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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 112

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Hallelujah. Happy is the man who fears Hashem, who is ardently devoted to His commandments.

ha-l'-lu-YAH ash-ray EESH ya-RAY et a-do-NAI b'-mitz-vo-TAV kha-FAYTZ m'-OD

אהַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ אַשְׁרֵי־אִ֭ישׁ יָרֵ֣א אֶת־יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו חָפֵ֥ץ מְאֹֽד׃

 112:1   Happy is the man who fears Hashem

Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903-1993)

Psalm 111 is an acrostic praising Hashem, and Psalm 112 complements it with praises of man. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik once remarked that “Jewish law is theo-centric, but anthropo-oriented.” He meant that while God is at the epicenter of the Torah, the Bible is really about human beings and how they interact with each other and with the Lord. Thus, while Psalm 111 dedicates itself to a complete praise of Hashem, Psalm 112 speaks of man and his capacity to live a life of praise and emulation of God. Man is happy and praiseworthy when all of his actions are focused on God, and oriented towards helping mankind.

2His descendants will be mighty in the land, a blessed generation of upright men.

gi-VOR ba-A-retz yih-YEH zar-O dor ye-sha-RIM ye-vo-RACH

בגִּבּ֣וֹר בָּ֭אָרֶץ יִהְיֶ֣ה זַרְע֑וֹ דּ֖וֹר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יְבֹרָֽךְ׃

3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his beneficence lasts forever.

hon-va-o-SHER b'-vei-TO v'-tzi-d'-KA-to o-ME-det la-AD

גהוֹן־וָעֹ֥שֶׁר בְּבֵית֑וֹ וְ֝צִדְקָת֗וֹ עֹמֶ֥דֶת לָעַֽד׃

4A light shines for the upright in the darkness; he is gracious, compassionate, and beneficent.

za-RACH ba-KHO-shekh OHR la-y'-sha-REEM, kha-NUN v'-ra-KHUUM v'-tzad-DEEK.

דזָ֘רַ֤ח בַּחֹ֣שֶׁךְ א֭וֹר לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק׃

5All goes well with the man who lends generously, who conducts his affairs with equity.

TOV-ISH kho-NAYN u-mal-VEH ye-khal-KEL d'-va-RAV b'-mish-PAHT

הטֽוֹב־אִ֭ישׁ חוֹנֵ֣ן וּמַלְוֶ֑ה יְכַלְכֵּ֖ל דְּבָרָ֣יו בְּמִשְׁפָּֽט׃

6He shall never be shaken; the beneficent man will be remembered forever.

ki-l'o-LAM lo-yi-MOT, l'-ZE-kher o-LAM yi-HEH tza-DIK

וכִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֥ם לֹֽא־יִמּ֑וֹט לְזֵ֥כֶר ע֝וֹלָ֗ם יִהְיֶ֥ה צַדִּֽיק׃

7He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, he trusts in Hashem.

mi-sh'-mu-AH ra-AH lo yi-RA na-KHON li-BO ba-TOO-akh ba-do-NAI

זמִשְּׁמוּעָ֣ה רָ֭עָה לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א נָכ֥וֹן לִ֝בּ֗וֹ בָּטֻ֥חַ בַּיהֹוָֽה׃

8His heart is resolute, he is unafraid; in the end he will see the fall of his foes.

sa-MUKH li-BO lo yi-RA ad a-SHER yi-REH ve-tza-RAV

חסָמ֣וּךְ לִ֭בּוֹ לֹ֣א יִירָ֑א עַ֖ד אֲשֶׁר־יִרְאֶ֣ה בְצָרָֽיו׃

9He gives freely to the poor; his beneficence lasts forever; his horn is exalted in honor.

PI-ZAR na-TAN la-ev-YO-nim tziD-ka-TO o-ME-det la-AD kar-NO ta-RUM b'-ka-VOD

טפִּזַּ֤ר ׀ נָ֘תַ֤ן לָאֶבְיוֹנִ֗ים צִ֭דְקָתוֹ עֹמֶ֣דֶת לָעַ֑ד קַ֝רְנ֗וֹ תָּר֥וּם בְּכָבֽוֹד׃

10The wicked man shall see it and be vexed; he shall gnash his teeth; his courage shall fail. The desire of the wicked shall come to nothing.

ra-SHA yir-EH v'-ka-AHS shi-NAV ya-cha-ROK v'-na-MAS ta-a-VAT r'-sha-EEM to-A-ved

ירָ֘שָׁ֤ע יִרְאֶ֨ה ׀ וְכָעָ֗ס שִׁנָּ֣יו יַחֲרֹ֣ק וְנָמָ֑ס תַּאֲוַ֖ת רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד׃