Special Custom for the Month of Elul and High Holidays
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
See below for today's additional chapters.
Verses 97-176
97O how I love Your Torah! All day it is my discussion.
98Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.
99From all my teachers I have gained wisdom, for Your testimonies are my discussion.
100I will be more perceptive than elders, because I have guarded Your precepts.
101I have restrained my feet from every evil path, that I might keep Your word.
102I have not turned away from Your judgments, for You have instructed me.
103How sweet are Your words to my palate, [sweeter] than honey to my mouth!
104From Your precepts I gain understanding, therefore I hate every path of falsehood.
105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
106I have sworn-and I will fulfill it-to keep Your righteous judgments.
107I am afflicted to the extreme; grant me life, O Lord, according to Your promise.
108Accept with favor, O Lord, the offerings of my lips, and teach me Your laws.
109My soul is in danger always, yet I have not forgotten Your Torah.
110The wicked laid a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from Your precepts.
111I have taken Your testimonies as an eternal heritage, for they are the joy of my heart.
112I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes, forever, to the last.
113I despise vain thoughts, but I love Your Torah.
114You are my refuge and my shield; I place hope in Your promise.
115Turn away from me, you evildoers, and I will keep the commandments of my God.
116Support me according to Your promise, and I will live; let me not be shamed because of my hope.
117Sustain me, and I will be saved, and I will be engrossed in Your statutes always.
118You trample all who stray from Your statutes, for their ploy is a lie.
119You have purged all the wicked of the earth like dross, therefore I love Your testimonies.
120My flesh bristles from fear of You, and I am in awe of Your judgments.
121I practiced justice and righteousness; leave me not to my oppressors.
122Guarantee Your servant goodness; let not the wicked exploit me.
123My eyes long for Your salvation, and for the word of Your righteousness.
124Treat Your servant according to Your kindness, and teach me Your statutes.
125I am Your servant; grant me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.
126It is time to act for the Lord; they have abrogated Your Torah.
127Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, even fine gold.
128Therefore I affirmed all Your precepts; I have hated every path of falsehood.
129Your testimonies are wondrous, therefore does my soul guard them.
130Your opening words illuminate, enlightening the simple.
131I opened my mouth and swallowed, because I craved Your commandments.
132Turn to me and favor me, as is [Your] law for those who love Your Name.
133Set my steps in Your word, and let no iniquity rule over me.
134Deliver me from the oppression of man, and I will keep Your precepts.
135Let Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.
136My eyes shed streams of water, because they do not keep Your Torah.
137Righteous are you, O Lord, and Your judgments are upright.
138You commanded Your testimonies in righteousness and great faithfulness.
139My zeal consumes me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
140Your word is very pure, and Your servant cherishes it.
141I am young and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts.
142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Torah is truth.
143Trouble and anguish have taken hold of me, yet Your commandments are my delight.
144Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding, that I may live.
145I call out with all my heart; answer me, O Lord; I will keep Your statutes.
146I call out to You; save me, and I will observe Your testimonies.
147I rose before dawn and cried out; my hope is in Your word.
148My eyes preceded the night watches, that I may discuss Your word.
149Hear my voice in keeping with Your kindness; O Lord, grant me life as is Your practice.
150Those who pursue mischief draw near; they are far from Your Torah.
151You are near, O Lord, and all Your commandments are truth.
152From the beginning I discerned from Your testimonies that You had established them forever.
153Behold my affliction and deliver me, for I have not forgotten Your Torah.
154Wage my battle and redeem me; grant me life for the sake of Your word.
155Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not Your statutes.
156Your mercies are great, O Lord; grant me life as is Your practice.
157My pursuers and my enemies are many, yet I did not turn away from Your testimonies.
158I saw traitors and I quarreled with them, because they do not keep Your words.
159Behold how I love Your precepts; grant me life, O Lord, according to Your kindness.
160The beginning of Your word is truth, and forever are all Your righteous judgements.
161Princes have pursued me without cause, but it is Your word my heart fears.
162I rejoice at Your word, like one who finds abundant spoil.
163I hate falsehood and abhor it, but Your Torah I love.
164Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments.
165There is abundant peace for those who love Your Torah, and there is no stumbling for them.
166I hoped for Your salvation, O Lord, and I performed Your commandments.
167My soul has kept Your testimonies, and I love them intensely.
168I have kept Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are before You
169Let my prayer approach Your presence, O Lord; grant me understanding according to Your word.
170Let my supplication come before You; save me according to Your promise.
171My lips will utter praise, for You have taught me Your statutes.
172My tongue will echo Your word, for all Your commandments are just.
173Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.
174I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your Torah is my delight.
175Let my soul live, and it will praise You, and let Your judgment help me.
176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
Additional Three Chapters
The Baal Shem Tov instituted a custom of reciting three additional chapters of Psalms each day, from the 1st of Elul until Yom Kippur (on Yom Kippur the remaining 36 chapters are recited, thereby completing the entire book of Psalms).
Today's Chapters are 76, 77, and 78.
Chapter 76
This psalm contains the prophecy of when the vast army of Sennacherib was seized with a deep slumber that rendered the hands of the soldiers powerless to raise their weapons; thus did they all fall in battle.
1For the Conductor, with instrumental music, a psalm by Asaph, a song.
2God is known in Judah, His Name is great in Israel.
3His Tabernacle was in Shalem, and His dwelling place in Zion.
4There He broke the flying arrows of the bow, the shield, the sword and battle-forever.
5You are illumination, mightier than the mountains of prey.
6The stout-hearted were without sense, they slept their sleep, and all the warriors were unable to find their strength.
7At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, chariot and horse were stunned.
8You, awesome are You! Who can stand before You once You are enraged.
9From heaven You let the verdict be heard; the earth feared and was still,
10when God rose to pass judgement, to save all the humble of the earth forever.
11The anger of man will cause us to thank You; You will restrain the residue of wrath.
12Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; all who surround Him will bring tribute to the Awesome One.
13He cuts down the spirit of nobles; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.
Chapter 77
1For the Conductor, on the yedutun, by Asaph, a psalm.
2[I raise] my voice to God and cry out; [I raise] my voice to God and He will listen to me.
3On the day of my distress I sought my Lord. My wound oozes at night and does not abate; my soul refuses to be consoled.
4I remember God and I moan; I speak and my spirit faints, Selah.
5You grasped my eyelids; I am broken, I cannot speak.
6I think of olden days, of ancient years.
7During the night I recall my music, I meditate with my heart, and my spirit searches:
8Is it for eternity that my Lord forsakes [me], nevermore to be appeased?
9Has His kindness ceased forever? Has He sealed the decree for all generations?
10Has God forgotten mercy? Has He in anger restrained His compassion forever?
11I said, "It is to terrify me that the right hand of the Most High changes.”
12I remember the deeds of Yah, when I remember Your wonders of long ago.
13I meditate on all Your works, and speak of Your deeds.
14O God, Your way is in sanctity; what god is as great as God?
15You are the God Who works wonders; You make Your might known among the nations.
16You redeemed Your people with a mighty arm, the children of Jacob and Joseph, Selah.
17The waters saw You, O God, the waters saw You and trembled; even the deep shuddered.
18The clouds streamed water, the heavens sounded forth, even Your arrows flew about.
19The sound of Your thunder was in the rolling wind; lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
20Your way was through the sea, Your path through the mighty waters; and Your footsteps were not known.
21You led Your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron
Chapter 78
This psalm recounts all the miracles that God wrought for Israel, from the exodus of Egypt to David's becoming king over Israel.
1A maskil by Asaph. Listen, my people, to my teaching; incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
2I will open my mouth with a parable, I will utter riddles of long ago;
3that which we have heard and know [to be true], and that our fathers have told us.
4We will not withhold from their children, telling the final generation the praises of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders He has performed.
5He established a testimony in Jacob, and set down the Torah in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to make known to their children,
6so that the last generation shall know; children yet to be born will rise and tell their children,
7and they shall put their hope in God, and not forget the works of the Almighty; and they shall guard His commandments.
8And they shall not be like their fathers, a wayward and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart straight, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9The children of Ephraim, armed archers, retreated on the day of battle.
10They did not keep the covenant of God, and refused to follow His Torah.
11They forgot His deeds and His wonders that He had shown them.
12He performed wonders before their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13He split the sea and brought them across; He erected the waters like a wall.
14He led them with a cloud by day, and all night long with the light of fire.
15He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them to drink as if from the abundant depths.
16And He brought forth flowing waters from the rock, and caused waters to descend like rivers.
17Yet they again continued to sin against Him, to provoke the Most High in the parched land.
18And they tested God in their hearts, by requesting food for their craving.
19They spoke against God; they said, "Can God set a table in the wilderness?
20True, He hit the rock and waters flowed, streams gushed forth; but can He also give bread? Will He prepare meat for His people?”
21And so the Lord heard and was enraged; a fire was kindled against Jacob; wrath, too, flared against Israel.
22For they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation,
23[though] He had commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
24He had rained upon them manna to eat, and given them grain of heaven.
25Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them [enough] provisions to satiate.
26He drove the east wind through the heaven, and led the south wind with His might.
27He rained meat upon them like dust, winged birds like the sand of seas;
28and He dropped them inside His camp, around His dwellings.
29And they ate and were very satiated, for He brought them their desire.
30They were not yet estranged from their craving, their food was still in their mouths,
31when the wrath of God rose against them and slew their mighty ones, and brought down the chosen of Israel.
32Despite this, they sinned again, and did not believe in His wonders;
33so He ended their days in futility, and their years in terror.
34When He slew them they would seek Him, they would return and pray to God.
35They remembered that God is their rock, God the Most High, their redeemer.
36But they beguiled Him with their mouth, and deceived Him with their tongue.
37Their heart was not steadfast with Him; they were not faithful to His covenant.
38Yet He is compassionate, pardons iniquity, and does not destroy; time and again He turns away His anger, and does not arouse all His wrath.
39He remembered that they were but flesh, a spirit that leaves and does not return.
40How often they provoked Him in the desert, and grieved Him in the wasteland!
41Again and again they tested God, and sought a sign from the Holy One of Israel.
42They did not remember His hand, the day He redeemed them from the oppressor;
43that He set His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan.
44He turned their rivers to blood, and made their flowing waters undrinkable.
45He sent against them a mixture of beasts which devoured them, and frogs that destroyed them.
46He gave their produce to the grasshopper, and their toil to the locust.
47He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with biting frost.
48He delivered their animals to the hail, and their livestock to fiery bolts.
49He sent against them His fierce anger, fury, rage, and affliction; a delegation of messengers of evil.
50He leveled a path for His anger, and did not spare their soul from death; He delivered their animals to pestilence.
51He struck every firstborn in Egypt, the first fruit of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52He drove His nation like sheep, and guided them like a flock in the desert.
53He led them in security and they did not fear, for the sea covered their enemies.
54And He brought them to the boundary of His holy place, this mountain which His right hand acquired.
55He drove out nations before them, and allotted them an inheritance [measured] by the cord; He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
56Yet they tested and defied God, the Most High, and did not keep His testimonies.
57They regressed and rebelled like their fathers; they turned around like a deceptive bow.
58They angered Him with their high altars, and provoked Him with their idols.
59God heard and was enraged, and He was utterly disgusted with Israel;
60And He abandoned the Tabernacle of Shilo, the Tent where He had dwelled among men.
61He put His might into captivity, and His glory into the hand of the oppressor.
62He delivered His nation to the sword, and was enraged with His inheritance.
63Fire consumed His young men, and His maidens had no marriage song.
64His priests fell by the sword, and their widows did not weep.
65And the Lord awoke like one who had been asleep, like a warrior shouting [to sober himself] from wine.
66He beat His enemies into retreat, and dealt them eternal disgrace.
67He was disgusted with the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.
68He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loves.
69And He built His Sanctuary [permanent as] the heavens; like the earth, He established it forever.
70And He chose David His servant, and took him from the sheep corrals.
71From following the nursing ewes, He brought him to shepherd His nation Jacob, Israel His inheritance.
72And he tended them with the integrity of his heart, and led them with the skill of his hands.
Tehillim Ohel Yoseph Yitzchok,
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