A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the Lord, O you mighty, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

A psalm of David. Accord to the L rd — you sons, the mighty [(whence it is derived that "avoth" [the patriarchs ("the mighty ones")] are mentioned in the amidah)]; accord to the L rd honor and strength [(whence it is derived that "strengths" are mentioned in the amidah [after avoth])].

Give to the Lord the glory due to his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Accord to the L rd the glory of His name [(the holiness of His name [(the next blessing in the amidah)])]. Bow down to the L rd in the splendor of holiness. [(The eighteen "L rd"s in this psalm are the basis of shemoneh esreh [the eighteen benedictions])].

The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thunders: the Lord is upon many waters.

The voice of the L rd is upon the waters [the Red Sea (viz. above, 18:4)]. The glory of G d thunders; the L rd upon many waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the L rd in strength [(At the giving of the Torah, He attenuated His voice in accordance with the "strength" of Israel to bear it)]; the voice of the L rd in splendor.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; yea, the Lord breaks the cedars of the Levanon.

The voice of the L rd breaks the cedars [(the kings of the nations)] the L rd breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes them also skip like a calf; Levanon and Shiryon like a young wild ox.

He makes them [(the cedars and the mountains who came to hear at the giving of the Torah)] skip as calves; Levanon and Siryon [(the mountains)] as the young of re'eimim [large beasts].

The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.

The voice of the L rd cleaves [the tablets with] flames of fire [(hewing out the commandments on them)].

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Qadesh.

The voice of the L rd quakes the desert; the L rd quakes the desert of Kadesh [Sinai].

The voice of the Lord makes the hinds to calve, and strips the forests bare, and in his temple everyone speaks of his glory.

The voice of the L rd will start the hinds [(the stalwart standing nations)] and bare the forests [(i.e., it will strip the nations of their glory)]. And in His sanctuary [(when it is rebuilt)], all will proclaim glory:

The Lord sat enthroned at the flood; and he sits enthroned as King forever.

The L rd sat [(solitary in His greatness)] at the flood; and the L rd shall sit [(solitary among the nations)] as King forever [viz. Isaiah 2:17].

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

The L rd shall grant strength to His people; the L rd shall bless His people with peace.