TEHILIM FOR RECITATION WHILE IN THE CHAPEL The National Association of Chevra Kadisha www.nasck.org 718.849.9700 Reprinted with permission of The Chevra Kadisha of Great Neck, NY
The National Association of Chevra Kadisha would like to elevate our community's fulfillment of the mitzvah of Kavod Hameis respect for the deceased. At a funeral, from the point when the casket (Aron) is brought into the chapel, we request that all present cease their conversations. Instead, Tehillim will be recited to honor the memory of and bring merit and comfort to the Neshama of the deceased. Your cooperation in maintaining this proper atmosphere of decorum will mean a great deal to the bereaved family and will bring our community to a higher level of fulfillment of this very important Mitzvah. We thank you for your understanding. Page 2 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
Psalms Chapter 1 1 Happy is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat 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 streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf doth not wither; and in whatsoever he doeth he shall prosper. 4 Not so the wicked; but they are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD regardeth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish. Psalms Chapter 15 Page 3 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
1 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell upon Thy holy mountain? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart; 3 That hath no slander upon his tongue, nor doeth evil to his fellow, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, 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 on interest, nor taketh a bribe against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psalms Chapter 16 1 Michtam of David. Keep me, O God; for I have taken refuge in Page 4 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
Thee. 2 I have said unto the LORD: 'Thou art my Lord; I have no good but in Thee'; 3 As for the holy that are in the earth, they are the excellent in whom is all my delight. 4 Let the idols of them be multiplied that make suit unto another; their drinkofferings of blood will I not offer, nor take their names upon my lips. 5 O LORD, the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup, Thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel; yea, in the night seasons my reins instruct me. 8 I have set the LORD always before me; surely He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also Page 5 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
dwelleth in safety; 10 For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to the netherworld; neither wilt Thou suffer Thy godly one to see the pit. 11 Thou makest me to know the path of life; in Thy presence is fulness of joy, in Thy right hand bliss for evermore. Psalms Chapter 20 1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David. 2 The LORD answer thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob set thee up on high; 3 Send forth thy help from the sanctuary, and support thee out of Zion; 4 Receive the memorial of all thy mealofferings, and accept the fat of thy burntsacrifice; Selah 5 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. 6 We will shout for joy in thy Page 6 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our standards; the LORD fulfil all thy petitions. 7 Now know I that the LORD saveth His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the mighty acts of His saving right hand. 8 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will make mention of the name of the LORD our God. 9 They are bowed down and fallen; but we are risen, and stand upright. 10 Save, LORD; let the King answer us in the day that we call. Psalms Chapter 23 1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul; He guideth me in straight paths for His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the Page 7 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalms Chapter 90 1 A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, Thou hast been our dwellingplace in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God. 3 Thou turnest man to contrition; and sayest: 'Return, ye children of men.' Page 8 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
4 For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep; in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 7 For we are consumed in Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we hurried away. 8 Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. Page 9 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700 9 For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath; we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years; yet is their pride but travail and vanity; for it is speedily gone, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of Thine anger, and Thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto Thee?
12 So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD; how long? And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants. 14 O satisfy us in the morning with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, according to the years wherein we have seen evil. 16 Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory upon their children. 17 And let the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; establish Thou also upon us the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it. Psalms Chapter 91 1 O thou that dwellest in the covert of the Most High, and abidest in the shadow of the Almighty; Page 10 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
2 I will say of the LORD, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust, 3 That He will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He will cover thee with His pinions, and under His wings shalt thou take refuge; His truth is a shield and a buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 For thou hast made the LORD who is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation. 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Page 11 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. 11 For He will give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee upon their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and asp; the young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under feet. 14 'Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. 15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him, and bring him to honour. Psalms Chapter 121 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and make him to behold My salvation. 1 A Song of Ascents. I will lift up Page 12 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come? 2 My help cometh from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; He that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is thy keeper; the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul. Page 13 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700 Psalms Chapter 130 8 The LORD shall guard thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for ever. 1 A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths have I called Thee, O LORD. 2 Lord, hearken unto my voice; let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3 If Thou, LORD, shouldest mark
iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 For with Thee there is forgiveness, that Thou mayest be feared. 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope. 6 My soul waiteth for the Lord, more than watchmen for the morning; yea, more than watchmen for the morning. 7 O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. 8 And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities. Psalms Chapter 142 1 Maschil of David, when he was in the cave; a Prayer. 2 With my voice I cry unto the LORD; with my voice I make supplication unto the LORD. 3 I pour out my complaint before Him, I declare before Him my trouble; 4 When my spirit fainteth within Page 14 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700
methou knowest my path in the way wherein I walk have they hidden a snare for me. 5 Look on my right hand, and see, for there is no man that knoweth me; I have no way to flee; no man careth for my soul. 6 I have cried unto Thee, O LORD; I have said: 'Thou art my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.' 7 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors; for they are too strong for me. 8 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks unto Thy name; the righteous shall crown themselves because of me; for Thou wilt deal bountifully with me. Page 15 The National Association of Chevra Kadisha, www.nasck.org, 718.849.9700