Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

122 (Shir HaMa’alot, [Song of Ascents] of Dovid). I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the Bais Hashem.

² Our feet shall stand within thy she’arim, O Yerushalayim.

³ Yerushalayim is built as an Ir bound firmly together;

⁴ That is where the Shevatim (tribes) go up, the Shivtei Hashem, according to the edut l’Yisroel (the statute to Yisroel), to give thanks unto the Shem of Hashem.

⁵ For there are set kise’ot l’mishpat (thrones of judgment), the kise’ot of the Bais Dovid.

⁶ Sha’alu shalom Yerushalayim (pray for the peace of Jerusalem); they shall prosper that love thee.

⁷ Shalom be within thy wall, and security within thy citadels.

⁸ L’ma’an (for the sake of) my achim and companions, I will now say, Shalom be within thee.

⁹ L’ma’an the Bais Hashem Eloheinu I will seek thy tov.

¹⁵ And now, Adonoi Eloheinu, Who hast brought Thy people forth out of Eretz Mitzrayim with a yad chazakah (mighty hand), and hast gotten Thee renown, as at yom hazeh, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

¹⁶ O Adonoi, according to all Thy tzidkot, I beseech Thee, let Thine anger and Thy fury be turned away from Thy Ir (City) Yerushalayim, Thy Har Kodesh, because for chatta’einu, and for the avonot Avoteinu, Yerushalayim and Thy people are become a reproach, an object of scorn to all around about us.

¹⁷ Now therefore, shema, Eloheinu, hear the tefillah of Thy eved, and his tachanunim (supplications), and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy Mikdash [Beis HaMikdash] that is desolate, lema’an (for the sake of) Adonoi.

¹⁸ O Elohai, incline Thine ear, and shema; open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and HaIr which is called by Thy Name; for we do not present tachanuneinu (our supplications) before Thee on account of tzidkoteinu, but for the sake of Thy rachamim harabbim.

¹⁹ Adonoi, hear; Adonoi, forgive; Adonoi, hearken and act; delay not, for Thine own sake, O Elohai; for Thy city and Thy people are called by Thy Name.

4 From where do milchamot (wars) come? What is their goirem (driving force)? And from where come fights among you? Is it not from here, from the ta’avot (lusts) of you warring in your evarim (members)?

² You lust for something and you do not have it; you kill and you envy and you are not able to obtain. You get involved in machalokot (divisions of dissensions) and fights. You do not have because you fail to daven with your request.

³ Or you make techinot (petitions) and you do not receive, because you ask wrongly, that on your ta’avot (lusts) you may spend what you receive. [TEHILLIM 18:41; 66:18]

⁴ No’efot (adulterers)! Do you not have da’as that to have shaichus (closeness, friendship, intimacy) with the Olam Hazeh is eyvah im Hashem (enmity with G-d)? Therefore, whoever chooses to make the Olam Hazeh his Oihev is made an Oyev (Enemy) of Hashem. [YESHAYAH 54:4; YIRMEYAH 3:20; HOSHEA 2:2-5; 3:1; 9:1]

⁵ Or do you think that in vain the Kitvei Hakodesh attests that Hashem yearns jealously over the Ruach Hakodesh He causes to dwell in us?

⁶ But He gives all the more Chen v’Chesed! Therefore it says, "Hashem LALETZIM HU YALITZ V’LA’ANAYIM YITEN CHEN ("Hashem opposes the proud mocker but gives grace to the humble" [MISHLE 3:34]).

⁷ Submit yourselves in mishma’at (obedience) to Hashem. Resist Hasatan, and he will flee from you.

⁸ Draw near to Hashem and Hashem will draw near to you. Cleanse your yadayim (hands), you chote’im (sinners)! And purify your levavot, you anashim of double mind! [TEHILLIM 73:28; ZECHARYAH 1:3; MALACHI 3:7; YESHAYAH 1:16; TEHILLIM 24:4; 119:113; YIRMEYAH 4:14]

⁹ Lament and mourn and weep. Let the tzechok (laughter) of you be changed to avelut (mourning), and the simcha of you be turned to tugah (sadness).

¹⁰ Be humbled before Hashem and He will exalt you. [IYOV 5:11]