291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on New Year .
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on New Year .
Childrens - Psalm-Book
'Tstf^u<<i.
+/c a^^'
THE CHILDREN'S
PSALM-BOOK
A Selection of Psalms with Explanatory
Comments, together with a Prayer-Book
for Home Use in Jewish Families
By
Mrs. NATHANIEL L. COHEN
Author of "The Infant Bible-Reader"
LONDON
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS LTD
New York: BLOCH PUBLISHING CO
1907
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? M20
/ 9*J
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? TO PARENTS
This little volume is an attempt to help Parents in
the anxious task of moulding the first conscious
efforts towards abstract thought in the minds of
their children.
Little children always seem to have a very present
consciousness of the existence of a supernatural
power, as though the voice that breathed life into
them still echoed within them. It is the Parents'
task reverently to use this inborn instinct, in order
to stimulate the development of the higher impulses
of humanity. If this consciousness be stimulated
recklessly or injudiciously, it may lead to super-
stition and to the miseries of nervous terror, and all
the attendant evils of cowardliness, deceit, and
untruthfulness. But if it be treated wisely, that
mysterious consciousness develops into a loving
trustfulness in the goodness of the Great Power, and
lends courage and comfort at many a critical moment
both of childhood and after-life. It is the basis of
every form of moral teaching, and of that great
fundamental doctrine of Judaism,--the direct
personal responsibility of every human being to the
One Divine Power. It is, in fact, the well-spring of
conscience and courage, and grows with the growth
iii
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? TO PARENTS
of the understanding,and becomes an ever-expanding
ideal of goodness, around which all the great
attributes of goodness group themselves in the
youthful mind,--Justice, Truthfulness, Honour,
Kindness, Generosity. This conception of goodness
--the consciousness of something stronger, higher,
better than ourselves--helps to develop the faculty of
veneration, and with it the kindred feeling of filial
obedience and love in the highest form.
There is a questioning and analytical phase of
mental development through which all thinking
minds are bound to pass, in the transition from
accepting the parental religious teaching with child-
like faith to assimilating it by the aid of thought
and reason. At this stage, when all forms and
observances are critically considered and weighed, a
consciousness of a Higher Power above and beyond
mortality, a habit of mind of looking for help to that
Higher Power, and a knowledge of the deeper
emblematic meaning of observances temper the
judgment and aid every human being in that process
of self-discipline by which he makes his faith in a
special sense his own.
It seems to me that if the development of the
religious sense is omitted from education, the most
exalted idea of goodness is left out, and the sense of
duty, and of right and wrong, is little more than an
appreciation of the minor virtues. Life is so much
the poorer for being shorn of the halo of high
spiritual aspiration. Instead of a fixed and lofty
ideal of life and conduct, based on the highest
conception of Divine Perfection of which the human
iv
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? TO PARENTS
mind is capable, and to which one and all try to
rise, there pievails a limited and fluctuating ideal,
subject to the chance influences of surroundings and
associates, and coloured by the social grade and
worldly interests of each individual, and by the
changeful current level of public opinion.
I think it is a pressing duty to endeavour to avert
this disastrous moral plight, to which the charge of
materialism so justly comes home. I have therefore
tried in this little book to help Parents to familiarize
their children in home talks and readings with the
exalted poetry of the Psalms; with their lofty moral
teaching and their comforting prayers. The simpler
Psalms of Praise need little comment, but it may,
I hope, be found helpful to analyse the train of
thought in the more elaborate Psalms, and also to
indicate some characteristic peculiarities of Eastern
modes of expression.
The Psalms are not arranged in the Bible in the
order of simplicity; therefore in this volume the
numerical titles of the Psalms most suitable for
reading to young children are printed in red, both in
the Index and in the text.
I think the Psalms should be read to young
children more than once without any comment,
unless a child asks for explanation. Most children
love the sound and the word-pictures of the Psalms,
long before they can take in the full meaning.
I am aware that there is much repetition of the
same ideas in the comments on the Psalms. The
same moral lessons may be drawn from, and the
same explanations are applicable to, many different
v
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? TO PARENTS
Psalms. But as F. D. Maurice once said:--" I never
profess to teach new things; I never had but one or
two things that I was anxious to say, and I have
been saying them over and over again for thirty
years in as many different ways as I can, to reach
many different hearts and minds. "
I have selected about half the Psalm-book for
children's reading and for explanatory comment.
By the time that children know the whole of this
selection well, it is hoped that the ethics of the
Psalms, and also the genius of Hebrew poetry, will
have become more or less familiar to them, and
that they will dive for themselves and grasp the
pearls of beauty in the rest of the Psalter.
One word as to those Psalms in which a discordant
note of enmity jars on our ears in the midst of.
sweet and beautiful utterances. David, the typical
Psalmist, conscious of his own desire to do right,
expresses a soldier's rough and ready conviction that
sooner or later victory will be with the righteous and
defeat with the unrighteous. Indeed, war is still, as
it has ever been, the last resort of humanity seeking
justice. A certain boldness-in interpreting the signi-
ficance of events prevailed not only in Biblical times,
but as late as the days of the Puritans in England
and Covenanters in Scotland.
The simple reasonings which satisfied our fore-
fathers about cause and effect in human life no
longer carry conviction to every mind. But the
wider sphere of modern knowledge and thought
increases, as it were, the circumference of our con-
tact with the unknown, and enhances our apprecia-
vi
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? TO PARENTS
tion of the heroic mental attitude of the Psalmist,
who says: "I know, O Lord, Thy judgments are
right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted
me. "
Scattered as we are, and often out of reach of
Synagogues, it seems peculiarly desirable for us to
cultivate the habit of Domestic Services. There is
an old Rabbinical saying to the effect that sooner
than omit the daily repetition of the Shemang (that
most perfect reminder of a high mental and moral
attitude and its practical expression in life), we
should recite it while doing our daily work. It is
equally desirable never to omit holding a service
on Saturday as a tribute of thanks for the bene-
ficent law of the Sabbath--lest the day of rest
degenerate into a day merely of laziness and amuse-
ment. A very simple form of daily domestic prayers
is therefore added to this volume, and also a little
Sabbath service for use in Jewish families when
unable to attend Synagogue.
In conclusion I should like to express my indebted-
ness to several kind friends, especially Mrs. Redcliffe
Salaman, and the late Rev. D. Fay, whose death
occurred while this book was in the press, for much
valuable advice; and also to Mr. Claude G. Monte-
fiore, Dr. Driver and Dr. Wellhausen, from whose
versions I have occasionally borrowed when I have
ventured to vary the translation; and lastly my sense
of the help my own children have given me (con-
sciously and unconsciously) in this labour of love.
Julia M. Cohen.
vii
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? TO CHILDREN
Our first feeling about God is His goodness to us.
He made us and gave us all we have, our father and
mother, to love us and take care of us, the earth to
live in, and the sun to shine on us.
Our next feeling about God is His greatness. He
made the whole world and everything in it, and
every living creature. The more we think how
great God is, the more we feel how kind He is to
every one of us, and the more we want to thank Him
for all His goodness to us.
This is a book of Thanks and Praise to God, and
is called the Book of Psalms. It was written long,
long ago by our forefathers. Many of the Psalms
in it were written and sung by King David 3,000
years ago.
One of the Psalms says that a thousand years in
the sight of God "are but as yesterday, when it is
past. " For God never changes, Right and Wrong
never change, and God's mercy to us never changes.
So we still say and sing these old, old Psalms when
we want to thank God for " His goodness, and His
wonderful works to the children of men. "
viii
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? TABLE OF CONTENTS
The title number: printed in red indicate the Psalms suitable
for Younger Children.
To Parents.
To Children
First Psalm
Fourth Psalm
Eighth Psalm
Fifteenth Psalm .
Nineteenth Psalm
Twentieth Psalm
Twenty-third Psalm
Twentv-fourth Psalm
Twenty-fifth Psalm
Twenty-ninth Psalm
Thirty-second Psalm
Thirty-third Psalm
Thirty-fourth Psalm
Thirty-ninth Psalm
Forty-second Psalm
Forty-third Psalm
Forty-sixth Psalm
Forty-seventh Psalm
Forty-ninth Psalm
Fiftieth Psalm .
Fifty-first Psalm .
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? TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Fifty-sixth Psalm 68
Fifty-seventh Psalm 7?
Sixtieth Psalm 74
Sixty-first Psalm So
Sixty-third Psalm 82
Sixty-fifth Psalm 84
Sixty-sixth Psalm 88
Sixty-seventh Psalm 92
Seventy-seventh Psalm 9-
Eightieth Psalm 96
Eighty-first Psalm 100
Eighty-second Psalm 104
Eighty-fourth Psalm 110
Eighty-fifth Psalm 112
Eighty-sixth Psalm 116
Ninetieth Psalm 120
Ninety-first Psalm 126
Ninety-second Psalm 13?
Ninety-third Psalm 134
Ninety-fourth Psalm 134
Ninety-fifth Psalm 138
Ninety-sixth Psalm 140
Ninety-seventh Psalm M4
Ninety-eighth Psalm 146
Ninety-ninth Psalm 148
One Hundredth Psalm i52
Hundred and third Psalm . . . . . . -154
Hundred and fourth Psalm 15S
Hundred and fifth Psalm 164
Hundred and sixth Psalm 172
Hundred and seventh Psalm 178
Hundred and eighth Psalm 76
Hundred and eleventh Psalm 1S6
X
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? TABLE OF CONTENTS
TAGK
Hundred and twelfth Psalm 188
Hundred and thirteenth Psalm 192
Hundred and fourieenth Psalm . . . . . 194
Hundred and, fifteenth Psalm 196
Hundred and sixteenth Psalm 200
Hundred and seventeenth Psalm . . . . . 204
Hundred and eighteenth Psalm 204
Hundred and nineteenth Psalm 210
>, N, 2, W,r\ . 213, 213,
223, 239, 241
Hundred and twentieth Psalm 242
Hundred and twenty-first Psalm 244
Hundred and twenty-second Psalm 246
Hundred and twenty-third Psalm 248
Hundred and twenty-fourth Psalm . . . . 248
Hundred and twenty-fifth Psalm 250
Hundred and twenty-sixth Psalm 252
Hundred and twenty-seventh Psalm 254
Hundred and twenty-eighth Psalm 254
Hundred and thirtieth Psalm . . . . . . 256
Hundred and thirty-third Psalm . . . . . 258
Hundred and thirty-fourth Psalm 260
Hundred and thirty-fifth Psalm 262
Hundred and forty-fifth Psalm 264
Hundred and forty-sixth Psalm 268
Hundred and forty-seventh Psalm 272
Hundred and forty-eighth Psalm 274
Hundred and fiftieth Psalm 270
DAILY, SABBATH, AND FESTIVAL PRAYERS
FOR HOME USE.
Daily Morning Prayers 283
bHIV Hear, O Israel! 284
xi
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? TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Weekday Psalm Table 286
Birthday Psalm 120
Psalms suggested for reading in Illness . . . . 286
Table of Psalms for Infants 287
Night Prayers 287
Sabbath and Festival Service 288
Table of Psalms suggested for Sabbath reading . . 290
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Festivals . 290
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Passover . . 291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Pentecost .
291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on New Year . 291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on the Day of
Atonement 291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Tabernacles . 291
The Ten Commandments 292
Hymns for Sabbaths and Festivals :--
CbW TnN 299
English Metrical Version, by Jacob VValey . . . 298
biy 301
English Metrical Version, by Jacob Waley . . . 300
Grace after Meals 302
Birthday Prayer . 304
xii
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? THE
CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
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? :; . : :r. :*:THE CHrLDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM I.
Blessed is the man that vvalketh not in the counsel
of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his
delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law
doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be
like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also
shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like
the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore
the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor
sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For
the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but
the way of the ungodly shall perish.
mote on This Psalm describes a good man, who steadily
resists being tempted by bad example to do what he
knows to be wrong, and who is helped to do right by
ever keeping the law of God in his mind.
By imagery (that is, description by comparison)
the Psalmist suggests the thought that just as the
ever-flowing water of the river brings strength to the
tree to bear foliage and fruit, so the constant efforts
of a man who tries always to do what is right pro-
duces in him the ripe fruit of goodness and wisdom.
By the same imagery the contrast of the ungodly
man is shown; he is compared to the chaff, the
dry husk of the grain that is blown away and lost.
"The ungodly man shall not stand in the judg-
ment," because he has no principles of conduct;
therefore he has no power to judge others.
2
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
I. N
o*vi? n^aai iay k1? D^n YEt^ tryjjh
inniw wsn riirv mina-Dx 1 *a 2 :at^
. 'ti: /: v t: /- ; ? it t J
hb) ih >rbv) foya riv 1 vna -Bte eras
riiir yrri^a e iDW? mya owsrri tsstraa
naxh D\ytn ^Jfl D*g<<B "spg
"Sinners shall not stand in the congregation of flote on
the righteous;" but God does not account those pg. I.
sinners who are sorry for their wrong-doing, and try
hard to do better. "The way of the ungodly shall
perish," but not necessarily the ungodly themselves;
for as Isaiah the prophet said, " Let the wicked for-
sake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,
and let him return unto the Lord, for He will have
mercy on him, and to our God, for He will
abundantly pardon. "
The Psalmist says that the deeds of the wicked
shall be like chaff, which is lost. Thus, if the wicked
man persists in his evil way he sees the goodness of
God prevail against him. And if he repents of his
wickedness, to see that it has perished is his
comfort and his reward.
3
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM IV.
Co tbe Cbfel Musician. i B ipsalm of I>avio.
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress;
have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye
sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into
shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after
leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the Lord hath
set apart him that is godly for Himself; the Lord
will hear when I call unto Him. 4 Stand in awe,
and sin not: commune with your own heart upon
your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices
of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any
good? Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy
countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in
my heart, more than in the time that their corn and
their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in
peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me
dwell in safety.
IRote on This Psalm, like so many others, seems to bring the
)p8. IV. character of David's very self before us. We can
hardly believe that the man who wrote it lived 3000
years ago; but as Carlyle says about the heroes of
old, "Heroism" is "the divine relation . . . which
in all times unites a Great Man to other men. "
We feel how true this is as we read the psalms of
King David, the hero-poet, and realize his brave,
i For note on "The Chief Musician," see Ps. Ixxxi.
4
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IV. -r
rrrb niara ntt^a nxxb
r t: >> : ? ? :. - - : i -
'tin *j? nannn -rca *irix *rii? K i ^ny *thpa
n^rra '$nb 3 :hSd an tt? j? afl pn pnnxn
inn 4 . vSx wnpa yoeA niir 'h tdpi nirv
: ? |t" :|t: '- : ? t: a j-t t ;i
Dbaa^'o-ny DaaaSa ! inox iN&nrr1? ^
D^an. e :nin;^ irnp^ p^po? l inaj5 :rfe>
nan dbtitii nya *aSa nneb nana 7
? nan nirv nntoa naa^N inrv DiWa <<
att; jt; jt - r* |/t ? ; Vt ; ; v t ; - j t;
? I" ? l - Vt
simple nature and high-minded though impulsive t-lote on
disposition. IP3,
In Psalm iv. David gratefully recalls God's mercies
to him in the past and humbly prays for divine help.
Then he breaks off to lament the folly of those who,
"turning my glory into shame, love vain things and
seek after falsehood. " We feel the overwhelming
earnestness of the reproof in those stirring words.
Turning that in which / glory (my faith in God and
all it means in guiding my conduct to try to please
5
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOtt
IRote on Him) into a shameful thing (which means their
IPs. IV. shame, the loving of folly and seeking after base and
contemptible objects of desire).
Verse 5 is one of the many forms in which David
uttered the thought that was his guiding star through
life, as it may well be ours. "Offer the offering of
righteousness and put your trust in the Lord. " The
same thought in its very highest form is echoed in
the next verse. If we can feel that we have made
PSALM VIII.
Go tbe Cbief /fiuaician. B psalm or Davio.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in
all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the
heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and suck-
lings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine
enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and
the avenger. 3 When I consider Thy heavens, the
work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which
Thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that Thou
art mindful of him? and the son of man, that
Thou visitest him? 5 For Thou hast made him a
little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him
with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to
have dominion over the works of Thy hands;
Thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All
sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and
whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in
all the earth!
6
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
the offering to God of trying our very hardest to do 1ftote on
what is right, to live so that the light of His IPs, IV-
countenance is upon us, then we may fearlessly
trust that whatever may happen to us is for the
best. A touch of homely imagery in verse 7 conveys
to us that David is thinking of something other
than the changes and chances of worldly prosperity,
and the thought brings the sense of infinite peace
and trustfulness with which the Psalm closes.
viii. n
3 :Dj53no! i rix rvatrn1? spTtf3? jyo1?
D^rpiai rn? TD'^sx nE? yp spW? TM>>4
n-npsn ^3 dik-im insure b^k-pis4 :nwata
iv|: : ? j- t r I v av: : ? i- v:\ it t :it
: mntsyn mi ninai wrhun two imsnm 5
I": -: j't; t t: a? v:i" -5 j": - :-
matf niss >> ? ntr ntona Din DVa D^sSxi ntt v
* - ti j * it t , -:\- -: at ? . j- * -:i- jv
-no utfra rtrv 9 :ms* ninnx nay D'n *jni
7
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on The Psalmist is lost in wonder at God's loving
ps. VIII. care of us human beings. When we are little
babies we cannot know God's goodness to us.
When we grow older and understand God's loving
care of us, we know that God has given us the beau-
tiful world to live in, and all the living creatures
on earth to serve us. We must try to deserve these
great gifts of God by never misusing the power He
has given us. It is a great trust, and we must try
PSALM XV.
a lpealm ot XDavio.
Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who
shall dwell in Thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh
uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh
the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not
with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his fellow, nor
taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In
whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he
honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that
sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He
that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh
reward against the innocent. He that doeth these
things shall never be moved.
mote on This Psalm reminds me of a story about Hillel,
IPs. XV. jhg wise Rabbi. A stranger came to him and asked
him, "What is the Law of God?
THE CHILDREN'S
PSALM-BOOK
A Selection of Psalms with Explanatory
Comments, together with a Prayer-Book
for Home Use in Jewish Families
By
Mrs. NATHANIEL L. COHEN
Author of "The Infant Bible-Reader"
LONDON
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS LTD
New York: BLOCH PUBLISHING CO
1907
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? M20
/ 9*J
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? TO PARENTS
This little volume is an attempt to help Parents in
the anxious task of moulding the first conscious
efforts towards abstract thought in the minds of
their children.
Little children always seem to have a very present
consciousness of the existence of a supernatural
power, as though the voice that breathed life into
them still echoed within them. It is the Parents'
task reverently to use this inborn instinct, in order
to stimulate the development of the higher impulses
of humanity. If this consciousness be stimulated
recklessly or injudiciously, it may lead to super-
stition and to the miseries of nervous terror, and all
the attendant evils of cowardliness, deceit, and
untruthfulness. But if it be treated wisely, that
mysterious consciousness develops into a loving
trustfulness in the goodness of the Great Power, and
lends courage and comfort at many a critical moment
both of childhood and after-life. It is the basis of
every form of moral teaching, and of that great
fundamental doctrine of Judaism,--the direct
personal responsibility of every human being to the
One Divine Power. It is, in fact, the well-spring of
conscience and courage, and grows with the growth
iii
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? TO PARENTS
of the understanding,and becomes an ever-expanding
ideal of goodness, around which all the great
attributes of goodness group themselves in the
youthful mind,--Justice, Truthfulness, Honour,
Kindness, Generosity. This conception of goodness
--the consciousness of something stronger, higher,
better than ourselves--helps to develop the faculty of
veneration, and with it the kindred feeling of filial
obedience and love in the highest form.
There is a questioning and analytical phase of
mental development through which all thinking
minds are bound to pass, in the transition from
accepting the parental religious teaching with child-
like faith to assimilating it by the aid of thought
and reason. At this stage, when all forms and
observances are critically considered and weighed, a
consciousness of a Higher Power above and beyond
mortality, a habit of mind of looking for help to that
Higher Power, and a knowledge of the deeper
emblematic meaning of observances temper the
judgment and aid every human being in that process
of self-discipline by which he makes his faith in a
special sense his own.
It seems to me that if the development of the
religious sense is omitted from education, the most
exalted idea of goodness is left out, and the sense of
duty, and of right and wrong, is little more than an
appreciation of the minor virtues. Life is so much
the poorer for being shorn of the halo of high
spiritual aspiration. Instead of a fixed and lofty
ideal of life and conduct, based on the highest
conception of Divine Perfection of which the human
iv
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? TO PARENTS
mind is capable, and to which one and all try to
rise, there pievails a limited and fluctuating ideal,
subject to the chance influences of surroundings and
associates, and coloured by the social grade and
worldly interests of each individual, and by the
changeful current level of public opinion.
I think it is a pressing duty to endeavour to avert
this disastrous moral plight, to which the charge of
materialism so justly comes home. I have therefore
tried in this little book to help Parents to familiarize
their children in home talks and readings with the
exalted poetry of the Psalms; with their lofty moral
teaching and their comforting prayers. The simpler
Psalms of Praise need little comment, but it may,
I hope, be found helpful to analyse the train of
thought in the more elaborate Psalms, and also to
indicate some characteristic peculiarities of Eastern
modes of expression.
The Psalms are not arranged in the Bible in the
order of simplicity; therefore in this volume the
numerical titles of the Psalms most suitable for
reading to young children are printed in red, both in
the Index and in the text.
I think the Psalms should be read to young
children more than once without any comment,
unless a child asks for explanation. Most children
love the sound and the word-pictures of the Psalms,
long before they can take in the full meaning.
I am aware that there is much repetition of the
same ideas in the comments on the Psalms. The
same moral lessons may be drawn from, and the
same explanations are applicable to, many different
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? TO PARENTS
Psalms. But as F. D. Maurice once said:--" I never
profess to teach new things; I never had but one or
two things that I was anxious to say, and I have
been saying them over and over again for thirty
years in as many different ways as I can, to reach
many different hearts and minds. "
I have selected about half the Psalm-book for
children's reading and for explanatory comment.
By the time that children know the whole of this
selection well, it is hoped that the ethics of the
Psalms, and also the genius of Hebrew poetry, will
have become more or less familiar to them, and
that they will dive for themselves and grasp the
pearls of beauty in the rest of the Psalter.
One word as to those Psalms in which a discordant
note of enmity jars on our ears in the midst of.
sweet and beautiful utterances. David, the typical
Psalmist, conscious of his own desire to do right,
expresses a soldier's rough and ready conviction that
sooner or later victory will be with the righteous and
defeat with the unrighteous. Indeed, war is still, as
it has ever been, the last resort of humanity seeking
justice. A certain boldness-in interpreting the signi-
ficance of events prevailed not only in Biblical times,
but as late as the days of the Puritans in England
and Covenanters in Scotland.
The simple reasonings which satisfied our fore-
fathers about cause and effect in human life no
longer carry conviction to every mind. But the
wider sphere of modern knowledge and thought
increases, as it were, the circumference of our con-
tact with the unknown, and enhances our apprecia-
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? TO PARENTS
tion of the heroic mental attitude of the Psalmist,
who says: "I know, O Lord, Thy judgments are
right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted
me. "
Scattered as we are, and often out of reach of
Synagogues, it seems peculiarly desirable for us to
cultivate the habit of Domestic Services. There is
an old Rabbinical saying to the effect that sooner
than omit the daily repetition of the Shemang (that
most perfect reminder of a high mental and moral
attitude and its practical expression in life), we
should recite it while doing our daily work. It is
equally desirable never to omit holding a service
on Saturday as a tribute of thanks for the bene-
ficent law of the Sabbath--lest the day of rest
degenerate into a day merely of laziness and amuse-
ment. A very simple form of daily domestic prayers
is therefore added to this volume, and also a little
Sabbath service for use in Jewish families when
unable to attend Synagogue.
In conclusion I should like to express my indebted-
ness to several kind friends, especially Mrs. Redcliffe
Salaman, and the late Rev. D. Fay, whose death
occurred while this book was in the press, for much
valuable advice; and also to Mr. Claude G. Monte-
fiore, Dr. Driver and Dr. Wellhausen, from whose
versions I have occasionally borrowed when I have
ventured to vary the translation; and lastly my sense
of the help my own children have given me (con-
sciously and unconsciously) in this labour of love.
Julia M. Cohen.
vii
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? TO CHILDREN
Our first feeling about God is His goodness to us.
He made us and gave us all we have, our father and
mother, to love us and take care of us, the earth to
live in, and the sun to shine on us.
Our next feeling about God is His greatness. He
made the whole world and everything in it, and
every living creature. The more we think how
great God is, the more we feel how kind He is to
every one of us, and the more we want to thank Him
for all His goodness to us.
This is a book of Thanks and Praise to God, and
is called the Book of Psalms. It was written long,
long ago by our forefathers. Many of the Psalms
in it were written and sung by King David 3,000
years ago.
One of the Psalms says that a thousand years in
the sight of God "are but as yesterday, when it is
past. " For God never changes, Right and Wrong
never change, and God's mercy to us never changes.
So we still say and sing these old, old Psalms when
we want to thank God for " His goodness, and His
wonderful works to the children of men. "
viii
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? TABLE OF CONTENTS
The title number: printed in red indicate the Psalms suitable
for Younger Children.
To Parents.
To Children
First Psalm
Fourth Psalm
Eighth Psalm
Fifteenth Psalm .
Nineteenth Psalm
Twentieth Psalm
Twenty-third Psalm
Twentv-fourth Psalm
Twenty-fifth Psalm
Twenty-ninth Psalm
Thirty-second Psalm
Thirty-third Psalm
Thirty-fourth Psalm
Thirty-ninth Psalm
Forty-second Psalm
Forty-third Psalm
Forty-sixth Psalm
Forty-seventh Psalm
Forty-ninth Psalm
Fiftieth Psalm .
Fifty-first Psalm .
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? TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Fifty-sixth Psalm 68
Fifty-seventh Psalm 7?
Sixtieth Psalm 74
Sixty-first Psalm So
Sixty-third Psalm 82
Sixty-fifth Psalm 84
Sixty-sixth Psalm 88
Sixty-seventh Psalm 92
Seventy-seventh Psalm 9-
Eightieth Psalm 96
Eighty-first Psalm 100
Eighty-second Psalm 104
Eighty-fourth Psalm 110
Eighty-fifth Psalm 112
Eighty-sixth Psalm 116
Ninetieth Psalm 120
Ninety-first Psalm 126
Ninety-second Psalm 13?
Ninety-third Psalm 134
Ninety-fourth Psalm 134
Ninety-fifth Psalm 138
Ninety-sixth Psalm 140
Ninety-seventh Psalm M4
Ninety-eighth Psalm 146
Ninety-ninth Psalm 148
One Hundredth Psalm i52
Hundred and third Psalm . . . . . . -154
Hundred and fourth Psalm 15S
Hundred and fifth Psalm 164
Hundred and sixth Psalm 172
Hundred and seventh Psalm 178
Hundred and eighth Psalm 76
Hundred and eleventh Psalm 1S6
X
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? TABLE OF CONTENTS
TAGK
Hundred and twelfth Psalm 188
Hundred and thirteenth Psalm 192
Hundred and fourieenth Psalm . . . . . 194
Hundred and, fifteenth Psalm 196
Hundred and sixteenth Psalm 200
Hundred and seventeenth Psalm . . . . . 204
Hundred and eighteenth Psalm 204
Hundred and nineteenth Psalm 210
>, N, 2, W,r\ . 213, 213,
223, 239, 241
Hundred and twentieth Psalm 242
Hundred and twenty-first Psalm 244
Hundred and twenty-second Psalm 246
Hundred and twenty-third Psalm 248
Hundred and twenty-fourth Psalm . . . . 248
Hundred and twenty-fifth Psalm 250
Hundred and twenty-sixth Psalm 252
Hundred and twenty-seventh Psalm 254
Hundred and twenty-eighth Psalm 254
Hundred and thirtieth Psalm . . . . . . 256
Hundred and thirty-third Psalm . . . . . 258
Hundred and thirty-fourth Psalm 260
Hundred and thirty-fifth Psalm 262
Hundred and forty-fifth Psalm 264
Hundred and forty-sixth Psalm 268
Hundred and forty-seventh Psalm 272
Hundred and forty-eighth Psalm 274
Hundred and fiftieth Psalm 270
DAILY, SABBATH, AND FESTIVAL PRAYERS
FOR HOME USE.
Daily Morning Prayers 283
bHIV Hear, O Israel! 284
xi
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? TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Weekday Psalm Table 286
Birthday Psalm 120
Psalms suggested for reading in Illness . . . . 286
Table of Psalms for Infants 287
Night Prayers 287
Sabbath and Festival Service 288
Table of Psalms suggested for Sabbath reading . . 290
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Festivals . 290
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Passover . . 291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Pentecost .
291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on New Year . 291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on the Day of
Atonement 291
Table of Psalms suggested for reading on Tabernacles . 291
The Ten Commandments 292
Hymns for Sabbaths and Festivals :--
CbW TnN 299
English Metrical Version, by Jacob VValey . . . 298
biy 301
English Metrical Version, by Jacob Waley . . . 300
Grace after Meals 302
Birthday Prayer . 304
xii
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? THE
CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
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? :; . : :r. :*:THE CHrLDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM I.
Blessed is the man that vvalketh not in the counsel
of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his
delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law
doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be
like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also
shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall
prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like
the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore
the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor
sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For
the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but
the way of the ungodly shall perish.
mote on This Psalm describes a good man, who steadily
resists being tempted by bad example to do what he
knows to be wrong, and who is helped to do right by
ever keeping the law of God in his mind.
By imagery (that is, description by comparison)
the Psalmist suggests the thought that just as the
ever-flowing water of the river brings strength to the
tree to bear foliage and fruit, so the constant efforts
of a man who tries always to do what is right pro-
duces in him the ripe fruit of goodness and wisdom.
By the same imagery the contrast of the ungodly
man is shown; he is compared to the chaff, the
dry husk of the grain that is blown away and lost.
"The ungodly man shall not stand in the judg-
ment," because he has no principles of conduct;
therefore he has no power to judge others.
2
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
I. N
o*vi? n^aai iay k1? D^n YEt^ tryjjh
inniw wsn riirv mina-Dx 1 *a 2 :at^
. 'ti: /: v t: /- ; ? it t J
hb) ih >rbv) foya riv 1 vna -Bte eras
riiir yrri^a e iDW? mya owsrri tsstraa
naxh D\ytn ^Jfl D*g<<B "spg
"Sinners shall not stand in the congregation of flote on
the righteous;" but God does not account those pg. I.
sinners who are sorry for their wrong-doing, and try
hard to do better. "The way of the ungodly shall
perish," but not necessarily the ungodly themselves;
for as Isaiah the prophet said, " Let the wicked for-
sake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts,
and let him return unto the Lord, for He will have
mercy on him, and to our God, for He will
abundantly pardon. "
The Psalmist says that the deeds of the wicked
shall be like chaff, which is lost. Thus, if the wicked
man persists in his evil way he sees the goodness of
God prevail against him. And if he repents of his
wickedness, to see that it has perished is his
comfort and his reward.
3
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
PSALM IV.
Co tbe Cbfel Musician. i B ipsalm of I>avio.
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress;
have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. 2 O ye
sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into
shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after
leasing? Selah. 3 But know that the Lord hath
set apart him that is godly for Himself; the Lord
will hear when I call unto Him. 4 Stand in awe,
and sin not: commune with your own heart upon
your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices
of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any
good? Lord, lift Thou up the light of Thy
countenance upon us. 7 Thou hast put gladness in
my heart, more than in the time that their corn and
their wine increased. 8 I will both lay me down in
peace, and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me
dwell in safety.
IRote on This Psalm, like so many others, seems to bring the
)p8. IV. character of David's very self before us. We can
hardly believe that the man who wrote it lived 3000
years ago; but as Carlyle says about the heroes of
old, "Heroism" is "the divine relation . . . which
in all times unites a Great Man to other men. "
We feel how true this is as we read the psalms of
King David, the hero-poet, and realize his brave,
i For note on "The Chief Musician," see Ps. Ixxxi.
4
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
IV. -r
rrrb niara ntt^a nxxb
r t: >> : ? ? :. - - : i -
'tin *j? nannn -rca *irix *rii? K i ^ny *thpa
n^rra '$nb 3 :hSd an tt? j? afl pn pnnxn
inn 4 . vSx wnpa yoeA niir 'h tdpi nirv
: ? |t" :|t: '- : ? t: a j-t t ;i
Dbaa^'o-ny DaaaSa ! inox iN&nrr1? ^
D^an. e :nin;^ irnp^ p^po? l inaj5 :rfe>
nan dbtitii nya *aSa nneb nana 7
? nan nirv nntoa naa^N inrv DiWa <<
att; jt; jt - r* |/t ? ; Vt ; ; v t ; - j t;
? I" ? l - Vt
simple nature and high-minded though impulsive t-lote on
disposition. IP3,
In Psalm iv. David gratefully recalls God's mercies
to him in the past and humbly prays for divine help.
Then he breaks off to lament the folly of those who,
"turning my glory into shame, love vain things and
seek after falsehood. " We feel the overwhelming
earnestness of the reproof in those stirring words.
Turning that in which / glory (my faith in God and
all it means in guiding my conduct to try to please
5
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOtt
IRote on Him) into a shameful thing (which means their
IPs. IV. shame, the loving of folly and seeking after base and
contemptible objects of desire).
Verse 5 is one of the many forms in which David
uttered the thought that was his guiding star through
life, as it may well be ours. "Offer the offering of
righteousness and put your trust in the Lord. " The
same thought in its very highest form is echoed in
the next verse. If we can feel that we have made
PSALM VIII.
Go tbe Cbief /fiuaician. B psalm or Davio.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in
all the earth! Who hast set Thy glory above the
heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and suck-
lings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine
enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and
the avenger. 3 When I consider Thy heavens, the
work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which
Thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that Thou
art mindful of him? and the son of man, that
Thou visitest him? 5 For Thou hast made him a
little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him
with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to
have dominion over the works of Thy hands;
Thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All
sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and
whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in
all the earth!
6
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
the offering to God of trying our very hardest to do 1ftote on
what is right, to live so that the light of His IPs, IV-
countenance is upon us, then we may fearlessly
trust that whatever may happen to us is for the
best. A touch of homely imagery in verse 7 conveys
to us that David is thinking of something other
than the changes and chances of worldly prosperity,
and the thought brings the sense of infinite peace
and trustfulness with which the Psalm closes.
viii. n
3 :Dj53no! i rix rvatrn1? spTtf3? jyo1?
D^rpiai rn? TD'^sx nE? yp spW? TM>>4
n-npsn ^3 dik-im insure b^k-pis4 :nwata
iv|: : ? j- t r I v av: : ? i- v:\ it t :it
: mntsyn mi ninai wrhun two imsnm 5
I": -: j't; t t: a? v:i" -5 j": - :-
matf niss >> ? ntr ntona Din DVa D^sSxi ntt v
* - ti j * it t , -:\- -: at ? . j- * -:i- jv
-no utfra rtrv 9 :ms* ninnx nay D'n *jni
7
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? THE CHILDREN'S PSALM-BOOK
mote on The Psalmist is lost in wonder at God's loving
ps. VIII. care of us human beings. When we are little
babies we cannot know God's goodness to us.
When we grow older and understand God's loving
care of us, we know that God has given us the beau-
tiful world to live in, and all the living creatures
on earth to serve us. We must try to deserve these
great gifts of God by never misusing the power He
has given us. It is a great trust, and we must try
PSALM XV.
a lpealm ot XDavio.
Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? who
shall dwell in Thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh
uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh
the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not
with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his fellow, nor
taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In
whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he
honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that
sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He
that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh
reward against the innocent. He that doeth these
things shall never be moved.
mote on This Psalm reminds me of a story about Hillel,
IPs. XV. jhg wise Rabbi. A stranger came to him and asked
him, "What is the Law of God?
