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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 148

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Hallelujah. Praise Hashem from the heavens; praise Him on high.

HAL-le-lu-YAH, HAL-le-lu et a-do-NAI min ha-sha-MA-yim, HAL-le-lu-HU ba-me-ro-MIM.

אהַ֥לְלוּ־יָ֨הּ ׀ הַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הֹוָה מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֑יִם הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ בַּמְּרוֹמִֽים׃

2Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts.

ha-le-lu-HU kol-mal-a-KHAV, ha-le-lu-HU kol-tze-va-AV

בהַֽלְל֥וּהוּ כׇל־מַלְאָכָ֑יו הַ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כׇּל־צְבָאָֽו׃

3Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all bright stars.

ha-le-lu-HU she-MESH v'-ya-RAY-aKH, ha-le-lu-HU kol-ko-KH'-vay OR

גהַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ שֶׁ֣מֶשׁ וְיָרֵ֑חַ הַֽ֝לְל֗וּהוּ כׇּל־כּ֥וֹכְבֵי אֽוֹר׃

4Praise Him, highest heavens, and you waters that are above the heavens.

ha-le-lu-HU she-MEI ha-sha-MA-yim v'-ha-MA-yim a-SHER me-al ha-sha-MA-yim

דהַֽ֭לְלוּהוּ שְׁמֵ֣י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְ֝הַמַּ֗יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ מֵעַ֬ל הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

5Let them praise the name of Hashem, for it was He who commanded that they be created.

y'-ha-l'-LU et-SHEM a-do-NAI, ki HU tzi-VAH v'-niv-RA-u

היְֽ֭הַלְלוּ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה כִּ֤י ה֖וּא צִוָּ֣ה וְנִבְרָֽאוּ׃

6He made them endure forever, establishing an order that shall never change.

vai-ya-a-mi-DEM la-AD l'-o-LAM, khoq-na-TAN v'-lo ya-a-VOR

ווַיַּעֲמִידֵ֣ם לָעַ֣ד לְעוֹלָ֑ם חׇק־נָ֝תַ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַעֲבֽוֹר׃

7Praise Hashem, O you who are on earth, all sea monsters and ocean depths,

ha-l'-LU et a-do-NAI min ha-A-retz, ta-NI-nim v'-kol te-HO-mot

זהַֽלְל֣וּ אֶת־יְ֭הֹוָה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ תַּ֝נִּינִ֗ים וְכׇל־תְּהֹמֽוֹת׃

8fire and hail, snow and smoke, storm wind that executes His command,

AYSH u-va-RAD SHE-leg v'-ki-TOR ROO-akh s'-a-RAH o-SAH d'-va-RO

חאֵ֣שׁ וּ֭בָרָד שֶׁ֣לֶג וְקִיט֑וֹר ר֥וּחַ סְ֝עָרָ֗ה עֹשָׂ֥ה דְבָרֽוֹ׃

9all mountains and hills, all fruit trees and cedars,

he-ha-RIM v'-kol-ge-va-OT ETZ p'-REE v'-kol-a-ra-ZEEM

טהֶהָרִ֥ים וְכׇל־גְּבָע֑וֹת עֵ֥ץ פְּ֝רִ֗י וְכׇל־אֲרָזִֽים׃

10all wild and tamed beasts, creeping things and winged birds,

ha-cha-YAH v'-kol b'-he-MAH re-MESH v'-tzi-POR ka-NAF

יהַחַיָּ֥ה וְכׇל־בְּהֵמָ֑ה רֶ֝֗מֶשׂ וְצִפּ֥וֹר כָּנָֽף׃

11all kings and peoples of the earth, all princes of the earth and its judges,

mal-khay E-retz v'-kol l'-u-MEEM sa-REEM v'-kol sho-f'-tay a-RETZ

יאמַלְכֵי־אֶ֭רֶץ וְכׇל־לְאֻמִּ֑ים שָׂ֝רִ֗ים וְכׇל־שֹׁ֥פְטֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

12youths and maidens alike, old and young together.

ba-KHU-rim v'-gam b'-tu-LOT z'-k'-NEEM im n'-a-a-REEM

יבבַּחוּרִ֥ים וְגַם־בְּתוּל֑וֹת זְ֝קֵנִ֗ים עִם־נְעָרִֽים׃

13Let them praise the name of Hashem, for His name, His alone, is sublime; His splendor covers heaven and earth.

y'-ha-l'-LU et SHAYM a-do-NAI kee nis-GAV sh'-MO l'-va-DO ho-DO al E-retz v'-sha-MA-yim

יגיְהַלְל֤וּ ׀ אֶת־שֵׁ֬ם יְהֹוָ֗ה כִּֽי־נִשְׂגָּ֣ב שְׁמ֣וֹ לְבַדּ֑וֹ ה֝וֹד֗וֹ עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ וְשָׁמָֽיִם׃

148:13   Let them praise the name of Hashem

Psalm 148 can be divided into two parts. The first half speaks of Hashem being praised in the celestial spheres, while the second half speaks of human praises of God. Though both seemingly exalt Him the same way, as it says, “let them praise the name of Hashem” (verses 5 and 13), the praises are actually very different. The angels exalt God “for it was He who commanded that they be created.” They are robotically programmed to sing Hashem’s praises. Humans, on the other hand, worship Him because they see the beauty of creation, understand God’s compassion and voluntarily choose to sing His praises. We are all recipients of God’s love and His bounty. It is our duty to recognize what He gives us and to sing His praises.

14He has exalted the horn of His people for the glory of all His faithful ones, Yisrael, the people close to Him. Hallelujah.

vai-YA-rem KE-ren l'-a-MO t'-hi-LAH l'-kol kha-see-DAV, liv-NAY yis-ra-AYL, am k'-ro-VO ha-l'-lu-YAH.

ידוַיָּ֤רֶם קֶ֨רֶן ׀ לְעַמּ֡וֹ תְּהִלָּ֤ה לְֽכׇל־חֲסִידָ֗יו לִבְנֵ֣י יִ֭שְׂרָאֵל עַ֥ם קְרֹב֗וֹ הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃