Poetry and Prayer: A Daily Journey Through the Psalms

The danger of words wielded to achieve malicious ends is the subject of the psalm.

A Talmudic story about David's "alarm clock" is linked to this psalm.

A psalm of thanksgiving is linked to the Pilgrim story.

This psalm’s tenor is the opposite of the previous one, but in fact, both of the psalms are meant to be taken together.

The wonders of early Israelite history are described in this psalm, as well as why God brought these miracles about.

Psalm 104 is an ode to the natural world and the way in which its intricacy proclaims the glory of God.

Psalm 103 describes the reason for God’s forgiveness.

The Jewish love of the stones of Jerusalem is a theme of Psalm 102.

David describes in this psalm how concern for justice and integrity is bound up with his legacy.  

A psalm said by those giving the thanksgiving offering illustrates one scriptural approach to gratitude.

Understanding the story of Samuel may be central to understanding this psalm.

Several instruments are mentioned in this psalm. What do they symbolize?

The light of God—and possibly our own spiritual light—is a theme of this psalm.

Psalm 96 describes the way the experience of sanctity influences our experience of beauty.

Reading Psalm 95 takes us to 16th-century Safed.

Psalm 94 addresses wickedness in the world, and also gives us an important description of the God-granted capacity of human beings.

This tiny psalm may be about a cosmic event.

The word “Sabbath” is strikingly absent from most of the psalm of the Sabbath.

A psalm about providential protection speaks to Jewish history and to one rabbi’s life.

One of Lincoln’s most famous phrases may be linked to Psalm 90.

Psalm 89 reflects on the significance of the story of David and his dynasty.

A psalm expressing pain is linked to an individual described as incredibly wise.

The miraculous nature of Jerusalem and Jewish history is the subject of this psalm.

David gives us a reflection on addressing fear in Psalm 86.

Themes of truth, love, righteousness, and peace are all joined in this psalm's description of repentance and forgiveness.

A psalm used by many Jews to introduce the afternoon prayer reveals what prayer in a synagogue means to Jewish tradition.

Psalm 83 seems to be linked to a righteous king many have forgotten. 

A speech by Justice Scalia, whose birthday was yesterday, relates to the thesis of this Psalm.

The joining of Rosh Hashanah and the new moon is meant to deepen our understanding of time.

By evoking the intimacy of spousal love, Psalm 80 conveys the Israelites' profound emotional yearning for the God of Jerusalem.