Words For A New Year

Words are powerful. Often times we use them carelessly, whether it's raining insult upon a perceived inferior, casting doubt into a hidden shadow perhaps already existing in an unsuspecting acquaintance or general derogatory remarks that can fill a heart with hurt as sure as one can be filled with hope. Words are cheap, therefore we spend. All of our spending does indeed cost us, some more dearly than others. I am not making any grand, noble or menial resolutions, but I did however resolve that the first words from my lips this year of 2016 A.D. - anno domini, the year of our Lord, may we never forget it - would not be my words, but rather those of a collection of writing I hold in the highest reverence.

My wife and I sat together on our couch, and as the ever swifter moving clock turned over to 12:00, ushering in yet another fresh year, I read the words of the Psalmist, from Chapter 1, first in Hebrew, then in English. This is the prayer of my heart for 2016. May we all strive to live according to the instruction of our God and Father, perpetually walking in his ways. Then will we know what true prosperity is.

א  אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ--    אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ, בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים; וּבְדֶרֶךְ חַטָּאִים, לֹא עָמָד,    וּבְמוֹשַׁב לֵצִים, לֹא יָשָׁב.	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.
ב  כִּי אִם בְּתוֹרַת יְהוָה, חֶפְצוֹ;    וּבְתוֹרָתוֹ יֶהְגֶּה, יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה.	2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
ג  וְהָיָה--    כְּעֵץ, שָׁתוּל עַל-פַּלְגֵי-מָיִם: אֲשֶׁר פִּרְיוֹ, יִתֵּן בְּעִתּוֹ--וְעָלֵהוּ לֹא-יִבּוֹל;    וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-יַעֲשֶׂה יַצְלִיחַ.	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.
ד  לֹא-כֵן הָרְשָׁעִים:    כִּי אִם-כַּמֹּץ, אֲשֶׁר-תִּדְּפֶנּוּ רוּחַ.	4 Not so the wicked; but they are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
ה  עַל-כֵּן, לֹא-יָקֻמוּ רְשָׁעִים--בַּמִּשְׁפָּט;    וְחַטָּאִים, בַּעֲדַת צַדִּיקִים.	5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
ו  כִּי-יוֹדֵעַ יְהוָה, דֶּרֶךְ צַדִּיקִים;    וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד.	6 For the LORD regardeth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.