Hodayot - Thanksgiving Hymns

Hodayot - Thanksgiving Hymns

I give You thanks, O my God,

for You have lifted my soul from the pit.

You did not abandon me to darkness,

nor let corruption consume me.

You reached down to the depths,

and placed me on solid ground.

You restored the breath within me,

and awakened my heart.

I was a vessel of clay,

shattered by my own hand —

but You have reformed me with Your compassion.

Who am I, O Lord,

that You would know my name?

I am dust and ashes,

born in sin and shadow.

Yet You have made me to know truth,

and You have placed Your Spirit within me.

You have not counted my failings,

but have clothed me in light.

You set me apart before I knew You,

and shaped me while I was still in darkness.

Now I walk in the way You have opened,

and I will not turn back.

You are a shelter in the storm,

a refuge from the arrows of deceit.

When enemies rose like floodwaters,

You hid me in the cleft of the rock.

Though I was surrounded by the arrogant,

You taught me stillness.

You made me see that strength is in silence,

and victory belongs to the humble.

I will not fear the prideful,

for their glory fades like smoke.

In my heart, a flame was lit —

not of my own making.

It was Your breath,

hidden in me like a spark under ashes.

When I remembered You in the night,

the fire grew.

When I lifted my eyes from the dust,

the light returned.

Though the world sees nothing,

You see the fire You planted.

Let it never be quenched.

I do not stand before You in strength.

My mouth has spoken folly,

and my hands have done evil.

Yet I trust in Your righteousness.

It covers me like a garment.

You have not measured me by my guilt,

but by Your mercy.

I fall, and You lift.

I wander, and You seek.

I despair, and You speak peace.

You alone are holy.

Gather to Yourself the poor in spirit —

those who seek no name,

who long only for You.

They tremble at Your word,

and rejoice in Your promises.

They remember Your covenant

and walk in the light of Your face.

Let the proud mock —

we will sing in the shadow of Your wings.

I cried out from my affliction,

and You heard me.

In my secret chamber,

You drew near.

Though I was clothed in shame,

You called me by name.

You are not far from the contrite.

You dwell with those who mourn for truth.

All my days were written in Your scroll

before one came to pass.

You formed my frame in weakness,

but destined it for glory.

Let those who seek find You.

Let those who knock hear You answer.

Let the faithful not be ashamed.

Men seek riches.

Nations seek power.

Kings build cities.

But You, O Lord,

are my portion forever.

I will be content with Your breath,

satisfied with Your truth.

My treasure is hidden in You —

and it cannot be stolen.

You are the One who lifts the poor from the ash heap.

You are the One who gathers the broken.

You remember those forgotten by men.

You write songs in the mouths of exiles.

You purify the heart with fire,

and seal the soul with Your name.

Amen.

The original Hodayot from the Dead Sea Scrolls is a fragmentary collection. That means:

Many hymns are incomplete, often with major breaks or missing lines.

Some are heavily repetitive (recycling earlier psalm forms almost line for line).

Others contain sectarian language from the Qumran community (e.g., calling themselves “Sons of Light” and cursing outsiders) that doesn’t reflect the tone of your project — and wasn’t likely meant for universal preservation.