Who is like You, O, L-rd, having done such wondrous miracles?
King perfect in righteousness, loving and delighting in mercy!
King perfect in righteousness, loving and delighting in mercy!
The cosmos - stars and space - contract and expand with naught but thought
As if pulled between finger-tips, so fragile and easily shattered if the laws were to break
Yet all is sustained and renewed by Your mercy and goodness O L-rd.
Ruddy and gentle King, all-powerful and foreboding G-d
We acknowledge You; turn our mourning to dancing
Compose our prayers to songs, beautify our heart's outpouring to glimmer brilliantly!
May we rejoice in Your rule and delight in all the goodly gifts of Your creation
For You are Supreme forever and of all created creations to all eternity; You alone, One.
We fear our sins have chastised us, we hope not just for mercy, but for vindication
For You have declared You have mercy on all the world; we long to be lifted through rebuke
To feel near to You, to know You are still with us and have not abandoned us.
You have not given us over to the pit, you have sustained us in life
Like an animal we cry, though it may be in vain, is not your heart moved?
Shepherd, You must languish for the cries of your sheep, even when they are unnecessary
Shepherd, You must languish for the cries of your sheep, even when they are unnecessary
When water and food are so close at hand, when tender love is free to be received.
Uplift us, let us become abundant and multiply and be beloved radiance
Make us pure and give us clarity, that we may follow in Your ways.
The Torah You gave as a path towards all that is just, merciful, humble, and goodly true
A gift so beautiful, so fair like a dancing maiden; all your Instructions lead towards peace, rejoicing the heart!
Shall the laws of nature change or be nullified, how shall Your Words, Your laws change?
Shall the order amidst the chaos cease, can any say there is no system: nothing?
You are Eternal our G-d and King, great and glorified, forever extolled
Abounding in mercy, delighting in justice.
Your Ways shall stand forever, the thoughts of Your heart endure all generations
Promised the Words You have given they shall ever be on the lips of Your servants
And their children, and children's children for all generations!
O, L-rd, that we may speak gently and lovingly to learn, practice, and transmit Your words.
As the Psalmist says, we are a prayer; sanctify us and accept our offering
Make them a pleasant fragrance, a new and joyous song of lauding!
A sacrifice of the contriteness of spirit, an offering that brings compassion and justice and reverence
In our relationships towards others, towards all creation, and You our Creator.
Though we falter, though we lack breath and spirit from our lips
Turn our hearts toward You; may all bless You and so may we receive the blessing of shalom.
You hear all prayers, know all secrets; G-d make Your indwelling amongst us
Beautiful, Just, Eternal G-d; merciful Father and Generous King.
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