Rav S.R. Hirsch writes that the six concluding chapters of the Book of Psalms are the most important gift of David's Divinely-inspired hymns that Israel treasures so greatly. These six psalms, 145-150, are an essential component of our daily prayers. Our Sages attach much significance to Psalm 145 in particular, and stated: "Whoever recites ‘A praise by David' three times a day is assuredly worthy of a share in the world to come" (Maseches Berachos 4b). When recited in prayer this psalm is always introduced with two verses from other Psalms (84:5 and 144:15). These verses contain the word fortunate three times, an allusion to this psalm being recited three times a day. These verses are so closely identified with Psalm 145 that it is commonly referred to as Ashrei (Fortunate).
אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁ֒בֵי Fortunate are those who dwell
בֵיתֶֽךָ in Your house;1This verse referred to the Kohanim and the Levites who served (dwelt) in the Holy Temple (Your House); it is at all times applicable to scholars and devout men who study and pray in houses of worship and study.
עוֹד יְהַלְ֒לֽוּךָ סֶּֽלָה: may they continue to praise You, Selah.2Psalms 84:5.
אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּֽכָה לּוֹ Fortunate is the people whose lot is thus;
אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם fortunate is the people
שֶׁיְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו: for whom Adonoy is their God.3Psalms 144:15.
תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד A praise by David!
אֲרוֹמִמְךָ אֱלוֹהַי הַמֶּֽלֶךְ I will exalt You, my God, the King,
וַאֲבָרְ֒כָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: and bless Your Name forever and ever.
בְּכָל־יוֹם אֲבָרְ֒כֶֽךָּ Every day I will bless You4According to Rav S.R. Hirsch, David here declares, “I will dedicate myself to serve You and to fulfill Your will in loyal obedience,” for in serving God, man causes His Name to be blessed.
וַאֲהַלְ֒לָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: and extol Your Name forever and ever.
גָּדוֹל יְהֹוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד Adonoy is great and highly extolled,
וְלִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵֽקֶר: and His greatness is unfathomable.
דּוֹר לְדוֹר One generation to another
יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ will praise Your works,
וּגְבוּרֹתֶֽיךָ יַגִּֽידוּ: and Your mighty acts they will declare.
הֲדַר כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶֽךָ The splendor of Your glorious majesty,
וְדִבְרֵי נִפְלְ֒אֹתֶֽיךָ אָשִֽׂיחָה: and the words5Not simply נפלאתיך—a report of Your wonders—but דברי נפלאתיך the “words"—the lessons that Your wonders teach.—S.R. Hirsch of Your wonders I will speak.
וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְ֒אֹתֶֽיךָ יֹאמֵרוּ Of Your awesome might, they6People in general will speak of God's wondrous might in punishing the wicked (Sodom, Egypt, etc.) while David will proclaim that God's greatness is measured more by His kindliness than by His awesomeness.—Siach Yitzchok will speak,
וּגְדֻלָּתְ֒ךָ אֲסַפְּ֒רֶֽנָּה: and Your greatness I will recount.
זֵֽכֶר רַב־טוּבְ֒ךָ Mention of Your bountifulness
יַבִּֽיעוּ they will express,
וְצִדְקָתְ֒ךָ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ: and in Your righteousness joyfully exult.
חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם יְהֹוָה Adonoy is gracious and merciful,7He is gracious in bestowing reward and merciful in punishment.—Siach Yitzchok
אֶֽרֶךְ אַפַּֽיִם וּגְדָל־חָֽסֶד: slow to anger and great in kindliness.
טוֹב־יְהֹוָה לַכֹּל Adonoy is good to all,
וְרַחֲמָיו עַל־כָּל־מַעֲשָׂיו: His mercy encompasses all His works.
יוֹדֽוּךָ יְהֹוָה כָּל־מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ All Your works will thank You, Adonoy,
וַחֲסִידֶֽיךָ יְבָרְ֒כֽוּכָה: and Your pious ones will bless You.8Your works, which are the cause of your being thanked by sensitive people; similarly, cause your pious ones to bless You.—based on S.R. Hirsch.
כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְ֒ךָ Of the honor of Your kingship,
יֹאמֵרוּ they will speak,
וּגְבוּרָתְ֒ךָ יְדַבֵּֽרוּ: and Your might they will declare.
לְהוֹדִֽיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרֹתָיו To reveal to men His mighty acts,
וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֹ: and the glorious splendor of His kingship.
מַלְכוּתְ֒ךָ מַלְכוּת כָּל־עֹלָמִים Your kingship is the kingship for all times,
וּמֶמְשַׁלְתְּ֒ךָ בְּכָל־דּוֹר וָדֹר: and Your dominion is in every generation.
סוֹמֵךְ יְהֹוָה לְכָל־הַנֹּפְ֒לִים Adonoy supports all the fallen,
וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל־הַכְּ֒פוּפִים: and straightens all the bent.
עֵינֵי־כֹל אֵלֶֽיךָ יְשַׂבֵּֽרוּ The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן־לָהֶם and You give them
אֶת־אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ: their food at its proper time.
פּוֹתֵֽחַ אֶת־יָדֶֽךָ You open Your hand
וּמַשְׂבִּֽיעַ לְכָל־חַי רָצוֹן: and satisfy the desire of every living being.
צַדִּיק יְהֹוָה בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו Adonoy is just in all His ways
וְחָסִיד בְּכָל־מַעֲשָׂיו: and benevolent in all His deeds.9The penalties for transgressions are just, but God is gracious in the actual punishment inflicted on the sinner.—Siddur HaGra
קָרוֹב יְהֹוָה לְכָל־קֹרְ֒אָיו Adonoy is near to all who call upon Him,
לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָאֻֽהוּ בֶאֱמֶת: to all who call upon Him in truth.10He is near to all who call upon Him, but His nearness can be perceived only by those who call upon Him in truth, who truly mean to have God enter into their lives.—S.R. Hirsch
רְצוֹן־יְרֵאָיו יַעֲשֶׂה The will of those who fear Him, He fulfills;
וְאֶת־שַׁוְעָתָם יִשְׁמַע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם: He hears their cry and delivers them.11While God hears all who cry unto Him in truth. He answers those who fear Him, who subject their desires to His will.—Siach Yitzchok
שׁוֹמֵר יְהֹוָה אֶת־כָּל־אֹהֲבָיו Adonoy watches over all those who love Him,
וְאֵת כָּל־הָרְ֒שָׁעִים יַשְׁמִיד: and will destroy all the wicked.
תְּהִלַּת יְהֹוָה יְדַבֶּר פִּי Praise of Adonoy, my mouth will declare
וִיבָרֵךְ כָּל־בָּשָׂר and all flesh will bless
שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד: His holy Name forever and ever.
וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ נְבָרֵךְ יָהּ And we will bless God
מֵעַתָּה וְעַד־עוֹלָם from now forever.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.12Psalms 115:18. You should pause between עולם and הללויה. Similarly, in all the Psalms, the word הללויה is not connected to the preceding verse.
This Psalm acclaims God's loving care as experienced by each Jew in his own life.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ Praise God!
הַלְ֒לִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהֹוָה: My soul, praise Adonoy.
אֲהַלְ֒לָה יְהֹוָה בְּחַיָּי I will praise Adonoy with my life;
אֲזַמְּ֒רָה לֵאלֹהַי בְּעוֹדִי: I will sing to my God as long as I live.
אַל־תִּבְטְחוּ בִנְדִיבִים Do not place your trust [even] in noble men,13According to the Sages, it is implied that one should not rely even on the merit of his sainted ancestors, the Patriarchs, for deliverance.
בְּבֶן־אָדָם שֶׁאֵין לוֹ תְשׁוּעָה: in man who has no [power of] deliverance.
תֵּצֵא רוּחוֹ [When] his spirit departs,
יָשֻׁב לְאַדְמָתוֹ he returns to his earth;14Only the four cubits of ground which will receive him one day are his; of all the world they are the one possession which is guaranteed to him.—S.R. Hirsch
בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אָבְ֒דוּ עֶשְׁתֹּנֹתָיו: on that day his plans come to naught.
אַשְׁרֵי Fortunate [is he]
שֶׁאֵל יַעֲקֹב בְּעֶזְרוֹ, when the Almighty of Jacob is his help,15Jacob, more than anyone, sensed God's nearness and protection throughout his difficult life and through all the trials to which he was subjected.—S.R. Hirsch
שִׂבְרוֹ עַל־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו: whose expectation is on Adonoy, his God.
עֹשֶׂה שָׁמַֽיִם וָאָֽרֶץ He makes heaven and earth,
אֶת־הַיָּם וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּם, the sea and all that is in them;
הַשֹּׁמֵר אֱמֶת לְעוֹלָם: He keeps His promises faithfully forever.16He alone has always proven dependable and faithful, for there are no limits to His essence and to His power.—Ibn Ezra, Radak
עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט לַעֲשׁוּקִים He performs justice for the oppressed;
נֹתֵן לֶֽחֶם לָרְ֒עֵבִים He gives bread to the hungry;
יְהֹוָה מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים: Adonoy releases the imprisoned.
יְהֹוָה פֹּקֵֽחַ עִוְרִים Adonoy gives sight to the blind;
יְהֹוָה זֹקֵף כְּפוּפִים Adonoy straightens the bent.
יְהֹוָה אֹהֵב צַדִּיקִים: Adonoy loves the righteous.
יְהֹוָה שֹׁמֵר אֶת־גֵּרִים Adonoy protects strangers;
יָתוֹם וְאַלְמָנָה the orphan and widow
יְעוֹדֵד He enables to stand firm;
וְדֶֽרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים יְעַוֵּת: and the way of the wicked He thwarts.
יִמְלֹךְ יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם Adonoy will reign forever;
אֱלֹהַֽיִךְ צִיּוֹן לְדֹר וָדֹר your God, Zion, throughout all generations.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.
In this Psalm, David imparts the knowledge to sustain and uphold the Jewish People, during their bitter exile. He tells them of their special and enduring relationship with God and of their role as permanent messengers of the word of God to all mankind.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ Praise God!
כִּי־טוֹב זַמְּ֒רָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ, for it is good to sing to our God;
כִּי־נָעִים נָאוָה תְהִלָּה: for [His] praise is pleasant, befitting.
בּוֹנֵה יְרוּשָׁלַֽםִ יְהֹוָה The builder of Jerusalem is Adonoy;
נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יְכַנֵּס: the banished ones of Israel He will gather.
הָרוֹפֵא לִשְׁבֽוּרֵי לֵב [He is] the Healer of the broken-hearted
וּמְחַבֵּשׁ לְעַצְּ֒בוֹתָם: and [also] binds up their wounds.17Others render “their sorrows.” Both translations co-exist! God not only heals their physical pains but also abbreviates their sorrows as well.
מוֹנֶה מִסְפָּר לַכּוֹכָבִים He fixes the number of stars;
לְכֻלָּם שֵׁמוֹת יִקְרָא: He calls all of them by names.18Not one of the myriad stars was created accidentally; each has a unique purpose and function.—Siach Yitzchok
גָּדוֹל אֲדוֹנֵֽינוּ וְרַב־כֹּֽחַ Great is our Master and abundant in power;
לִתְבוּנָתוֹ אֵין מִסְפָּר: His understanding is beyond reckoning.
מְעוֹדֵד עֲנָוִים יְהֹוָה Adonoy causes the humble to stand firm;
מַשְׁפִּיל רְשָׁעִים עֲדֵי־אָֽרֶץ: He casts down the wicked to the ground.
עֱנוּ לַיהוָֹה בְּתוֹדָה Cry out to Adonoy in thanksgiving;
זַמְּ֒רוּ לֵאלֹהֵֽינוּ בְכִנּוֹר: sing to our God with the harp.19Each musical instrument has its unique function. In the times of King David, the harp was used to arouse those who slept. The psalmist may be indicating that the harp arouses the sleeping soul of man to recognition of the miraculous ways in which God shows His Divine Providence for us every day.—Siach Yitzchok
הַמְכַסֶּה שָׁמַֽיִם בְּעָבִים [He] Who covers the heaven with clouds,
הַמֵּכִין לָאָֽרֶץ מָטָר Who prepares rain for the earth;
הַמַּצְמִֽיחַ הָרִים חָצִיר: Who causes grass to grow upon the hills.
נוֹתֵן לִבְהֵמָה לַחְמָהּ Who gives the animal its fodder;
לִבְנֵי עֹרֵב אֲשֶׁר יִקְרָֽאוּ: [also] to the young ravens which call.
לֹא בִגְבוּרַת הַסּוּס יֶחְפָּץ Not the power of the horse does He desire,
לֹא בְשׁוֹקֵי הָאִישׁ יִרְצֶה: nor the thighs of man does He want.20God does not delight in those who place their trust in the strength of horses or in their own strength.—Tzelosa d'Avrohom
רוֹצֶה יְהֹוָה אֶת־יְרֵאָיו Adonoy wants those who fear Him,
אֶת־הַמְ֒יַחֲלִים לְחַסְדּוֹ: those who hope for His kindliness.
שַׁבְּ֒חִי יְרוּשָׁלַֽםִ אֶת יְהֹוָה Jerusalem, praise Adonoy;
הַלְ֒לִי אֱלֹהַֽיִךְ צִיּוֹן: Zion, extol your God.21The Psalmist addresses the dwellers in Jerusalem and Zion, not the city itself.—Tzelosa d'Avrohom
כִּי־חִזַּק בְּרִיחֵי שְׁעָרָֽיִךְ For He has fortified the bars of your gates;
בֵּרַךְ בָּנַֽיִךְ בְּקִרְבֵּךְ: He has blessed your children in your midst.
הַשָּׂם־גְּבוּלֵךְ שָׁלוֹם He established peace at your border;
חֵֽלֶב חִטִּים יַשְׂבִּיעֵךְ: with prime wheat He satisfies you.
הַשֹּׁלֵֽחַ אִמְרָתוֹ אָֽרֶץ He dispatches His command earthward;
עַד־מְהֵרָה יָרוּץ דְּבָרוֹ: His word races swiftly.
הַנֹּתֵן שֶֽׁלֶג כַּצָּֽמֶר He provides snow like fleece,
כְּפוֹר כָּאֵֽפֶר יְפַזֵּר: He scatters frost like ashes.
מַשְׁלִיךְ קַרְחוֹ כְפִתִּים He hurls His ice like crumbs;
לִפְנֵי קָרָתוֹ מִי יַעֲמֹד: who can withstand His cold?
יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיַמְסֵם He dispatches His word and melts them;
יַשֵּׁב רוּחוֹ יִזְּ֒לוּ־מָֽיִם: He blows His wind, they flow as water.
מַגִּיד דְּבָרָיו לְיַעֲקֹב He declares His word to Jacob,
חֻקָּיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו לְיִשְׂרָאֵל: His statutes and His laws to Israel.22Israel is the receiver and preserver of God's divine Law, the Torah, which includes chukim, statutes which confine the physical, sensual aspects of man within the bounds of moral purity, and also mishpotim, laws which govern communal life. Among the nations, law is determined by the views they hold at a given time and place concerning the needs of a society, and so their laws are based on expediency.—S.R. Hirsch
לֹא עָֽשָׂה כֵן לְכָל־גּוֹי He did not do so to any [other] nation;
וּמִשְׁפָּטִים בַּל־יְדָעוּם and of His laws they were not informed.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.
In this psalm, David sings of the moment when all the world will be imbued with the knowledge of God's all-embracing providence. All living creatures—from the infinite heights of heaven above (verses 1-7) down to the depths of the earth below (verses 7-12)—will join together in one great hymn of praise to their Creator, and acknowledge the uniqueness of Israel over all other nations.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ Praise God.
הַלְ֒לוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה מִן הַשָּׁמַֽיִם Praise Adonoy from the sky;
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ בַּמְּ֒רוֹמִים: Praise Him in the heights!
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ כָּל־מַלְאָכָיו Praise Him, all His angels;
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ כָּל־צְבָאָיו: Praise Him, all His hosts!
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ שֶֽׁמֶשׁ וְיָרֵֽחַ Praise Him, sun and moon;
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ כָּל־כּֽוֹכְ֒בֵי אוֹר: Praise Him, all the stars of light.
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמָֽיִם Praise Him, skies of skies,
וְהַמַּֽיִם אֲשֶׁר מֵעַל הַשָּׁמָֽיִם: and the waters that are above the skies.23Genesis 1:6-7 indicates that there are waters above the heavens.
יְהַלְ֒לוּ אֶת־שֵׁם יְהֹוָה They will praise the Name of Adonoy,
כִּי הוּא צִוָּה וְנִבְרָֽאוּ: for He commanded it and they were created.
וַיַּעֲמִידֵם לָעַד He established them for all time,24The heavenly bodies, unlike humans and earthly things, were created from materials that do not deteriorate.—Kuzari
לְעוֹלָם for as long as the world exists;
חָק־נָתַן וְלֹא יַעֲבוֹר: He decreed it and it is unalterable.25None of the heavenly bodies transgresses the Divine decree about its functions in the role for which it was created. The sun never violates its mandate to serve by day or the moon by night. According to Ibn Ezra, the verse might also be translated “He issued a decree which will not pass away,” for God's decree is permanent and immutable.
הַלְ֒לוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ Praise Adonoy from the earth,
תַּנִּינִים sea-monsters
וְכָל־תְּהֹמוֹת: and all [that dwell in] the depths.
אֵשׁ וּבָרָד שֶֽׁלֶג וְקִיטוֹר Fire and hail, snow and vapor,
רֽוּחַ סְעָרָה עֹשָׂה דְבָרוֹ: stormwind, [all] fulfilling His word.
הֶהָרִים וְכָל־גְּבָעוֹת The mountains and all the hills,
עֵץ פְּרִי וְכָל־אֲרָזִים: fruit trees and all cedars.
הַחַיָּה וְכָל־בְּהֵמָה Wild beasts and all animals,
רֶֽמֶשׂ וְצִפּוֹר כָּנָף: creeping things and winged fowl.
מַלְכֵי־אֶֽרֶץ וְכָל־לְאֻמִּים Earthly kings and all peoples,
שָׂרִים וְכָל־שֹׁפְטֵי אָֽרֶץ: ministers and all earthly judges.
בַּחוּרִים וְגַם־בְּתוּלוֹת Young men and also maidens,
זְקֵנִים עִם־נְעָרִים: elders together with lads.26Elders and youngsters praise God together while the young men must be separated from the maidens. In the Temple separate facilities were erected for the women. So too must there be separate seating in our synagogues.
יְהַלְ֒לוּ אֶת־שֵׁם יְהֹוָה They will praise the Name of Adonoy,
כִּי־נִשְׂגָּב שְׁמוֹ לְבַדּוֹ for His Name alone is exalted;
הוֹדוֹ עַל־אֶֽרֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם: His majesty is over the earth and the skies.
וַיָּֽרֶם קֶֽרֶן לְעַמּוֹ He will raise the might of His people,
תְּהִלָּה לְכָל־חֲסִידָיו [which is] praise for all His pious ones,
לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל for the Children of Israel,
עַם קְרֹבוֹ the people near27The fulfillment of the last two verses will take place in the Messianic era. to Him.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.
This psalm continues the theme of the previous psalm.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ Praise God.
שִֽׁירוּ לַיהוָֹה שִׁיר חָדָשׁ Sing a new song to Adonoy,28The old songs will not suffice to express the joy at the wonders in the Messianic future.—Radak
תְּהִלָּתוֹ בִּקְהַל חֲסִידִים: His praise in the assembly of the pious.
יִשְׂמַח יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּעֹשָׂיו Israel will rejoice in its Maker;
בְּנֵי־צִיּוֹן יָגִֽילוּ בְמַלְכָּם: the children of Zion will exult in their King.29Israel is the nation as a whole, the children of Zion are the elite of the people.—Seporno
יְהַלְ֒לוּ שְׁמוֹ בְמָחוֹל They will praise His Name with dance;
בְּתֹף וְכִנּוֹר with drum and harp
יְזַמְּ֒רוּ־לוֹ: they will make music to Him.
כִּי־רוֹצֶה יְהֹוָה בְּעַמּוֹ Because Adonoy desires His people;
יְפָאֵר עֲנָוִים בִּישׁוּעָה: He will adorn the humble with deliverance.30Although God desires all His people, nevertheless, our ultimate salvation will come through the merit of His humble ones.—Rav Simcha Bunim of Preshischa
יַעְלְזוּ חֲסִידִים בְּכָבוֹד The pious will rejoice in honor;
יְרַנְּ֒נוּ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם: they will sing joyously upon their beds.
רוֹמְ֒מוֹת אֵל בִּגְרוֹנָם High praises of the Almighty in their throats,
וְחֶֽרֶב פִּיפִיּוֹת בְּיָדָם: and a double-edged sword in their hand.31One's praise of God emanating from deep within him, (not mere lip service) becomes a two-edged sword, for it protects him against attack from his fellow men and it guards him from adversity in the approaching Divine judgment.—S.R. Hirsch
לַעֲשׂוֹת נְקָמָה בַגּוֹיִם To perform vengeance upon the nations,
תּוֹכֵחוֹת בַּלְאֻמִּים: chastisement upon the peoples.
לֶאְסֹר מַלְכֵיהֶם בְּזִקִּים To bind their kings with chains,
וְנִכְבְּדֵיהֶם בְּכַבְלֵי בַרְזֶל: and their nobles with iron fetters.
לַעֲשׂוֹת בָּהֶם To execute upon them
מִשְׁפָּט כָּתוּב [the] written judgment;
הָדָר הוּא לְכָל־חֲסִידָיו it32The Divine judgment itself is honor and recognition for those who commit their entire lives and efforts to God.—S.R. Hirsch is the splendor of all His pious ones.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.
This psalm recapitulates all the previous hymns and tells how God is revealed through His mighty deeds.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ Praise God.
הַֽלְ֒לוּ־אֵל בְּקָדְשׁוֹ Praise the Almighty in His Sanctuary33His “Sanctuary” refers to the world of angels who minister to Him as He appears on His throne.—Radak
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ Praise God
בִּרְקִֽיעַ עֻזּוֹ: in the firmament of His might34The firmament of His might refers to the heavenly spheres through which God reveals His mastery over the physical world.—Radak
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ בִּגְבוּרֹתָיו Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ Praise Him
כְּרֹב גֻּדְלוֹ: according to the abundance of His greatness.
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ בְּתֵֽקַע שׁוֹפָר Praise Him with the blowing of the shofar;35The shofar is the solemn instrument which awakens and calls us to God.—S.R. Hirsch
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ בְּנֵֽבֶל וְכִנּוֹר: praise Him with lyre and harp.36Lyre and harp are instruments which express man's meditation upon God.—S.R. Hirsch
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ בְּתֹף וּמָחוֹל Praise Him with drum and dance.37Drum and dance are public manifestations of exultation in God.—S.R. Hirsch
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ Praise Him
בְּמִנִּים וְעֻגָב: with stringed instruments and flute.38Stringed instruments and the flute may serve to express the quieter rejoicing of an individual.׳—S.R. Hirsch
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ בְצִלְצְלֵי־שָֽׁמַע Praise Him with resounding cymbals.39The cymbal is an instrument of extremely loud sound which may serve to call whole groups to attentive participation.—S.R. Hirsch
הַלְ֒לֽוּהוּ בְּצִלְצְלֵי תְרוּעָה: Praise Him with clanging cymbals.
כֹּל הַנְּ֒שָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ Let every soul praise God.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.
כֹּל הַנְּ֒שָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ Let every soul praise God.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.40This verse is repeated to mark the end of the psalms included in the Pesukei Dezimrah.—Avudraham
The following selected verses from Psalms mark the close of the individual books of Psalms. Eitz Yoseif notes that these verses may constitute a sort of blessing marking the close of the Pesukei Dezimrah.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם אָמֵן וְאָמֵן: Blessed is Adonoy forever, Amein and Amein!41Psalms 89:53. God is the eternal source of blessing. We merely declare His blessedness, we do not bless Him.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה מִצִּיּוֹן Blessed is Adonoy from Zion,
שֹׁכֵן יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ Who dwells in Jerusalem.
הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ: Praise God.42Psalms 135:21.
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים Blessed is Adonoy, God,
אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל God of Israel
עֹשֵׂה נִפְלָאוֹת לְבַדּוֹ: Who alone performs wonders.43“Alone” means without intermediaries (Malbim); also without the beneficiary's awareness.—(Vilna Gaon)
וּבָרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹדוֹ לְעוֹלָם And blessed is the Name of His glory forever,
וְיִמָּלֵא כְבוֹדוֹ אֶת־כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ and may His glory fill the whole earth.
אָמֵן וְאָמֵן: Amein and Amein!44Psalms 72:18-19. This verse will be fulfilled in Messianic times when all men will be invested with a true awareness of God's majesty. The prophet (Isaiah 11:9) foretells, “For (then) the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of Adonoy as the waters cover the sea.”—Radak
The following selections are additions to the Pesukei Dezimrah. The custom of reciting them is mentioned as early as the Gaonic era, specifically by Rav Amram Gaon.
The first four verses (1 Chronicles 29:10-13) relate David's blessing to God, when he presented the gold, silver, and jewels he amassed for the construction of the Holy Temple. It was a day of great rejoicing as, following David's example, the leaders and princes also presented generous gifts for the construction of the Temple.
These verses were incorporated into our daily prayers because they speak so eloquently of God's majesty, and of the Divine providence which is the source of the power, riches, might, and honor of all human beings.
The following until after ישתבח should be said standing.
וַיְבָֽרֶךְ דָּוִיד אֶת־יְהֹוָה And David blessed Adonoy
לְעֵינֵי כָּל־הַקָּהָל in the presence of all the assembly;
וַיֹּֽאמֶר דָּוִיד and David said,
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה Blessed are You, Adonoy,
אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אָבִֽינוּ, God of Israel, our father,45David singles out Jacob because he was the first Patriarch to mention building a house of God (Genesis 28:22), “Then shall this stone which I have set for a pillar be God's house.”—Radak
מֵעוֹלָם וְעַד־עוֹלָם: forever and ever.
לְךָ יְהֹוָה Yours, Adonoy,
הַגְּ֒דֻלָּה וְהַגְּ֒בוּרָה וְהַתִּפְאֶֽרֶת is the greatness, the might, the glory
וְהַנֵּֽצַח וְהַהוֹד the victory and the beauty,46David thus renders unto God the greatness God has given him. His might in war, his victories in battle, and the majesty of his kingdom, are all due to God's providence.—Iyun T'filah
כִּי־כֹל בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ for all that is in heaven and on earth
לְךָ יְהֹוָה הַמַּמְלָכָה [is Yours]; Yours, Adonoy, is the kingdom
וְהַמִּתְנַשֵּׂא and You are uplifted,
לְכֹל לְרֹאשׁ: [supreme] over all rulers.
וְהָעֽשֶׁר וְהַכָּבוֹד מִלְּ֒פָנֶֽיךָ The riches and the honor come from You,
וְאַתָּה מוֹשֵׁל בַּכֹּל, and You rule over all;
וּבְיָדְ֒ךָ כֹּֽחַ וּגְבוּרָה, in Your hand are power and might,
וּבְיָדְ֒ךָ and [it is] in Your hand
לְגַדֵּל וּלְחַזֵּק לַכֹּל: to bestow greatness and strength upon all.
וְעַתָּה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ And now, our God,
מוֹדִים אֲנַֽחְנוּ לָךְ we give thanks to You
וּמְהַלְ֒לִים לְשֵׁם תִּפְאַרְתֶּֽךָ: and praise Your glorious Name.47I Chronicles 29:10-13.
The next six verses are taken from Nehemiah 9:6-11. They are the last words of praise found in Scripture.
אַתָּה־הוּא יְהֹוָה לְבַדֶּֽךָ, You alone are Adonoy;48This is an affirmation of God's unity: “Adonoy is One.”
אַתָּה עָשִֽׂיתָ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַֽיִם You have made the skies,
שְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וְכָל־צְבָאָם, the skies of skies49This denotes the highest of the seven heavens. and all their hosts,50This signifies the sun, moon, and stars.
הָאָֽרֶץ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר עָלֶֽיהָ the earth and all that is upon it,
הַיַּמִּים וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר בָּהֶם, the seas and all that is in them;
וְאַתָּה מְחַיֶּה אֶת־כֻּלָּם and You give life to all of them,
וּצְ֒בָא הַשָּׁמַֽיִם לְךָ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים: and the heavenly hosts51These are the angelic beings that worship Adonoy. bow before You.
אַתָּה הוּא יְהֹוָה הָאֱלֹהִים You are Adonoy, the God
אֲשֶׁר בָּחַֽרְתָּ בְּאַבְרָם Who chose Avrom,
וְהוֹצֵאתוֹ מֵאוּר כַּשְׂדִּים and brought him out of Ur Kasdim
וְשַֽׂמְתָּ שְׁמוֹ אַבְרָהָם: and established his name (as) Avrohom.52This was not a mere changing of names. Abraham was elevated and attained new stature as a patriarch by virtue of his new name.
וּמָצָֽאתָ אֶת־לְבָבוֹ And You found his heart
נֶאֱמָן לְפָנֶֽיךָ faithful before You,53This was demonstrated when he was ready to sacrifice Isaac.
וְכָרוֹת עִמּוֹ הַבְּ֒רִית and You made the covenant with him54In some congregations, וכרות is recited responsively on the day of a circumcision. Consequently, some siddurim indicate that a new paragraph begins here. But it is actually a continuation of the verse.
לָתֵת אֶת־אֶֽרֶץ הַכְּ֒נַעֲנִי to give the land of the Canaanites,
הַחִתִּי הָאֱמֹרִי וְהַפְּ֒רִזִּי the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizites,
וְהַיְבוּסִי וְהַגִּרְגָּשִׁי the Jebusites, and the Girgashites,
לָתֵת לְזַרְעוֹ to give to his seed;
וַתָּֽקֶם אֶת־דְּבָרֶֽיךָ and You kept Your word,
כִּי צַדִּיק אָֽתָּה: for You are righteous.
וַתֵּֽרֶא אֶת־עֳנִי And You saw the affliction
אֲבֹתֵֽינוּ בְּמִצְרָֽיִם of our fathers in Egypt,
וְאֶת־זַעֲקָתָם שָׁמַֽעְתָּ and their cry You heard
עַל־יַם־סוּף: at the Sea of Reeds.
וַתִּתֵּן אֹתֹת וּמֹפְ֒תִים And You imposed signs and wonders
בְּפַרְעֹה וּבְכָל־עֲבָדָיו against Pharaoh and all his servants
וּבְכָל־עַם אַרְצוֹ and all the people of his land,
כִּי יָדַֽעְתָּ for You knew
כִּי הֵזִֽידוּ עֲלֵיהֶם that they acted malevolently against them;55Them, i.e., the Jews in Egypt.
וַתַּֽעַשׂ־לְךָ שֵׁם and (thus) You have made a name for Yourself,
כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה: like this day.56The miracles and wonders of the Exodus have not and will not be forgotten. Each generation reaffirms its testimony to God's might against the Egyptians and thus the event remains as vivid and real as though it occurred today.
וְהַיָּם בָּקַֽעְתָּ לִפְנֵיהֶם And the sea, You split before them,
וַיַּעַבְרוּ בְתוֹךְ־הַיָּם and they went through the midst of the sea
בַּיַּבָּשָׁה on the dry land;
וְאֶת־רֹדְ֒פֵיהֶם and their pursuers
הִשְׁלַֽכְתָּ בִמְצוֹלֹת You hurled into the depths,
כְּמוֹ־אֶֽבֶן בְּמַֽיִם עַזִּים: like a stone into mighty waters.57Nechemyah 9:6-11