This psalm is also called "The Song of Plagues" which I never thought would be so relevant...A song for times of vulnerability, we say Psalm 91 when facing the transition from life to death, from waking life to sleep and from Shabbat to weekdays.
The chorus is the final verse of Psalm 90, which is often recited as an intro to 91.
This is mostly Psalm 91, but the chorus is the final verse of Psalm 90, which is often recited as an intro to 91.
Here's my version:
Hook
וִיהִי נֹעַם ה" אֱלֹקינוּ עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵינוּ וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ כּוֹנְנֵהוּ
[And may the pleasantness of the Lord our God be upon us, and the work of our hands establish for us, and the work of our hands establish it]
Verse 1
I rest in the hiddenmost depths
Where my innermost breath
Is blessed from beginning to end
In the shadow of the wings of eternity
When I'm lost please help me to return to Thee
Your force is a shield that my thoughts help to build
Now I yield to Your love
Behold how I'm healed
Please help me to remember those lessons revealed
Please help me remember those lessons revealed
Under your wing
You set me in your hiding place
I was privileged a vision of Your shining grace
Free me from the prison of time and space
That I revisit with this fission of rhyme and breaks
I've nothing to fear
Neither by night nor day
If the city that I'm living in should slide away
Although I don't know how
I know You'll find a way
I guess I trust You
That's what I'm trying to say
[Hook]
Verse 2
Cos I chose You as my fortress in my hour of need
You set me on a pedestal surrounding me
With forces
Of course yes
I've found the key
It's called the Infinite and Nameless
That's just how it be
Your hands wrap under my feet
Lest I should stumble
So always I feel complete
And whatever be the obstacle
I'll be protected
For acknowledging and honoring
So deep connected
To the pleasure of Your presence
I desire to cleave
Cos it's only in Your service I'm entirely free
And whenever I forget it then remind me please
Bring me back to the real from where I'm trying to be
Til I remember to articulate with clear intention
Necessitates some effort just to clear the tension
Essentially you give me what is really essential
So of course You'll ensure that we fulfil our potential
[Hook x2]
The original psalms (the final verse of 90 and then 91) are here: www.sefaria.org/Psalms.90.17?lang…with=all&lang2=en
credits
from Rapping the Psalms,
released June 18, 2020
Lyrics: Danny Raphael
Music: Daniel Gouly