Psalm 104

My soul bless Adonoy;

Adonoy, my God, You are greatly exalted;

with beauty and splendor are You clothed.

Enwrapped in light, garment-like,

He spreads out the heavens like a curtain.

He Who covers with water,³⁶

footnotes: ³⁶ This refers to the “Waters that are above the skies” (Genesis 1:6-7; Psalms 148:14).—Metsudas Dovid

His upper chambers;

He Who makes clouds His chariot,

He Who walks upon wings of wind.

He Who makes winds His messengers,

flaming fires His servants.

He Who established the earth

upon its foundations,

[so] that it shall never be moved.

The deep

He covered as with a garment;³⁷

footnotes: ³⁷ God covers the depths of the seas in order to prevent them from overflowing and destroying the world.—Metsudas Dovid

waters remain on mountains.³⁸

footnotes: ³⁸ Even though the nature of water is to flow downward God nevertheless ordered that there be water on the highest mountains.— Metsudas Dovid

At Your shout they retreated,

at Your thunderous voice

they hastened away.³⁹

footnotes: ³⁹ This sentence describes God’s command, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place” (Genesis 1:9).—Metsudas Dovid

They go up mountains, down into valleys,

to the specific place You founded for them.

You set a boundary⁴⁰

footnotes: ⁴⁰ The sand is the boundary; the water may not cross it to flood the earth.—Rashi

[which] they may not cross,

lest they return to cover the earth.

He Who sends springs into streams

to flow between the mountains;

to water all the beasts of the fields;

the wild ones quench their thirst.

Over them dwell the birds of the sky,

from among the branches, they give voice.

[You] Who waters the mountains

from His upper chambers,⁴¹

footnotes: ⁴¹ See footnote 36.

from the fruit of Your works⁴²

footnotes: ⁴² The “Fruit of Your works” refers to the rain which satisfies the needs of the earth.—Metsudas Dovid

the earth is sated.

[You] Who causes grass to sprout for cattle,

and vegetation for the labor of man,

to bring forth bread from the earth;

and wine to cheer the heart of man,

to make [his] face shine from oil,

and bread to sustain the heart of man.

Adonoy's trees are sated,⁴³

footnotes: ⁴³ The trees are satisfied with the rain.

the cedars of Lebanon that He planted;

where birds make their nests,

the stork—the firs are her home.

The high mountains [are] for the wild goats,

the rocks a refuge for the rabbits.

He made the moon to fix seasons

the sun knows its place to set.

You make darkness and night comes

in which they move about

all the beasts of the forest.

The young lions roar for prey,

and seek their food from the Almighty.

[When] the sun rises, they gather

and come into their dens to lie.

Man goes out to his work,

to his labor until evening.

How many are Your works, Adonoy!

You made them all with wisdom;

the earth is full of Your possessions!

This sea, great and wide—

therein are innumerable creeping things,

animals small and great.

There ships travel;

this Leviathan⁴⁴

footnotes: ⁴⁴ According to tradition, God created the Leviathan with a mate but slew her in order that they not reproduce. Because of their tremendous size, they would have brought much destruction to the world (See Rashi to Genesis 1:21).—Rashi

You formed to frolic with.

They all look to You expectantly,

to provide their food in its time.

[When] You give it to them,

they gather it in;

[when] You open Your hand

they are sated with goodness.

When You hide Your face,⁴⁵

footnotes: ⁴⁵ When God withdraws His sustaining power from any creature or being, it perishes.

they are panic-stricken;

when You gather in their breath, they perish,

and to their dust they return.

When You send Your spirit,⁴⁶

footnotes: ⁴⁶ This refers to the era when God will restore life to the dead.—Rashi

they will be created [anew];

and You will renew the face of the earth.

The glory of Adonoy will endure forever,

Adonoy will rejoice in His works—

He Who gazes upon the earth

and it trembles;

He Who touches the mountains

and they erupt.

I will sing to Adonoy with my life;

I will offer hymns to my God

as long as I am alive.

May my words be pleasant to Him;

I will rejoice in Adonoy.⁴⁷

footnotes: ⁴⁷ When God accepts my prayer, I will rejoice in His deliverance.—Metsudas Dovid

Sin will be excised from the earth,

and the wicked will be no more;

My soul bless Adonoy,

Praise God.

Psalm 120

A Song of Ascents.

In my great distress I called to Adonoy

and He answered me.

Adonoy,

deliver my soul from lying lips,

from a deceitful tongue.

What will He give you

and what more will He add

to a deceitful tongue?

Sharp arrows of a warrior

with burning coals of a broom.

Woe is me that I dwell in Meschech,

that I reside among Kedar's tents.

Too long has my soul dwelt

with those who hate peace.

I am for peace;

but when I speak

they are for war.

Psalm 121

A Song of Ascents.

I will lift my eyes to the mountains:

from where will my help come?

My help comes from Adonoy,

Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip,

He will not slumber—your Guardian.

Behold, He does not slumber

nor does He sleep—the Guardian of Israel!

Adonoy is your Guardian,

Adonoy is your shelter at your right hand.

By day the sun will not smite you,

nor the moon at night.

Adonoy will guard you from all evil;

He will preserve your soul.

Adonoy will guard your going and coming,

from now and forever.

Psalm 122

A Song of Ascents of David.

I rejoiced when they said to me,

“To the House of Adonoy let us go.”

Our feet stood

within your gates, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem which is built

as a city that fosters togetherness.

There the tribes went up,

the tribes of God,

as a testimony of Israel;

to give thanks to the Name of Adonoy.

For there,

were set thrones for judgment,

thrones of the House of David.

Inquire after the peace of Jerusalem;

may those who love you enjoy serenity.

Peace be within your walls,

serenity within your palaces.

For the sake of my brethren and companions,

I will say, “Peace be with you.”

For the sake of the House of Adonoy

our God,

I will seek your good.

Psalm 123

A Song of Ascents.

To You I will lift my eyes,

[to You] Who dwells in heaven.

Behold, as the eyes of servants [look]

toward the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a maiden [look]

toward the hand of her mistress;

so our eyes [look] toward Adonoy our God

until he is gracious to us.

Be gracious to us, Adonoy, be gracious to us

for we are fully satiated with humiliation.

Our soul is fully satiated

with the scorning of those who are at ease,

with the humiliation

of the arrogant oppressors.

Psalm 124

A Song of Ascents of David.

“Had it not been for Adonoy

Who was for us,”

let Israel now say.

“Had it not been for Adonoy

Who was for us,

when men rose up against us.

They would have then swallowed us alive,

when their wrath blazed against us.

The waters would have then swept us away,

affliction would have passed over our soul.

Then over our soul would have gone

the impetuous waters.

Blessed is Adonoy,

Who did not give us

as prey to their teeth.

Our soul escaped as a bird

out of the fowler's snare;

the snare is broken and we escaped.

Our help is in the Name of Adonoy,

Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 125

A Song of Ascents.

Those who trust in Adonoy

are as Mount Zion which cannot be moved,

but abides forever.

Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains,

and Adonoy is around His people,

from now forever.

For it will not rest [for long]

the reign of wickedness

upon the lot of the righteous;

in order that the righteous will not put forth

their hands unto iniquity.

Do good, Adonoy, to those who are good,

and to those who are upright in their hearts.

And as for those who turn aside

to their crooked ways,

Adonoy will lead them away

together with the workers of iniquity;

peace be upon Israel.

Psalm 126

A Song of Ascents.

When Adonoy brings about

the return to Zion

we will have been like dreamers.

Then

will our mouths be filled with laughter,

and our tongue with joyous song.

Then they will say among the nations:

‘Adonoy has done great things for them.'

Adonoy had done great things for us;

we will [then] rejoice.

Adonoy! bring back our exiles

like springs in the desert.

Those who sow in tears

will reap with joyous song.

[Though] he walks along weeping,

carrying the bag of seed,

he will return with joyous song

carrying his sheaves.

Psalm 127

A Song of Ascents of Solomon.

If Adonoy will not build a house,

then in vain have its builders toiled upon it;

if Adonoy will not preserve the city,

in vain does the watchman keep vigil.

It is in vain for you

that you rise early, sit up late,

who eat the bread of toil;

but He will surely give [sustenance]

to His loved ones

to those who banish sleep from themselves.

Behold, a heritage of Adonoy, are children

a reward [from Him] is the fruit of the womb.

As arrows in the hand of a mighty man,

so are the children of one's youth.

Fortunate is the man

who has filled his quiver with them;

they will not be ashamed

when they speak with their enemies

in the gate.

Psalm 128

A Song of Ascents.

Fortunate is everyone who fears Adonoy,

who walks in His ways.

The toil of your hands,

when you eat thereof—

fortunate are you, good will be yours.

Your wife is a fruitful vine

in the innermost parts of your home,

your children are like olive plants

around your table.

Behold, so is blessed the man

who fears Adonoy.

May Adonoy bless you out of Zion,

and may you look

upon the good of Jerusalem

all the days of your life.

May you see [the] children of your children,

peace upon Israel.

Psalm 129

A Song of Ascents.

“Much have they afflicted me

from my youth,”

let Israel now say.

“Much have they afflicted me

from my youth;

but also they have not prevailed against me.

The plowers plowed on my back;

they made long their furrows.

Adonoy is righteous,

He has cut the cords of the wicked.

Let them be ashamed and turned backward,

all haters of Zion.

Let them be as grass upon the roofs,

before it springs up it withers.

With which the reaper does not fill his hand,

nor the sheath binder his bosom.”

And the passers by did not say:

“The blessing of Adonoy be upon you;

“we bless you in the Name of Adonoy.”

Psalm 130

A Song of Ascents.

Out of the depths

I have called to You, Adonoy.

My Master, hear my voice;

let Your ears be attentive

to the voice of my supplications.

If You God should take account of iniquities,

my Master, who could survive?

For with You is forgiveness,

in order that You be feared.

I hope for Adonoy, my soul hopes;

and for His word, I wait

My soul [waits] for my Master

more than the watchman [waits]

for the morning,

[more than] the watchman [waits]

for the morning.

Wait, Israel, upon Adonoy

for with Adonoy there is loving-kindness

and with Him there is much redemption.

And He will redeem Israel

from all its iniquities.

Psalm 131

A Song of Ascents of David.

Adonoy, my heart was not haughty

nor my eyes lofty;

and I did not concern myself

with things too great

and too wonderful for me.

Have I not calmed

and quieted my soul,

like a child that is weaned from his mother,

like a weaned child my soul is with me.

Wait Israel upon Adonoy,

from now and forever.

Psalm 132

A Song of Ascents.

Remember, Adonoy, unto David

all his afflictions.

How he swore to Adonoy

and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.

Surely I will not enter

into the tent of my house;

nor will I go up

into the bed that is spread for me.

Surely I will not give sleep to my eyes,

nor slumber to my eyelids.

Until I find a place for Adonoy,

dwelling places for the Mighty One of Jacob.

Behold, we heard of it as being in Ephrath;

we found it in the fields of the forest.

Let us come to His Tabernacles,

let us prostrate ourselves at His footstool.

Arise Adonoy to Your resting place,

You and the Ark of Your strength.

Let Your priests

clothe themselves in righteousness,

and let Your devoted ones sing in joy.

For the sake of David Your servant,

do not reject Your annointed.

Adonoy swore to David,

a truth from which He will not turn back,

“Of the fruit of your womb

I will set upon your throne.

If your children will preserve My covenant

and My testimony that I will teach them;

then their children too

will forever sit on your throne.”

For Adonoy has chosen Zion;

He desired it for His Dwelling Place.

“This is My resting place forever,

here I will dwell for I have desired it.

Her provision I will abundantly bless;

her needy I will satiate with bread.

And her priests

I will clothe with deliverance

and her devoted ones will sing for joy.

There will I cause to spring up

the horn of David

[there] have I ordered a lamp

for my annointed.

His enemies I will clothe with shame,

but upon him his crown will shine.”

Psalm 133

A Song of Ascents of David.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

when brethren also dwell together in unity.

Like the precious oil upon the head

coming down upon the beard,

the beard of Aaron

that comes down

upon the edge of his garments.

Like the dew of Hermon

that comes down

upon the mountains of Zion;

for there Adonoy commanded the blessing,

life for evermore.

Psalm 134

A Song of Ascents.

Behold, bless Adonoy

all [you] servants of Adonoy,

who stand in the House of Adonoy

in the night.

Lift your hands to the Sanctuary

and bless Adonoy.

Adonoy will bless you out of Zion,

[He Who is] Maker of heaven and earth.