Visions
With words, and O! such words! we dream,
with gestures born of consolations
and hopes that capture sunrise gleams
to bloom upon the all-creation.
And shall we shirk to dream such shades,
as if in shame to shrink from lie?
Nay; rather for these dreams are made
all human hearts, our minds and eyes:--
no human souls their promise know
save where such gilded visions glow.
Psalm 98
Sing a fresh psalm to God, doer of wonderful deeds,
with right hand, with holy arm, winner of victory.
God has revealed his liberation, His justice to nations;
He has recalled His kind steadfastness to Israel's household.
From end to end the earth has seen our God in liberation.
Rejoice before God, all of earth, burst out in song, sing praise!
Sing praise to God with harp; with harp's melodious hymn,
with trump, with sounding horn rejoice before our King.
Let sea and all within resound, the world and its indwellers,
let rivers applaud with hands, hills give harmonious shout,
before God who is coming, who comes to judge the earth:
with justice He governs the earth, with fairness its peoples.
Psalm 19
The skies proclaim God's splendor,
the height His artistry;
day tells day, night teaches night,
speechless and tongueless,
with unheard voices,
their witness throughout the earth,
their message runs to World's End.
There He has pitched the sun's tent,
that bridegroom springing from his chambers,
rejoicing, an athlete after races.
His procession is from the sky's edge,
His course is to its very end,
and nothing escapes his heat.
God's Torah is complete, refreshing life;
God's decree stable, making the simple wise;
God's precepts right, rejoicing the heart;
God's commandments pure, illuminating eyes;
God's reverence clean, lasting forever;
God's judgments steadfast, utterly just.
More alluring than gold, than much pure gold,
sweeter than honey and nectar.
Your servant is enlightened by them,
in keeping them is great reward.
Who finds failing? Cleanse from the unknown,
restrain your servant from the voluntary,
that they never dominate me,
that I may find blamelessness before you,
that I may be free of grave defect.
Let the words of my mouth have your favor,
the thoughts of my heart be before you,
O God, my rock, my rescuer.
