The psalms are the oldest prayers in the Judeo-Christian tradition. There are 150 of them, and, like hymns today, they were written for multiple occasions. They are a lexicon of the human condition. They trace the human condition back thousands of years. They assure us that our own hopes and fears, desires and emotions are shared by the rest of humankind. Say this month’s verse from the psalms before every reading. By the end of the month, say it from memory. It will find a soft spot in your heart. Most of all, it will bring your heart the comfort of the ages.