A History of Being Loved Anyway.

הַֽלְלוּיָ֨הּ׀ הוֹד֣וּ לַיהוָ֣ה כִּי־ט֑וֹב כִּ֖י לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּֽוֹ׃

Praise the Lord ! Oh give thanks to the Lord , for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

מִ֗י יְ֭מַלֵּל גְּבוּר֣וֹת יְהוָ֑ה יַ֝שְׁמִ֗יעַ כָּל־תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃

[2] Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord , or declare all his praise?

אַ֭שְׁרֵי שֹׁמְרֵ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֑ט עֹשֵׂ֖ה צְדָקָ֣ה בְכָל־עֵֽת׃

[3] Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!

זָכְרֵ֣נִי יְ֭הוָה בִּרְצ֣וֹן עַמֶּ֑ךָ פָּ֝קְדֵ֗נִי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ׃

[4] Remember me, O Lord , when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them,

לִרְא֤וֹת׀ בְּט֘וֹבַ֤ת בְּחִירֶ֗יךָ לִ֭שְׂמֹחַ בְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת גּוֹיֶ֑ךָ לְ֝הִתְהַלֵּ֗ל עִם־נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ׃

[5] that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.

חָטָ֥אנוּ עִם־אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ הֶעֱוִ֥ינוּ הִרְשָֽׁעְנוּ׃

[6] Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.

אֲב֘וֹתֵ֤ינוּ בְמִצְרַ֨יִם׀ לֹא־הִשְׂכִּ֬ילוּ נִפְלְאוֹתֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א זָ֭כְרוּ אֶת־רֹ֣ב חֲסָדֶ֑יךָ וַיַּמְר֖וּ עַל־יָ֣ם בְּיַם־סֽוּף׃

[7] Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.

וַֽ֭יּוֹשִׁיעֵם לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמ֑וֹ לְ֝הוֹדִ֗יעַ אֶת־גְּבוּרָתֽוֹ׃

[8] Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.

וַיִּגְעַ֣ר בְּיַם־ס֭וּף וַֽיֶּחֱרָ֑ב וַיּוֹלִיכֵ֥ם בַּ֝תְּהֹמ֗וֹת כַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

[9] He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry, and he led them through the deep as through a desert.

וַֽ֭יּוֹשִׁיעֵם מִיַּ֣ד שׂוֹנֵ֑א וַ֝יִּגְאָלֵ֗ם מִיַּ֥ד אוֹיֵֽב׃

[10] So he saved them from the hand of the foe and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.

וַיְכַסּוּ־מַ֥יִם צָרֵיהֶ֑ם אֶחָ֥ד מֵ֝הֶ֗ם לֹ֣א נוֹתָֽר׃

[11] And the waters covered their adversaries; not one of them was left.

וַיַּאֲמִ֥ינוּ בִדְבָרָ֑יו יָ֝שִׁ֗ירוּ תְּהִלָּתֽוֹ׃

[12] Then they believed his words; they sang his praise.

מִֽ֭הֲרוּ שָׁכְח֣וּ מַעֲשָׂ֑יו לֹֽא־חִ֝כּ֗וּ לַעֲצָתֽוֹ׃

[13] But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel.

וַיִּתְאַוּ֣וּ תַ֭אֲוָה בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַיְנַסּוּ־אֵ֝֗ל בִּֽישִׁימֽוֹן׃

[14] But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert;

וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָ֭הֶם שֶׁאֱלָתָ֑ם וַיְשַׁלַּ֖ח רָז֣וֹן בְּנַפְשָֽׁם׃

[15] he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.

וַיְקַנְא֣וּ לְ֭מֹשֶׁה בַּֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה לְ֝אַהֲרֹ֗ן קְד֣וֹשׁ יְהוָֽה׃

[16] When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord ,

תִּפְתַּח־אֶ֭רֶץ וַתִּבְלַ֣ע דָּתָ֑ן וַ֝תְּכַ֗ס עַל־עֲדַ֥ת אֲבִירָֽם׃

[17] the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.

וַתִּבְעַר־אֵ֥שׁ בַּעֲדָתָ֑ם לֶ֝הָבָ֗ה תְּלַהֵ֥ט רְשָׁעִֽים׃

[18] Fire also broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

יַעֲשׂוּ־עֵ֥גֶל בְּחֹרֵ֑ב וַ֝יִּשְׁתַּחֲו֗וּ לְמַסֵּכָֽה׃

[19] They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image.

וַיָּמִ֥ירוּ אֶת־כְּבוֹדָ֑ם בְּתַבְנִ֥ית שׁ֝֗וֹר אֹכֵ֥ל עֵֽשֶׂב׃

[20] They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.

שָׁ֭כְחוּ אֵ֣ל מוֹשִׁיעָ֑ם עֹשֶׂ֖ה גְדֹל֣וֹת בְּמִצְרָֽיִם׃

[21] They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt,

נִ֭פְלָאוֹת בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חָ֑ם נ֝וֹרָא֗וֹת עַל־יַם־סֽוּף׃

[22] wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לְֽהַשְׁמִ֫ידָ֥ם לוּלֵ֡י מֹ֘שֶׁ֤ה בְחִיר֗וֹ עָמַ֣ד בַּפֶּ֣רֶץ לְפָנָ֑יו לְהָשִׁ֥יב חֲ֝מָת֗וֹ מֵֽהַשְׁחִֽית׃

[23] Therefore he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

וַֽ֭יִּמְאֲסוּ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֑ה לֹֽא־הֶ֝אֱמִ֗ינוּ לִדְבָרֽוֹ׃

[24] Then they despised the pleasant land, having no faith in his promise.

וַיֵּרָגְנ֥וּ בְאָהֳלֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א שָׁ֝מְע֗וּ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָֽה׃

[25] They murmured in their tents, and did not obey the voice of the Lord .

וַיִּשָּׂ֣א יָד֣וֹ לָהֶ֑ם לְהַפִּ֥יל א֝וֹתָ֗ם בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃

[26] Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them that he would make them fall in the wilderness,

וּלְהַפִּ֣יל זַ֭רְעָם בַּגּוֹיִ֑ם וּ֝לְזָרוֹתָ֗ם בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת׃

[27] and would make their offspring fall among the nations, scattering them among the lands.

וַ֭יִּצָּ֣מְדוּ לְבַ֣עַל פְּע֑וֹר וַ֝יֹּאכְל֗וּ זִבְחֵ֥י מֵתִֽים׃

[28] Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor, and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;

וַ֭יַּכְעִיסוּ בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶ֑ם וַתִּפְרָץ־בָּ֝֗ם מַגֵּפָֽה׃

[29] they provoked the Lord to anger with their deeds, and a plague broke out among them.

וַיַּעֲמֹ֣ד פִּֽ֭ינְחָס וַיְפַלֵּ֑ל וַ֝תֵּעָצַ֗ר הַמַּגֵּפָֽה׃

[30] Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed.

וַתֵּחָ֣שֶׁב ל֭וֹ לִצְדָקָ֑ה לְדֹ֥ר וָ֝דֹ֗ר עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

[31] And that was counted to him as righteousness from generation to generation forever.

וַ֭יַּקְצִיפוּ עַל־מֵ֥י מְרִיבָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥רַע לְ֝מֹשֶׁ֗ה בַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃

[32] They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account,

כִּֽי־הִמְר֥וּ אֶת־רוּח֑וֹ וַ֝יְבַטֵּ֗א בִּשְׂפָתָֽיו׃

[33] for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips.

לֹֽא־הִ֭שְׁמִידוּ אֶת־הָֽעַמִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה לָהֶֽם׃

[34] They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them,

וַיִּתְעָרְב֥וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם וַֽ֝יִּלְמְד֗וּ מַֽעֲשֵׂיהֶֽם׃

[35] but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.

וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־עֲצַבֵּיהֶ֑ם וַיִּהְי֖וּ לָהֶ֣ם לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃

[36] They served their idols, which became a snare to them.

וַיִּזְבְּח֣וּ אֶת־בְּ֭נֵיהֶם וְאֶת־בְּנֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם לַשֵּֽׁדִים׃

[37] They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons;

וַיִּֽשְׁפְּכ֨וּ דָ֪ם נָקִ֡י דַּם־בְּנֵ֘יהֶ֤ם וּֽבְנוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר זִ֭בְּחוּ לַעֲצַבֵּ֣י כְנָ֑עַן וַתֶּחֱנַ֥ף הָ֝אָ֗רֶץ בַּדָּמִֽים׃

[38] they poured out innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was polluted with blood.

וַיִּטְמְא֥וּ בְמַעֲשֵׂיהֶ֑ם וַ֝יִּזְ֗נוּ בְּמַֽעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃

[39] Thus they became unclean by their acts, and played the whore in their deeds.

וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֣ף יְהוָ֣ה בְּעַמּ֑וֹ וַ֝יְתָעֵ֗ב אֶת־נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃

[40] Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage;

וַיִּתְּנֵ֥ם בְּיַד־גּוֹיִ֑ם וַֽיִּמְשְׁל֥וּ בָ֝הֶ֗ם שֹׂנְאֵיהֶֽם׃

[41] he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them.

וַיִּלְחָצ֥וּם אוֹיְבֵיהֶ֑ם וַ֝יִּכָּנְע֗וּ תַּ֣חַת יָדָֽם׃

[42] Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power.

פְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֗וֹת יַצִּ֫ילֵ֥ם וְ֭הֵמָּה יַמְר֣וּ בַעֲצָתָ֑ם וַ֝יָּמֹ֗כּוּ בַּעֲוֺנָֽם׃

[43] Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity.

וַ֭יַּרְא בַּצַּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם בְּ֝שָׁמְע֗וֹ אֶת־רִנָּתָֽם׃

[44] Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry.

וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר לָהֶ֣ם בְּרִית֑וֹ וַ֝יִּנָּחֵ֗ם כְּרֹ֣ב ׳חַסְדּוֹ׳ ״חֲסָדָֽיו׃״

[45] For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אוֹתָ֣ם לְרַחֲמִ֑ים לִ֝פְנֵ֛י כָּל־שׁוֹבֵיהֶֽם׃

[46] He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive.

הוֹשִׁיעֵ֨נוּ׀ יְה֘וָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ וְקַבְּצֵנוּ֮ מִֽן־הַגּ֫וֹיִ֥ם לְ֭הֹדוֹת לְשֵׁ֣ם קָדְשֶׁ֑ךָ לְ֝הִשְׁתַּבֵּ֗חַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃

[47] Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.

בָּר֤וּךְ־יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֪י יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל מִן־הָ֤עוֹלָ֨ם׀ וְעַ֬ד הָעוֹלָ֗ם וְאָמַ֖ר כָּל־הָעָ֥ם אָמֵ֗ן הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃

[48] Blessed be the Lord , the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord !