Evening Service for the Choir: [Psalm cxxi.] אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל הֶהָרִים. I lift mine eyes unto . מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי: עֶזְרִי -my help? My help com מעם ". עֹשֶׂה שָׁמַיִם .made heaven and earth T: וָאָרֶץ: אַל־יִתֵּן לָמוֹט רַגְלֶךָ. אַל-יָנוּם שֹׁמְרֶךָ: -doth not slumber. Be the hills; whence cometh eth from the Lord, who He will not suffer thy foot to stumble; thy guardian hold, the guardian of not, and He sleepeth not. the Lord is thy shade at thy right hand. The sun הִנֵּה לֹא-יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן Israel, He slumbereth שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל: אֲשֹׁמְרֶךָ. ;The Lord is thy guardian יוֹמָם הַשְׁמֶשׁ לֹא יַכֶּכָּה. shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by וְיָרֵחַ בַּלָּיְלָה: יְיָ יִשְׁמָרְךָ night. The Lord shall מִכָּל רָע. יִשְׁמֹר אֶת evil; He will preserve preserve thee from all thy soul. The Lord will watch over thy going out, וּבוֹאֶךָ. מֵעַתָּה וְעַד and thy coming in, from עוֹלָם: this time forth and for evermore. Minister: HEAVENLY Father! In the twilight of the vanishing year we lift up our hearts to Thee to thank Thee for all the benefits which we have received at Thy hand in the past, and to implore Thy guidance and Thy blessing for the future. Thy providence has watched over our lives and over the lives of those dear to us. In affliction Thou hast strengthened us, and in sorrow Thou hast comforted us. Thou hast brightened our lives with the joys of home and of friendship. Thy loving-kindness has provided abundantly for our wants, and has enabled us to give of our bounty to the poor. And as we thank Thee for the joys of life, even so do we praise Thee for its sorrows. Many a tear has furrowed our cheeks; many a tender tie has been severed by the hand of death; but Thou dost not willingly afflict Thy children. With a father's love hast Thou disciplined us, that we might turn unto Thee. May we listen to the solemn admonition of this hour. May we, as we grow older in years, grow stronger in wisdom, broader in charity and truer to the noblest aspirations of heart and mind. Hidden from our gaze, O God, are the events of the future. But we trust in Thee and fear not. Open unto us in mercy the portals of the new year, and grant us life and health, prosperity and joy, knowledge and peace. Amen. Alternate Reading for Minister and Congregation.. НЕ (Psalm xci.) E who dwelleth under the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I say to the Lord, Thou art my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust. Surely He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the wasting pestilence; He will cover thee with His pinions, and under His wings shalt thou find refuge; His faithfulness shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day; Nor, the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the plague that destroyeth at noonday. Because thou hast made the Lord thy refuge, and the Most High thy habitation: No evil shall befall thee, nor any plague come near thy dwelling. For He will give His angels charge over thee, to guard thee in all thy ways. Because he loveth me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knoweth my name. When he calleth upon me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and bring him to honor. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. (Congregation standing.) Minister: Praise ye the Lord, to whom all praise is due! Choir and Congregation: Praised be the Lord from this time forth and forever. (Congregation sitting.) Minister: PRAISE be unto Thee, O Eternal, Ruler of the world, at whose words the shades of evening fall, and by whose will the gates of morn are opened. Thy wisdom established the changes of times and seasons, and ordered the ways of the stars in their heavenly courses. Creator of day and night, Lord of hosts is Thy name. Thou, ever-living God, wilt rule over us forever. Praise be unto Thee, O God, for the day and its work and for the night and its rest. Infinite as is Thy power, even so is Thy Love. Thou didst manifest it unto Israel, Thy servant.. By laws and commandments, by statutes and ordinances hast Thou led us into the way of righteousness and brought us to the light of truth. Therefore, at our lying down and our rising up we meditate on Thy teachings and, at all times, rejoice in Thy laws. In them is true life and length of days. O, that Thy love may never depart from our hearts. Praise be to Thee, O God, who hast revealed Thy love unto Israel. |