Reading Psalm 27 with Its 13 Verses – Corresponding to the 13 Gates of Mercy

Reading Psalm 27 with Its 13 Verses – Corresponding to the 13 Gates of Mercy

It is known from the Ari HaKadosh (may his merit shield us) that reading Psalm 27 (perek 27 of Tehillim) in the holy tongue twice a day (morning and evening) from Rosh Chodesh Elul until the end of Yom Kippur guarantees that the Heavens will open the 13 Gates of Mercy for a person, that he will have a good year, and that even if a harsh decree has already been issued, it will be annulled. The Arizal points out that in this psalm the Holy Name of Hashem is mentioned 13 times, and with each utterance of this Name, one of the 13 Gates opens for the Jew. And all the accusing angels will be powerless before him and his family, and he will be vindicated in judgment, because Hashem will open for him the 13 Gates of Mercy. The Mekubalim relate that it is good to conclude the reading of Psalm 27 with 13 verses from the Tanach – corresponding to the 13 Attributes of Mercy.   Tehillim 27 1. LeDavid, Ado-nai ori veyish'i, mimi ira, Ado-nai ma'oz chayai, mimi efchad. 2. Bikrov alai mere'im le'echol et besari, tzarai ve'oyvai li, hemah khashlu venafalu. 3. Im tachaneh alai machaneh, lo yira libi, im takum alai milchamah, bezot ani votei'ach. 4. Achat sha'alti me'et Ado-nai, otah avakesh, shivti beveit Ado-nai kol yemei chayai, lachazot beno'am Ado-nai ul'vaker beheikhalo. 5. Ki yitzpeneni besukoh beyom ra'ah yastireni beseter oholo, betzur yeromemeni. 6. Ve'atah yarum roshi al oyvai sevivotai, ve'ezb'chah ve'oholo zivchei terua, ashirah va'azamerah l'Ado-nai. 7. Shema Ado-nai koli ekra, vechoneni va'aneni. 8. Lecha amar libi bakshu fanai, et panecha Ado-nai avakesh. 9. Al taster panecha mimeni, al tat be'af avdecha, ezrati hayita, al titesheni ve'al ta'azveni Elohei yish'i. 10. Ki avi ve'imi azavuni, v'Ado-nai ya'asfeni. 11. Horeni Ado-nai darkecha, uncheni be'orach mishor, lema'an shorerai. 12. Al titneni benefesh tzarai, ki kamu vi edei sheker vifei'ach chamas. 13. Lulei he'emanti lir'ot betuv Ado-nai be'eretz chayim. 14. Kaveh el Ado-nai, chazak veya'ametz libecha, vekaveh el Ado-nai. Translation 1. A Psalm of David. The L-rd is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The L-rd is the stronghold of my life - whom shall I dread? 2. When the wicked drew near me to devour my flesh - my adversaries and my enemies - they stumbled and fell. 3. Though a camp should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise up against me, in this I trust. 4. One thing I have asked of the L-rd, that I will seek: that I may dwell in the House of the L-rd all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of the L-rd and to visit His Sanctuary each day. 5. For He will hide me in His sukkah in the day of trouble; He will conceal me in the shelter of His tent; He will lift me up upon a rock. 6. And now my head shall be raised above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tent sacrifices of joy; I will sing and make music to the L-rd. 7. Hear, O L-rd, my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me. 8. On Your behalf my heart has said, "Seek My face." Your face, O L-rd, I do seek. 9. Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger. You have been my help - do not abandon me and do not forsake me, G-d of my salvation! 10. For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the L-rd has taken me in. 11. Teach me, O L-rd, Your way, and guide me on a level path, because of my watchful foes. 12. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen against me, breathing violence. 13. I would have been lost, had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the L-rd in the land of the living. 14. Hope in the L-rd! Be strong and let your heart take courage - and hope in the L-rd!  

13 Verses Corresponding to the 13 Gates of Mercy

1. Tehillim 121:1 שיר למעלות אשא עיני אל ההרים מאין יבוא עזרי - "Shir lama'alot esa einai el heharim me'ayin yavo ezri" - (A Song of Ascents. I lift up my eyes to the mountains - from where will my help come?); (Tehillim 121:1) 2. Tehillim 121:2 עזרי מעם ה ׳ עושה שמים וארץ - "Ezri me'im Ado-nai oseh shamayim va'aretz" - (My help comes from the L-rd, who made heaven and earth); 3. Mishlei 4:18 ואורח צדיקים כאור נוגה הולך ואור עד נכון היום - "Ve'orach tzaddikim ke'or nogah holech va'or ad nechon hayom" - (But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines ever brighter until the full day); 4. Tehillim 69:14 ואני תפילתי לך ה ׳ עת רצון אלהים ברוב חסדך ענני באמת ישעך - "Va'ani tefilati lecha Ado-nai et ratzon Elohim berov chasdecha aneni be'emet yish'echa" - (But as for me, my prayer is to You, O L-rd, in a time of favor; O G-d, in Your abundant kindness, answer me with the truth of Your salvation); 5. Tehillim 121:4 הנה לא ינום ולא יישן שומר ישראל - "Hineh lo yanum velo yishan Shomer Yisrael" - (Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps); 6. Tehillim 33:18 הנה עין ה׳ אל יראיו למיחלים לחסדו - "Hineh ein Ado-nai el yerei'av, lameyachalim lechasdo" - (Behold, the eye of the L-rd is upon those who fear Him, upon those who hope for His kindness); 7. Divrei HaYamim (Aleph 16:27) הוד והדר לפניו עוז וחדוה במקומו - "Hod vehadar lefanav, oz vechedvah bimkomo" - (Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His place); 8. Tehillim 130:4 כי עמך הסליחה למען תורא - "Ki imcha haslichah lema'an tivarei" - (For with You there is forgiveness, that You may be revered); 9. Tehillim 145:8 חנון ורחום ה ׳ ארך אפים וגדל חסד - "Chanun verachum Ado-nai, erech apayim ugdol chased" - (Gracious and merciful is the L-rd, slow to anger and abounding in kindness); 10. Mishlei 16:5 באור פני מלך חיים ורצונו כעב מלקוש - "Be'or penei melech chayim, urtzono ke'av malkosh" - (In the light of the king's face there is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the spring rain); 11. Tehillim 95:3 כי אל גדול ה׳ ומלך גדול על כל אלהים - "Ki Kel Gadol Ado-nai uMelech Gadol al kol Elohim" - (For the L-rd is a great G-d, and a great King above all gods); 12. Tehillim 89:16 אשרי העם יודעי תרועה ה׳ באור פניך יהלכון - "Ashrei ha'am yod'ei terua, Ado-nai be'or panecha yehalechun" - (Happy is the people that know the joyful shout; O L-rd, they walk in the light of Your countenance); 13. Tehillim 133:2 כשמן הטוב על הראש יורד על הזקן זקן אהרן שיורד על פי מדותיו - "Kashemen hatov al harosh yored al hazakan, zkan Aharon, sheyored al pi midotav" - (Like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, the beard of Aaron, that comes down upon the collar of his garments); Now is the time for a personal request for your loved ones, and certainly for all of Am Yisrael!   (Based on a lesson by Anat Ben Ari for "Sila Tehilim"; transliteration by Alexander Tzvi Sypkov)