A nomad like all my ancestors

The psalms of the eighth day have great meaning for me, as the eighth day of the month of February was the day of my birth. Someone was praying these psalms somewhere in the world the day, perhaps even the moment, I was born.

Psalms for the 8th Day
38 39 40 41 42-43

Psalm 38

Prayer in distress

Yahweh, do not punish me in Your rage,
or reprove me in the heat of anger.
Your arrows have pierced deep,

Your hand has pressed down on me,

no soundness in my flesh now You are angry,

no health in my bones, because of my sin.

My guilt is overwhelming me,

it is too heavy a burden,
my wounds stink and are festering,

the result of my folly;

bowed down, bent double, overcome,

I go mourning all the day.

My loins are burnt up with fever,

there is no soundness in my flesh:

numbed and crushed and overcome,

my heart groans, I moan aloud.

Lord, all that I long for is known to You,

my sighing is no secret from You;

my heart is throbbing, my strength deserting me,

the light of my eyes itself has left me.

My friends and my companions

shrink from my wounds,
even the dearest of them keep their distance;

men intent on killing me lay snares,

others, hoping to hurt me, threaten my ruin,

hatching treacherous plots all day.

But I am like the deaf, I do not hear,

like the dumb man who does not open his mouth;

I am like the man who, hearing nothing,

gives no sharp answer in return.

For I put my trust in You, Yahweh,

and leave You to answer for me, Lord my God.

I have already said, ‘Stop them gloating over me,

do not let them take advantage of me

if my foot should slip’.

And now my fall is upon me,

there is no relief from my pains;

yes, I admit my guilt,

I am sorry for having sinned.

There are more and more to hurt me for no reason,

there are more to hate me unprovoked,

repaying my kindness with evil,

arraigning me for trying to do right.

Yahweh, do not desert me,

do not stand aside, my God!

Come quickly to my help,

Lord, my Savior!

Psalm 39

The insignificance of man before God

I said, ‘I will watch how I behave,
and not let my tongue lead me into sin;
I will keep a muzzle on my mouth
as long as the wicked man is near me’.

I stayed dumb, silent, speechless,

though the sight of him thriving

made torment increase.

My heart had been smouldering inside me,

but it flared up at the thought of this

and the words burst out,

‘Tell me, Yahweh, when my end will be,

how many days are allowed me,

show me how frail I am.

‘Look, You have given me an inch or two of life,

my life-span is nothing to You;

each man that stands on earth

is only a puff of wind, selah,

every man that walks, only a shadow,

and the wealth he amasses is only a puff of wind—

he does not know who will take it next.’

So tell me, Lord, what can I expect?

My hope is in You.
Free me from all my sins,

do not make me the butt of idiots.

I am dumb, I speak no more,

since You Yourself have been at work.

Lay Your scourge aside,

I am worn out with the blows You deal me.

You punish man with the penalties of sin,

like a moth You eat away all that gives him pleasure—

man is indeed only a puff of wind! Selah.

Yahweh, hear my prayer,

listen to my cry for help,

do not stay deaf to my crying.

I am Your guest, and only for a time,

a nomad like all my ancestors.

Look away, let me draw breath,

before I go away and am no more!

Psalm 40

Song of praise and prayer for help

I waited and waited for Yahweh,

now at last He has stooped to me

and heard my cry for help.

He has pulled me out of the horrible pit,

out of the slough of the marsh,

has settled my feet on a rock

and steadied my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth,

a song of praise to our God;

dread will seize many at the sight,

and they will put their trust in Yahweh.

Happy the man who puts
his trust in Yahweh,

and does not side with rebels

who stray after false gods.

How many wonders You have done for us,

Yahweh my God!

How many plans You have made for us;

You have no equal!

I want to proclaim them, again and again,

but they are more than I can count.

You, who wanted no sacrifice or oblation,

opened my ear,

You asked no holocaust or sacrifice for sin;

then I said, ‘Here I am! I am coming!’

In the scroll of the Book am I not commanded

to obey Your will?

My God, I have always loved Your Law

from the depths of my being.

I have always proclaimed the righteousness of Yahweh

in the Great Assembly;

nor do I mean to stop proclaiming,

as You know well.

I have never kept Your righteousness to myself,

but have spoken of Your faithfulness

and saving help;

I have made no secret of Your love and faithfulness

in the Great Assembly.

For Your part, Yahweh, do not withhold

Your kindness from me!

May Your love and faithfulness

constantly preserve me.

More misfortunes beset me

than I can count,

my sins close in on me

until I can hardly see,

they outnumber the hairs on my head;

my courage is running out.

Oh come and rescue me, Yahweh,

Yahweh come quickly and help me!

Shame and dishonor on all

who are out to kill, to destroy me!

Down with them! Disgrace on those

who enjoy my misfortune!

May they be aghast with shame,

those who say to me, ‘Aha! Aha!’

But joy and gladness

for all who seek You!

To all who love Your saving power

give constant cause to say, ‘God is great!’

To me, poor wretch,

come quickly, Lord!

My helper, my Savior, my God,

come and do not delay!

Va’aní, ‘aní ve’evión,

’Adonáy, yachasháv li !

‘Ezratí, umphaltí, átta

’Eloháy al te’achár !

Mazmur ini juga khusus untuk Anda, Yudi, putra tercinta saya, mereka untuk Anda!