A Psalm,

a song for the inauguration of the Temple,

by David.¹

footnotes: ¹ Solomon built the Temple. Why, then, is its inauguration attributed to David? Rashi explains: David composed the song which would be sung at the inauguration later, in Solomon's days.

I will exalt You, Adonoy,

for You have upheld me,² writes that the Hebrew word דליתני is an expression used to describe either a down-trodden or an uplifted state. The downtrodden state of the Jewish people is actually part of their uplifting says the Sfas Emes, as it is said, “when I was brought low, He delivered me” (Psalms 116:6). “My downtrodden state was the cause of my salvation,” proclaims David, just as when one lowers a bucket (דלי) into a well in order to bring up the water.

footnotes: ² Radak

and not let my foes rejoice over me.

Adonoy, my God,

I cried out to You, and You healed me.

Adonoy, You have raised

my soul from the lower world.

You have kept me alive,

lest I descend to the Pit.

Sing to Adonoy, [you,] His pious ones,

and give thanks to His holy Name.³

footnotes: ³ The literal translation of זכר קודשו is His ׳holy remembrance,’ but it refers to His Name; for the titles we bestow upon Him are our means of remembering Him.— Radak

For His anger lasts only a moment,⁴

footnotes: ⁴ A moment is a measure of time. God's anger is limited to time (be it long or short) but God's favor is unlimited.—Sfas Emes

but there is [long] life, in His conciliation.

In the evening, one retires weeping,

but in the morning there is [a cry of] joy!

I said, in my serenity,

I would never be moved.

[But,] Adonoy, it was Your will [alone]

that established my mountain

as a stronghold.

When You concealed Your Presence,

I was terrified.

To You, Adonoy, I called,

and my Master I beseeched.

What gain is there

in [the shedding of] my blood?

In my going down to destruction?

Will the dust acknowledge You?

Will it proclaim Your truth?

Hear [me] Adonoy, and be gracious to me,

Adonoy, be a help to me.

You have turned my mourning into dancing,

You have loosened my sackcloth

and supported me with joy.

In order that my soul⁵ might sing to You

footnotes: ⁵ The literal translation of כבוד is glory. Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz explained that the soul is called כבוד because its only function is to give glory to God.

and not be stilled,

Adonoy, my God, forever will I thank You.

Adonoy is King, Adonoy was King

Adonoy will be King forever and ever.

Adonoy is King, Adonoy was King

Adonoy will be King forever and ever.

And Adonoy will be King

over the whole earth;

on that day Adonoy will be One

and His Name One.

Deliver us Adonoy, our God,

and gather us from among the nations,

to give thanks to Your holy Name—

to be extolled in Your praise.

Blessed is Adonoy, God of Israel

from the world till the next world

and all the people said: "Amen, Praise God."

Let every soul praise God.

Praise God.

To the Chief Musician:

a Psalm with instrumental music, a song.

[May] God favor us and bless us,

[may He] cause His countenance to shine

among us Selah;

[So] that Your way become known on earth,

[and] Your deliverance among all nations.

Peoples will thank You, God,

all the peoples will thank You.

Nations will rejoice and sing

when You judge the peoples justly,

and lead the nations upon the earth Selah.

Peoples will thank You, God,

all the peoples will thank You.

The earth will have yielded its produce;

God, our God, will have blessed us.

God will bless us,

and they will fear Him—

all [men even from] the ends of the earth.