2. Hymn Based on Psalm 121
When I come, O Creator, to proclaim Thy unity, turn unto me! Forgive my sins, and heed not my wicked thoughts; with this my Song of Ascents I cry unto Thee, O my Crown. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come?
Woe to the daughter who derides the ancients of the earth; but when I hear her mockery, I boldly answer thus: ‘My Redeemer lives for ever; He dwells in the lofty skies—my help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’
The persecutor smites the multitudes who extol Thee (behold, they have no other hope but in Thy words alone); presumptuously he mocks the words of Thy Psalms: He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
When the wanton ones take counsel together, they plan to destroy the remnant of Ariel; but Israel says: Trust ye in God our Redeemer;—behold, He that keepeth Israel doth neither slumber nor sleep.
May now the trust of Thy believers be made strong and firm, according to the psalmist’s words who sings Thy songs of joy: When terror seizes thee, the Lord shall be thy refuge; the Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
My trust I put in Thee, O Dweller in the skies above; I stay myself upon the psalmist’s words who sings jubilantly: In thy Creator put thy trust, always rely on Him; the sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
The multitude of Thy saints come before Thee; they loudly sing Thy praises in Thy holy sanctuaries; the remnant of them that seek Thee say to one another: ‘The Lord shall keep thee from all evil; He shall keep thy soul.’
All Thy beloved ones together raise their voice, and say: ‘With perfect heart sing ye unto the Living God; He who understands all secrets will hear your cry; The Lord shall guard thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for ever.’