Fortunate are those who dwell

in Your house;²⁹

footnotes: ²⁹ This 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.

may they continue to praise You, Selah.³⁰

footnotes: ³⁰ Psalms 84:5

Fortunate is the people whose lot is thus;

fortunate is the people

for whom Adonoy is their God.³¹

footnotes: ³¹ Psalms 144:15

A praise by David!

I will exalt You, my God, the King,

and bless Your Name forever and ever.

Every day I will bless You³²

footnotes: ³² According 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.

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 words³³ of Your wonders I will speak.

footnotes: ³³ Not simply נִפְלְאתֶיךָ —a report of Your wonders—but דִבְרֵי נִפְלְאתֶיךָ the “words”—the lessons that Your wonders teach.— S.R. Hirsch

Of Your awesome might, they³⁴ will speak,

footnotes: ³⁴ People 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

and Your greatness I will recount.

Mention of Your bountifulness

they will express,

and in Your righteousness joyfully exult.

Adonoy is gracious and merciful,³⁵

footnotes: ³⁵ He is gracious in bestowing reward and merciful in punishment.—Siach Yitzchok

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.³⁶

footnotes: ³⁶ Your 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.

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.³⁷

footnotes: ³⁷ The penalties for transgressions are just, but God is gracious in the actual punishment inflicted on the sinner.—Siddur HaGra

Adonoy is near to all who call upon Him,

to all who call upon Him in truth.³⁸

footnotes: ³⁸ He 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

The will of those who fear Him, He fulfills;

He hears their cry and delivers them.³⁹

footnotes: ³⁹ While God hears all who cry unto Him in truth, He answers those who fear Him, who subject their desires to His will.—Siach Yitzchok

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.⁴⁰

footnotes: ⁴⁰ Psalms 115:18. You should pause between עוֹלָם and הַלְלוּיָהּ . Similarly, in all the Psalms , the word הַלְלוּיָהּ is not connected to the preceding verse.

Praise God!

My soul, praise Adonoy.

I will praise Adonoy with my life;

I will sing to my God as long as I live.

Do not place your trust [even] in noble men,⁴¹

footnotes: ⁴¹ According to the Sages, it is implied that one should not rely even on the merit of his sainted ancestors, the Patriarchs, for deliverance.

in man who has no [power of] deliverance.

[When] his spirit departs,

he returns to his earth;⁴²

footnotes: ⁴² Only 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

on that day his plans come to naught.

Fortunate [is he]

when the Almighty of Jacob is his help,⁴³

footnotes: ⁴³ Jacob, 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

whose expectation is on Adonoy, his God.

He makes heaven and earth,

the sea and all that is in them;

He keeps His promises faithfully forever.⁴⁴

footnotes: ⁴⁴ He alone has always proven dependable and faithful, for there are no limits to His essence and to His power.—Ibn Ezra, Radak

He performs justice for the oppressed;

He gives bread to the hungry;

Adonoy releases the imprisoned.

Adonoy gives sight to the blind;

Adonoy straightens the bent.

Adonoy loves the righteous.

Adonoy protects strangers;

the orphan and widow

He enables to stand firm;

and the way of the wicked He thwarts.

Adonoy will reign forever;

your God, Zion, throughout all generations.

Praise God.

Praise God!

for it is good to sing to our God;

for [His] praise is pleasant, befitting.

The builder of Jerusalem is Adonoy;

the banished ones of Israel He will gather.

[He is] the Healer of the broken-hearted

and [also] binds up their wounds.⁴⁵

footnotes: ⁴⁵ Others render “their sorrows.” Both translations co-exist! God not only heals their physical pains but also abbreviates their sorrows as well.

He fixes the number of stars;

He calls all of them by names.⁴⁶

footnotes: ⁴⁶ Not one of the myriad stars was created accidentally; each has a unique purpose and function.—Siach Yitzchok

Great is our Master and abundant in power;

His understanding is beyond reckoning.

Adonoy causes the humble to stand firm;

He casts down the wicked to the ground.

Cry out to Adonoy in thanksgiving;

sing to our God with the harp.⁴⁷

footnotes: ⁴⁷ Each 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

[He] Who covers the heaven with clouds,

Who prepares rain for the earth;

Who causes grass to grow upon the hills.

Who gives the animal its fodder;

[also] to the young ravens which call.

Not the power of the horse does He desire,

nor the thighs of man does He want.⁴⁸

footnotes: ⁴⁸ God does not delight in those who place their trust in the strength of horses or in their own strength.—Tzelosa d’Avrohom

Adonoy wants those who fear Him,

those who hope for His kindliness.

Jerusalem, praise Adonoy;

Zion, extol your God.⁴⁹

footnotes: ⁴⁹ The Psalmist addresses the dwellers in Jerusalem and Zion, not the city itself.—Tzelosa d’Avrohom

For He has fortified the bars of your gates;

He has blessed your children in your midst.

He established peace at your border;

with prime wheat He satisfies you.

He dispatches His command earthward;

His word races swiftly.

He provides snow like fleece,

He scatters frost like ashes.

He hurls His ice like crumbs;

who can withstand His cold?

He dispatches His word and melts them;

He blows His wind, they flow as water.

He declares His word to Jacob,

His statutes and His laws to Israel.⁵⁰

footnotes: ⁵⁰ Israel 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

He did not do so to any [other] nation;

and of His laws they were not informed.

Praise God.

Praise God.

Praise Adonoy from the sky;

Praise Him in the heights!

Praise Him, all His angels;

Praise Him, all His hosts!

Praise Him, sun and moon;

Praise Him, all the stars of light.

Praise Him, skies of skies,

and the waters that are above the skies.⁵¹

footnotes: ⁵¹ Genesis 1:6-7 indicates that there are waters above the heavens.

They will praise the Name of Adonoy,

for He commanded it and they were created.

He established them for all time,⁵²

footnotes: ⁵² The heavenly bodies, unlike humans and earthly things, were created from materials that do not deteriorate.—Kuzari

for as long as the world exists;

He decreed it and it is unalterable.⁵³

footnotes: ⁵³ None 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.

Praise Adonoy from the earth,

sea-monsters

and all [that dwell in] the depths.

Fire and hail, snow and vapor,

stormwind, [all] fulfilling His word.

The mountains and all the hills,

fruit trees and all cedars.

Wild beasts and all animals,

creeping things and winged fowl.

Earthly kings and all peoples,

ministers and all earthly judges.

Young men and also maidens,

elders together with lads.⁵⁴

footnotes: ⁵⁴ Elders 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.

They will praise the Name of Adonoy,

for His Name alone is exalted;

His majesty is over the earth and the skies.

He will raise the might of His people,

[which is] praise for all His pious ones,

for the Children of Israel,

the people near⁵⁵ to Him.

footnotes: ⁵⁵ The fulfillment of the last two verses will take place in the Messianic era.

Praise God.

Praise God.

Sing a new song to Adonoy,⁵⁶

footnotes: ⁵⁶ The old songs will not suffice to express the joy at the wonders in the Messianic future.—Radak

His praise in the assembly of the pious.

Israel will rejoice in its Maker;

the children of Zion will exult in their King.⁵⁷

footnotes: ⁵⁷ Israel is the nation as a whole, the children of Zion are the elite of the people.—Seporno

They will praise His Name with dance;

with drum and harp

they will make music to Him.

Because Adonoy desires His people;

He will adorn the humble with deliverance.⁵⁸

footnotes: ⁵⁸ Although God desires all His people, nevertheless, our ultimate salvation will come through the merit of His humble ones.—Rav Simcha Bunim of Pczyscha

The pious will rejoice in honor;

they will sing joyously upon their beds.

High praises of the Almighty in their throats,

and a double-edged sword in their hand.⁵⁹

footnotes: ⁵⁹ One’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

To perform vengeance upon the nations,

chastisement upon the peoples.

To bind their kings with chains,

and their nobles with iron fetters.

To execute upon them

[the] written judgment;

it⁶⁰ is the splendor of all His pious ones.

footnotes: ⁶⁰ The Divine judgment itself is honor and recognition for those who commit their entire lives and efforts to God.—S.R. Hirsch

Praise God.

Praise God.

Praise the Almighty in His Sanctuary⁶¹

footnotes: ⁶¹ His “Sanctuary” refers to the world of angels who minister to Him as He appears on His throne.—Radak

Praise God

in the firmament of His might⁶²

footnotes: ⁶² The firmament of His might refers to the heavenly spheres through which God reveals His mastery over the physical world.—Radak

Praise Him for His mighty deeds;

Praise Him

according to the abundance of His greatness.

Praise Him with the blowing of the shofar;⁶³

footnotes: ⁶³ The shofar is the solemn instrument which awakens and calls us to God.—S.R. Hirsch

praise Him with lyre and harp.⁶⁴

footnotes: ⁶⁴ Lyre and harp are instruments which express man’s meditation upon God.—S.R. Hirsch

Praise Him with drum and dance.⁶⁵

footnotes: ⁶⁵ Drum and dance are public manifestations of exultation in God.—S.R. Hirsch

Praise Him

with stringed instruments and flute.⁶⁶

footnotes: ⁶⁶ Stringed instruments and the flute may serve to express the quieter rejoicing of an individual.—S.R. Hirsch

Praise Him with resounding cymbals.⁶⁷

footnotes: ⁶⁷ The cymbal is an instrument of extremely loud sound which may serve to call whole groups to attentive participation.—S.R. Hirsch

Praise Him with clanging cymbals.

Let every soul praise God.

Praise God.

Let every soul praise God.

Praise God.⁶⁸

footnotes: ⁶⁸ This verse is repeated to mark the end of the Psalms included in the Pesukei d’Zimrah.—Avudraham

Blessed is Adonoy forever,

Amein and Amein!⁶⁹

footnotes: ⁶⁹ Psalms 89:53. God is the eternal source of blessing. We merely declare His blessedness, we do not bless Him.

Blessed is Adonoy from Zion,

Who dwells in Jerusalem.

Praise God.⁷⁰

footnotes: ⁷⁰ Psalms 135:21.

Blessed is Adonoy, God,

God of Israel

Who alone performs wonders.⁷¹

footnotes: ⁷¹ “Alone” means without intermediaries (Malbim); also without the beneficiary’s awareness (Gaon of Vilna).

And blessed is the Name of His glory forever,

and may His glory fill the whole earth.

Amein and Amein!⁷²

footnotes: ⁷² Psalms 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

And David blessed Adonoy

in the presence of all the assembly;

and David said,

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

God of Israel, our father,⁷³

footnotes: ⁷³ David 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

forever and ever.

Yours, Adonoy,

is the greatness, the might, the glory

the victory and the beauty,⁷⁴

footnotes: ⁷⁴ David 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

for all that is in heaven and on earth

[is Yours]; Yours, Adonoy, is the kingdom

and You are uplifted,

[supreme] over all rulers.

The riches and the honor come from You,

and You rule over all;

in Your hand are power and might,

and [it is] in Your hand

to bestow greatness and strength upon all.

And now, our God,

we give thanks to You

and praise Your glorious Name.⁷⁵

footnotes: ⁷⁵ I Chronicles 29:10-13.

⁷⁶And they will bless Your glorious Name,

footnotes: ⁷⁶ The next seven verses are taken from Nehemiah 9:5-11. They are the last words of praise found in Scripture.

[You, who are] exalted

above all blessing and praise.

You alone are Adonoy;⁷⁷

footnotes: ⁷⁷ This is an affirmation of God’s unity: “Adonoy is One.”

You have made the skies,

the skies of skies78 and all their hosts,⁷⁹

footnotes: ⁷⁹ This signifies the sun, moon, and stars.

the earth and all that is upon it,

the seas and all that is in them;

and You give life to all of them,

and the heavenly hosts⁸⁰ bow before You.

footnotes: ⁸⁰ These are the angelic beings that worship Adonoy.

You are Adonoy, the God

Who chose Avrom,

and brought him out of Ur Kasdim

and established his name (as) Avrohom.⁸¹

footnotes: ⁸¹ This was not a mere changing of names. Abraham was elevated and attained new stature as a patriarch by virtue of his new name.

And You found his heart

faithful before You,⁸²

footnotes: ⁸² This was demonstrated when he was ready to sacrifice Isaac.

and You made the covenant with him⁸³

footnotes: ⁸³ In some congregations, וְכָרות 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.

to give the land of the Canaanites,

the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizites,

the Jebusites, and the Girgashites,

to give to his seed;

and You kept Your word,

for You are righteous.

And You saw the affliction

of our fathers in Egypt,

and their cry You heard

at the Sea of Reeds.

And You imposed signs and wonders

against Pharaoh and all his servants

and all the people of his land,

for You knew

that they acted malevolently against them;⁸⁴

footnotes: ⁸⁴ Them = the Jews in Egypt.

and (thus) You have made a name for Yourself,

like this day.⁸⁵

footnotes: ⁸⁵ The 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.

And the sea, You split before them,

and they went through the midst of the sea

on the dry land;

and their pursuers

You hurled into the depths,

like a stone into mighty waters.⁸⁶

footnotes: ⁸⁶ Nechemiah 9:6-11