The following sequence of prayers until Yishtabach (p. 94) is called Pesukei Dezimrah (verses of praise). These selected Scriptural passages were arranged by the Gaonim of the ninth century, in fulfillment of the Talmudic statement (Maseches Berachos 32a), "A person should always praise God first and make his requests [offer his prayers] afterwards." Beginning with the following prayer, it is forbidden to interrupt your prayer with conversation until after the Shemoneh Esrei (p. 118).
You are permitted to answer Amein, respond to Barechu, Kaddish and to say Kedushah even though you are in the midst of Pesukei Dezimrah. You are also permitted to say Modim d'Rabbonon and the first verse of the Shema together with the congregation.
If you are concerned that the saying of Kerias Shema will not be within the proper time should you follow the regular order of prayers, you are permitted to recite the entire Kerias Shema during the Pesukei Dezimrah.
The first 28 verses of this section are taken from 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, and the first 15 are almost identical with the first fifteen verses of Psalms 105. These prayers are mentioned in Maseches Soferim.
הוֹדוּ לַיהוָֹה קִרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹ Give thanks to Adonoy, proclaim His Name;
הוֹדִֽיעוּ בָעַמִּים עֲלִילֹתָיו: make His deeds1Make His Divine attributes (mercy, kindness, etc.) known to the world.—Siach Yitzchok known among the nations.
שִֽׁירוּ לוֹ זַמְּ֒רוּ־לוֹ Sing to Him, compose songs to Him,
שִֽׂיחוּ בְּכָל־נִפְלְ֒אוֹתָיו: speak of all His wonders.
הִתְהַלְּ֒לוּ בְּשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ Take pride2The Jew should be proud at being found worthy to utter God's Name.—Siddur HaGra in [uttering] His holy Name,
יִשְׂמַח לֵב let the heart rejoice
מְבַקְשֵׁי יְהֹוָה: of those who seek3Seeking God is an end in itself and provides joy to those who earnestly seek Him.—Siach Yitzchok Adonoy.
דִּרְשׁוּ יְהֹוָה וְעֻזּוֹ Search for Adonoy and His might,
בַּקְּ֒שׁוּ פָנָיו תָּמִיד: seek His presence continually.
זִכְרוּ נִפְלְ֒אֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה Remember the wonders He has performed,
מֹפְ֒תָיו וּמִשְׁפְּ֒טֵי־פִֽיהוּ: His miracles,4His “miracles” were witnessed by Jew and Egyptian alike in Egypt. His “laws” are the Torah He gave us at Mt. Sinai.—Iyun Tefillah and the laws from His mouth.
זֶֽרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ [You,] the seed of Israel5The entire section—the previous verses as well as the following verses—are addressed to the Jewish People, who are the seed of Israel, the chosen of God, who are asked to remember His wonders, miracles and laws.—Tzelosa d'Avrohom His servant,
בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב בְּחִירָיו: children of Jacob, His chosen ones.
הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ He is Adonoy our God;
בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ מִשְׁפָּטָיו: the entire earth is governed by His laws.
זִכְרוּ לְעוֹלָם בְּרִיתוֹ Remember His covenant forever—
דָּבָר צִוָּה the word He commanded
לְאֶֽלֶף דּוֹר: to a thousand generations—
אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת אֶת־אַבְרָהָם which He made as a treaty with Abraham,
וּשְׁבוּעָתוֹ לְיִצְחָק: and [which was] His oath to Isaac.
וַיַּעֲמִידֶֽהָ לְיַעֲקֹב לְחֹק He established it for Jacob as a statute,
לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרִית עוֹלָם: for Israel as an everlasting covenant.6This verse in following the preceding verse indicates that the original covenant which God made with Abraham was later confirmed to Isaac in an oath and then established for Jacob as a statute. After Jacob was given the name Israel, it became an everlasting covenant.—Tzelosa d'Avrohom
לֵאמֹר Saying,
לְךָ אֶתֵּן אֶֽרֶץ־כְּנָעַן To you I will give the Land of Canaan,
חֶֽבֶל נַחֲלַתְכֶם: the portion of your inheritance.
בִּהְיוֹתְ֒כֶם מְתֵי מִסְפָּר When you were only few in number—
כִּמְעַט וְגָרִים בָּהּ: very few, and strangers in it.
וַיִּתְהַלְּ֒כוּ מִגּוֹי אֶל־גּוֹי They wandered from nation to nation,
וּמִמַּמְלָכָה אֶל־עַם אַחֵר: and from one kingdom to another people.
לֹא־הִנִּֽיחַ לְאִישׁ לְעָשְׁקָם He permitted no one to oppress them,
וַיּֽוֹכַח עֲלֵיהֶם מְלָכִים: and admonished kings7Both Pharaoh and Avimclcch were admonished for Abraham's sake (Genesis 13:17; 20:3,7). for their sakes.
אַל־תִּגְּ֒עוּ בִּמְשִׁיחָי Do not touch My anointed ones,8The Hebrew word משיחי can also be translated as “My great ones” and as such refers to the Patriarchs. “My prophets” refers to the Matriarchs, who were known to be prophets. Both were afforded extraordinary Divine protection.—Etz Yosef
וּבִנְבִיאַי אַל־תָּרֵֽעוּ: and do not harm My prophets."
שִֽׁירוּ לַיהוָֹה כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ Sing to Adonoy all the earth,9Siach Yitzchok maintains that this verse directs Jewry to sing to God in all the lands in which they are dispersed during their exile. Tzelosa d'Avrohom understands the verse to direct all the nations of the earth to sing to God.
בַּשְּׂ֒רוּ מִיּוֹם־אֶל־יוֹם יְשׁוּעָתוֹ: proclaim His deliverance from day to day.10a) We are to proclaim our deliverance by God even 7 day; b) We are to proclaim that our deliverance by God is a daily experience.—Tzelosa d'Avrohom
סַפְּ֒רוּ בַגּוֹיִם אֶת־כְּבוֹדוֹ Recount His glory among the nations,
בְּכָל־הָעַמִּים נִפְלְאֹתָיו: His wonders among all the peoples.
כִּי גָדוֹל יְהֹוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד For Adonoy is great and most extolled;
וְנוֹרָא הוּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִים: Awesome is He above all gods.
כִּי כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
וַיהוָֹה שָׁמַֽיִם עָשָׂה: whereas Adonoy made the heavens.
הוֹד וְהָדָר לְפָנָיו Beauty and splendor are before Him,11The word הוד (beauty) indicates that which is itself beautiful, while הדר (splendor) is the reflection of beauty. For example: the sun's light is “beauty” itself while the moon's light is splendor—a reflection of the sun.—Siddur HaGra
עֹז וְחֶדְוָה בִּמְקֹמוֹ: strength and joy are in His presence.
הָבוּ לַיהוָֹה מִשְׁפְּ֒חוֹת עַמִּים Give to Adonoy families of peoples—
הָבוּ לַיהוָֹה כָּבוֹד וָעֹז: give to Adonoy glory and might.
הָבוּ לַיהוָֹה כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ Give to Adonoy the glory due His Name,
שְׂאוּ מִנְחָה וּבֹֽאוּ לְפָנָיו bring an offering and come before Him,
הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהוָֹה prostrate yourselves before Adonoy
בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ: in the splendor of holiness.12Etz Yosef understands this as the “holy splendor” of God's Sanctuary. Tzelosa d'Avrohom sees it as the splendor and joy of worship before God, as contrasted with secular, frivolous manifestations of beauty and splendor.
חִֽילוּ מִלְּ֒פָנָיו כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ Tremble before Him all [peoples of] the earth,
אַף־תִּכּוֹן תֵּבֵל for He established the inhabited world
בַּל־תִּמּוֹט: so that it cannot be moved.
יִשְׂמְחוּ הַשָּׁמַֽיִם The heavens will rejoice,
וְתָגֵל הָאָֽרֶץ the earth will exult,13Simcha (rejoicing) describes one's feelings at a new experience of happiness, whereas gila (exultation) describes the feeling one experiences over an ongoing situation of joy. Since there is nothing new on the earth ואין כל־חדש תחת השמש (Koheles 1:9), it is said the earth will exult (gila); but the heavens will rejoice (simcha) because there is חידוש in the heavens.—Vilna Gaon
וְיֹאמְ֒רוּ בַגּוֹיִם and they will proclaim among the nations:
יְהֹוָה מָלָךְ: Adonoy has begun His reign.
יִרְעַם הַיָּם וּמְלוֹאוֹ The sea and its fullness will roar;
יַעֲלֹץ הַשָּׂדֶה וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ: the field and all that is in it will jubilate.
אָז יְרַנְּ֒נוּ עֲצֵי הַיָּעַר Then the trees of the forest will sing with joy,
מִלִּפְנֵי יְהֹוָה [receding] before Adonoy
כִּי־בָא לִשְׁפּוֹט אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ: when He comes to judge the earth.
הוֹדוּ לַיהוָֹה כִּי טוֹב Give thanks to Adonoy, for He is good,
כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: for His kindness is everlasting.
וְאִמְרוּ הוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ And say, "Deliver us, God of our deliverance;
וְקַבְּ֒צֵֽנוּ וְהַצִּילֵֽנוּ מִן־הַגּוֹיִם gather us and save us from the nations,
לְהוֹדוֹת לְשֵׁם קָדְשֶֽׁךָ to give thanks to Your holy Name,
לְהִשְׁתַּבֵּֽחַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶֽךָ: to be extolled in Your praise."14The fact that we are privileged to sing Your praises and cling to You will make us praiseworthy.—Etz Yosef
בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל Blessed is Adonoy, the God of Israel
מִן־הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעֹלָם for all eternity,
וַיֹּאמְ֒רוּ כָל־הָעָם אָמֵן and all the people said: "Amein"
וְהַלֵּל לַיהוָֹה: and [they] praised Adonoy."
(The following verses are a selection from the Psalms.)
רוֹמְ֒מוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Exalt Adonoy, our God,
וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ and prostrate yourselves
לַהֲדֹם רַגְלָיו at His footstool.15The Holy Temple.
קָדוֹשׁ הוּא: Holy is He!16Or Holy is it—i.e., the Temple.
רוֹמְ֒מוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Exalt Adonoy, our God,
וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ and prostrate yourselves
לְהַר קָדְשׁוֹ at His holy mountain,17Mount Moriah, upon which the Holy Temple was built, is holy itself even when the Temple is destroyed. The previous verse refers to the time of the Temple, the second verse refers to the period of its destruction.—Etz Yosef
כִּי קָדוֹשׁ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ: for Adonoy our God is holy.
וְהוּא רַחוּם And He, the Merciful One,
יְכַפֵּר עָוֹן וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִית atones iniquity and does not destroy;
וְהִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ He frequently withdraws His anger
וְלֹא־יָעִיר כָּל־חֲמָתוֹ: and does not arouse all His rage.
אַתָּה יְהֹוָה You, Adonoy,
לֹא־תִכְלָא רַחֲמֶֽיךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי withhold not Your mercy from me;
חַסְדְּ֒ךָ וַאֲמִתְּ֒ךָ may Your kindness and Your truth18חסד (kindness) is the good God bestows without a promise, whereas אמת (truth) is the fulfillment of His promise.—Siach Yitzchok
תָּמִיד יִצְּ֒רֽוּנִי: always protect me.
זְכֹר רַחֲמֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה Remember Your mercies Adonoy
וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ and kindnesses,
כִּי for
מֵעוֹלָם הֵֽמָּה: they are from the beginning of the world.19God's mercies to mankind started from the very day that Adam was created. God created the world in order to fill it with kindness as it is said: “A world of kindness was built” (Psalms 89:3).—Rashi
תְּנוּ עֹז לֵאלֹהִים Give might to God,20Attribute your victories to God's might rather than to your own.—Siach Yitzchok. Rashbam and others hold that since God's actions are a reflection of Israel's deeds, the latter are, in a sense, the source of His might. Thus when Israel follows the wishes of God, they give might to Him.
עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל גַּאֲוָתוֹ His pride (majesty) hovers over Israel,
וְעֻזּוֹ בַּשְּׁ֒חָקִים: and His might is in the clouds.
נוֹרָא אֱלֹהִים You are awesome, God,
מִמִּקְדָּשֶֽׁיךָ from Your Sanctuaries,21There is a spiritual Temple in the heavens which corresponds to the Temple on earth.—Radak. The Talmud (Maseches Zevachim 115b) notes that the word ממקדשיך may also be read ממקדשיך, from Your holy people, indicating that God is especially demanding of the most adherent to the Torah. When this occurs, the world is filled with awe and fear of God.
אֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל Almighty of Israel—
הוּא נֹתֵן עֹז וְתַעֲצֻמוֹת לָעָם He grants might and power to the people;
בָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהִים: blessed is God.
אֵל־נְקָמוֹת יְהֹוָה Almighty of vengeance, Adonoy,
אֵל נְקָמוֹת הוֹפִֽיעַ: Almighty of vengeance, reveal Yourself.22These two verses (94:1-2) are an appeal to God during a time fraught with the sufferings of exile, when it seems as if God has forsaken His people. He is urged to reveal Himself as the Mighty champion of justice—S.R. Hirsch
הִנָּשֵׂא שֹׁפֵט הָאָֽרֶץ Arise, Judge of the earth!
הָשֵׁב גְּמוּל עַל־גֵּאִים: Repay the arrogant their just reward.
לַיהוָֹה הַיְשׁוּעָה Deliverance is Adonoy's.23Only God knows what is true deliverance for a person. Prayer is not always answered, because God in His infinite wisdom knows that granting the request is not always for our benefit. We must therefore bless and offer thanks to God regardless of whether our petition has been granted.—Siach Yitzchok
עַל־עַמְּ֒ךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה: Upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah.
יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ Adonoy of Hosts is with us,
מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה: a stronghold for us is the God of Jacob. Selah.
יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת Adonoy of Hosts!
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּךְ: Fortunate is the man who trusts in You.
יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה Adonoy, deliver [us].
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם־קָרְאֵֽנוּ: The King will answer us on the day we call.
הוֹשִֽׁיעָה אֶת־עַמֶּֽךָ Deliver Your people
וּבָרֵךְ אֶת־נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ and bless Your inheritance,
וּרְעֵם וְנַשְּׂ֒אֵם עַד־הָעוֹלָם: tend them and uplift them forever.24Radak understands David to be asking God to raise the People of Israel above their enemies. Ibn Ezra says that God is being asked to act like a shepherd who brings his flock to high ground to save them from beasts of prey.
נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ חִכְּ֒תָה לַיהוָֹה Our soul yearned for Adonoy,
עֶזְרֵֽנוּ וּמָגִנֵּֽנוּ הוּא: our help and our shield is He.
כִּי־בוֹ יִשְׂמַח לִבֵּֽנוּ For in Him our hearts will rejoice,
כִּי בְשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ בָטָֽחְנוּ: for in His holy Name we trusted.
יְהִי־חַסְדְּ֒ךָ יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ May Your kindness, Adonoy, be upon us,
כַּאֲשֶׁר יִחַֽלְנוּ לָךְ: as we have waited for You.
הַרְאֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה חַסְדֶּֽךָ Show us Your kindness, Adonoy,
וְיֶשְׁעֲךָ תִּֽתֶּן־לָֽנוּ: and grant25We hope to earn redemption through our deeds, but if we are found wanting, then “show us Your kindness"—overlook our deficiencies and “grant” us salvation.—Radak us Your deliverance.
קֽוּמָה עֶזְרָֽתָה לָּנוּ Arise—come to our aid,
וּפְ֒דֵֽנוּ לְמַֽעַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ: and redeem us for the sake of Your kindness.
אָנֹכִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ I am Adonoy, Your God,
הַמַּעַלְךָ מֵאֶֽרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם Who brought you up from the land of Egypt;
הַרְחֶב־פִּֽיךָ וַאֲמַלְאֵֽהוּ: open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.26Request all that you desire and I will fulfill every request.—Ibn Ezra. The Jerusalem Talmud (Maseches Taanis 3:6) indicates that the more one requests God׳s providence—the “wider he opens his mouth"—the more he shows his belief in God's ability to provide all of man's needs.
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.
וַאֲנִי בְּחַסְדְּ֒ךָ בָטַֽחְתִּי In Your loving kindness I trust,
יָגֵל לִבִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ My heart will exult in Your deliverance;
אָשִֽׁירָה לַיהוָֹה I will sing to Adonoy,
כִּי גָמַל עָלָי: for He dealt kindly with me.27The foremost level of man's trust in God is manifested in three situations: a) when he is confronted with trouble, b) when he seeks help, and c) after he has been helped. The Psalmist says: In my time of trouble, I trust in Your kindliness; I seek only Your help, for my heart exults in Your salvation; and I will sing to You afterwards for You have dealt kindly with me.—Siddur HaGra