TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 112
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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
אהַלְלוּ יָהּ אַשְׁרֵי־אִישׁ יָרֵא אֶת־יְהֹוָה בְּמִצְוׂתָיו חָפֵץ מְאֹד׃
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.
בגִּבּוֹר בָּאָרֶץ יִהְיֶה זַרְעוֹ דּוֹר יְשָׁרִים יְבֹרָךְ׃
3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his beneficence lasts forever.
גהוֹן־וָעֹשֶׁר בְּבֵיתוֹ וְצִדְקָתוֹ עֹמֶדֶת לָעַד׃
4A light shines for the upright in the darkness; he is gracious, compassionate, and beneficent.
דזָרַח בַּחֹשֶׁךְ אוֹר לַיְשָׁרִים חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם וְצַדִּיק׃
5All goes well with the man who lends generously, who conducts his affairs with equity.
הטוֹב־אִישׁ חוֹנֵן וּמַלְוֶה יְכַלְכֵּל דְּבָרָיו בְּמִשְׁפָּט׃
6He shall never be shaken; the beneficent man will be remembered forever.
וכִּי־לְעוֹלָם לֹא־יִמּוֹט לְזֵכֶר עוֹלָם יִהְיֶה צַדִּיק׃
7He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, he trusts in Hashem.
זמִשְּׁמוּעָה רָעָה לֹא יִירָא נָכוֹן לִבּוֹ בָּטֻחַ בַּיהֹוָה׃
8His heart is resolute, he is unafraid; in the end he will see the fall of his foes.
חסָמוּךְ לִבּוֹ לֹא יִירָא עַד אֲשֶׁר־יִרְאֶה בְצָרָיו׃
9He gives freely to the poor; his beneficence lasts forever; his horn is exalted in honor.
טפִּזַּר נָתַן לָאֶבְיוֹנִים צִדְקָתוֹ עֹמֶדֶת לָעַד קַרְנוֹ תָּרוּם בְּכָבוֹד׃
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.
ירָשָׁע יִרְאֶה וְכָעָס שִׁנָּיו יַחֲרֹק וְנָמָס תַּאֲוַת רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד׃
