TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 146

Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:

1Hallelujah. Praise Hashem, O my soul!

ha-l'-lu-YAH ha-l'-LEE naf-SHEE et a-do-NAI

אהַלְלוּ־יָהּ הַלְלִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהֹוָה׃

146:1   Praise Hashem, O my soul

Man lives on earth in two different spheres: As an individual with his own personal struggles, and as part of something bigger; a family, community and a nation, each with its own dynamic. Psalms 146 and 147 present the individual and the communal praise of Hashem. In this psalm, the individual is confronted by the prince who has more power and influence than he does. He must decide to either follow these hollow leaders, or to stand apart and put his faith in God alone. The psalm praises the individual who chooses to follow Hashem and recognizes that he will merit God’s reward.

2I will praise Hashem all my life, sing hymns to my God while I exist.

באֲהַלְלָה יְהֹוָה בְּחַיָּי אֲזַמְּרָה לֵאלֹהַי בְּעוֹדִי׃

3Put not your trust in the great, in mortal man who cannot save.

גאַל־תִּבְטְחוּ בִנְדִיבִים בְּבֶן־אָדָם שֶׁאֵין לוֹ תְשׁוּעָה׃

4His breath departs; he returns to the dust; on that day his plans come to nothing.

דתֵּצֵא רוּחוֹ יָשֻׁב לְאַדְמָתוֹ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא אָבְדוּ עֶשְׁתֹּנֹתָיו׃

5Happy is he who has the God of Yaakov for his help, whose hope is in Hashem his God,

האַשְׁרֵי שֶׁאֵל יַעֲקֹב בְּעֶזְרוֹ שִׂבְרוֹ עַל־יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו׃

6maker of heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;

ועֹשֶׂה שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ אֶת־הַיָּם וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּם הַשֹּׁמֵר אֱמֶת לְעוֹלָם׃

7who secures justice for those who are wronged, gives food to the hungry. Hashem sets prisoners free;

זעֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפָּט לָעֲשׁוּקִים נֹתֵן לֶחֶם לָרְעֵבִים יְהֹוָה מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים׃

8Hashem restores sight to the blind; Hashem makes those who are bent stand straight; Hashem loves the righteous;

חיְהֹוָה פֹּקֵחַ עִוְרִים יְהֹוָה זֹקֵף כְּפוּפִים יְהֹוָה אֹהֵב צַדִּיקִים׃

9Hashem watches over the stranger; He gives courage to the orphan and widow, but makes the path of the wicked tortuous.

טיְהֹוָה שֹׁמֵר אֶת־גֵּרִים יָתוֹם וְאַלְמָנָה יְעוֹדֵד וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים יְעַוֵּת׃

10Hashem shall reign forever, your God, O Tzion, for all generations. Hallelujah.

ייִמְלֹךְ יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם אֱלֹהַיִךְ צִיּוֹן לְדֹר וָדֹר הַלְלוּ־יָהּ׃