05/04/2020

Keep the Commandments









  בְּנִי תּוֹרָתִי אַל תִּשְׁכָּח   וּמִצְוֺתַי יִצֹּר לִבֶּךָMy child, do not forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments (mitzvot);
  כִּי אֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים    וְשָׁלוֹם יוֹסִיפוּ לָךְBecause length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
  חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת אַל יַעַזְבֻךָ
קָשְׁרֵם עַל-גַּרְגְּרוֹתֶיךָ כָּתְבֵם עַל לוּחַ לִבֶּךָ
Let not kindness and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them upon the table of your heart;
 וּמְצָא חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֹהִים וְאָדָםYou will find grace and good favour in the sight of GOD and man.
 בְּטַח אֶל יי בְּכָל לִבֶּךָ    וְאֶל בִּינָתְךָ אַל תִּשָּׁעֵןTrust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not upon your own understanding.
 בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ וְהוּא יְיַשֵּׁר אֹרְחֹתֶיךָIn all your ways acknowledge GOD, and the LORD will direct your paths.
 אַל תְּהִי חָכָם בְּעֵינֶיךָ יְרָא אֶת יי וְסוּר מֵרָעBe not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:1-7

In a world full of so much mystery, paradoxes, things we do not know; when we feel powerless and circumstances are beyond our understanding, trust in the LORD, and show reverence to the Almighty by  keeping the commandments.

סוֹף דָּבָר הַכֹּל נִשְׁמָע
אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים יְרָא וְאֶת מִצְוֺתָיו שְׁמוֹר
כִּי זֶה כָּל הָאָדָם
Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) 12:15

(This series of reflections follow the chapter and verse divisions on the printed Massoretic Text of the Hebrew Bible.)


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