Ashrei

R. Eleazar said that R. Avina said: Whoever recites Psalm 145 (Ashrei) thrice daily may be assured that he will inherit the world to come.

(1) A song of praise. Of David. I will extol You, my God and king, and bless Your name forever and ever. (2) Every day will I bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. (3) Great is the LORD and much acclaimed; His greatness cannot be fathomed. (4) One generation shall laud Your works to another and declare Your mighty acts. (5) The glorious majesty of Your splendor and Your wondrous acts will I recite. (6) Men shall talk of the might of Your awesome deeds, and I will recount Your greatness. (7) They shall celebrate Your abundant goodness, and sing joyously of Your beneficence. (8) The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. (9) The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is upon all His works. (10) All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, and Your faithful ones shall bless You. (11) They shall talk of the majesty of Your kingship, and speak of Your might, (12) to make His mighty acts known among men and the majestic glory of His kingship. (13) Your kingship is an eternal kingship; Your dominion is for all generations. (14) The LORD supports all who stumble, and makes all who are bent stand straight. (15) The eyes of all look to You expectantly, and You give them their food when it is due. (16) You give it openhandedly, feeding every creature to its heart’s content. (17) The LORD is beneficent in all His ways and faithful in all His works. (18) The LORD is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him with sincerity. (19) He fulfills the wishes of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and delivers them. (20) The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. (21) My mouth shall utter the praise of the LORD, and all creatures shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

What is the reason? Is it to be supposed because the initial letter of the verses follows the alphabetical order? Then let him recite Psalm 119 which contains an eight-fold alphabetical order! No, the reason is that it contains the verse, "Thou openest Thy hand and satisfiest every living thing with favour" (Ps. 145:16). Then let him say the Great Hallel which includes "Who giveth food to all flesh" (Ps. 136:25)! But [Psalm 145] is selected] because it contains both features.

(7) One should focus one's heart during the verse "פותח את ידך," and if he does not focus then he must return and say the verse again.

You open Your Hand and satisfy every living being according to its desire (for what You give)

(1) Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house; may they continue to praise You, Selah. Fortunate is the people whose lot is thus; fortunate is the people for whom Adonoy is their God. A praise by David! I will exalt You, my God, the King, and bless Your Name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You and extol Your Name forever and ever. Adonoy is great and highly extolled, and His greatness is unfathomable. One generation to another will praise Your works, and Your mighty acts they will declare. The splendor of Your glorious majesty, and the words of Your wonders I will speak. Of Your awesome might, they will speak, and Your greatness I will recount. Mention of Your bountifulness they will express, and in Your righteousness joyfully exult. Adonoy is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and great in kindliness. Adonoy is good to all, His mercy encompasses all His works. All Your works will thank You, Adonoy, and Your pious ones will bless You. Of the honor of Your kingship, they will speak, and Your might they will declare. To reveal to men His mighty acts, and the glorious splendor of His kingship. Your kingship is the kingship for all times, and Your dominion is in every generation. Adonoy supports all the fallen, and straightens all the bent. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food at its proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living being. Adonoy is just in all His ways and benevolent in all His deeds. Adonoy is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. The will of those who fear Him, He fulfills; He hears their cry and delivers them. Adonoy watches over all those who love Him, and will destroy all the wicked. Praise of Adonoy, my mouth will declare and all flesh will bless His holy Name forever and ever. And we will bless God from now forever. Praise God.

(2) The Half-Kaddish is recited by the Chazzan

(3) Exalted and sanctified be His great Name

(4) in the world which He created according to His will and may He rule His kingdom. In your lifetime and in your days, and in the lifetime of the entire House of Israel, speedily and in the near future— and say Amein.

(5) May His great Name be blessed forever and for all eternity.

(6) Blessed and praised, glorified, and exalted and uplifted, honored and elevated and extolled be the Name of the Holy One, blessed is He;

(7) above (Ten Days of Penitence: far above) all the blessings and hymns, praises and consolations which we utter in the world—and say Amein.