A Psalm, a song for the Shabbos day.

It is good to thank⁵ Adonoy,

footnotes: ⁵ The Sabbath, more than other days, lends itself to offering praise and thanksgiving to God. When man rests from his physical labor and is relieved of material concerns, his soul is free to pursue the intellectual and spiritual aspects of life. These pursuits lead him to serve God and to praise Him.—Radak

and sing praise to Your Name, Most High.

To relate Your kindliness in the morning,

and Your faithfulness in the nights.⁶

footnotes: ⁶ We will proclaim His kindliness in the morning of redemption. And while yet in the darkness of exile we proclaim our belief in His faithfulness.—Rashi

Upon a ten-stringed instrument and lute,

in meditation upon the harp.

For You have given me joy, Adonoy,

with Your deeds,

at the work of Your hands⁷ I sing joyously.

footnotes: ⁷ The Sabbath day of rest affords me the opportunity to observe and appreciate the greatness of Your work.—Radak

How great are Your works, Adonoy;

how infinitely profound are Your thoughts.⁸

footnotes: ⁸ God’s ‘works’ are the visible creation, while His ‘thoughts’ are the Divine purpose behind each created thing.—Seporno

An empty-headed man cannot know,

nor does a fool understand this:

When the wicked bloom like grass,

and all the evildoers blossom—

it is so that they may be destroyed forever.

But You will remain on high forever

Adonoy.

For behold, Your enemies, Adonoy;

For behold, Your enemies shall perish;

dispersed shall be all evildoers.

You uplifted my horn⁹ like that of a unicorn;

footnotes: ⁹ Others translate, ‘You have increased my might like that of the wild ram.’

I am saturated with fresh oil.

My eye has seen [the defeat of]

those who spy on me;

of the wicked who rise against me,

my ears have heard [that they are doomed].

The righteous will blossom like a date palm,

like a cedar¹⁰ in Lebanon, he will grow tall.

footnotes: ¹⁰ The palm and the cedar both enjoy a long life span and flourish during all seasons. Thus they symbolize the lasting happiness of the righteous in contrast to the short prosperity of the wicked.

Planted in the House of Adonoy,

in the courtyards of our God

they will blossom.

They will still be fruitful in old age;

they will be full of sap and freshness.

To declare that Adonoy is upright;

He is my Stronghold;

in Whom there is no injustice.