Psalm 145: Ashrei and Tehillah L'david

בס״ד Famous Psalms and their meaning

Psalm 145: Ashrei and Tehillah l’David

תהלים פרק פד פסוק ה אַשְׁרֵ י יוֹשְׁבֵי בֵיתֶ עוֹד יְהַלְלוּ סֶּלָה : : 5. Happy are those who dwell in Your house; they will continually praise You forever. Selah.

תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף ל עמוד ב אין עומדין להתפלל אלא מתוך כובד ראש . חסידים הראשונים היו שוהין שעה אחת ומתפללין , כדי שיכוונו לבם לאביהם שבשמים . אפילו המלך שואל בשלומו לא ישיבנו , ואפילו נחש כרוך על עקבו לא יפסיק . . Babylonian Talmud Tractate Brachos 30b Mishnah: One should only get up to pray with a reverent frame of mind. The pious men of old used to wait an hour before praying in order that they might concentrate their thoughts upon their Father in heaven. Even if a king greets him [while praying] he should not answer him: even if a snake is wound round his heel he should not break off.

תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף לב עמוד ב חסידים הראשונים היו שוהין שעה אחת . מנא הני מילי ? אמר רבי יהושע בן לוי : אמר קרא ( תהלים פ )ד" אשרי יושבי ביתך . .

Babylonian Talmud Tractate Brachos 32b THE PIOUS MEN OF OLD USED TO WAIT AN HOUR. On what is this based? Rebbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The verse states [Psalms 84:5] ‘Happy are those that dwell in Your house’.

רש" י מסכת ברכות דף לב עמוד ב יושבי ביתך êåììäé øãäå . . THOSE WHO DWELL IN YOUR HOUSE – [sit and meditate in Your house, ie. The Synagogue] and only afterwards he will praise You.

תהלים פרק קמד פסוק טו ֵ אַשְׁרי הָעָם שֶׁכָּכָה לּוֹ אַשְׁרֵ י הָעָם שֶׁיֲקֹוָק אֱהָיו : : 15. Fortunate is the people that has this; praiseworthy is the people whose God is the Lord.

רד" ק תהלים פרק קמד פסוק טו אשרי העם שככה ל ו , éôì ? äçìöää úàæ íòä äæì äúéä äî éðôîå . åìù äçìöää úàæù שה ' אלהיו , åéäìà ' äù åéøùà êëéôì . .

Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi (Narbonne, France 1160 – 1235) FORTUNATE IS THE PEOPLE THAT HAS THIS that this is their success. And what was the reason for the success of this people? According THAT HASHEM IS THEIR GOD therefore the [Jewish people’s] fortune comes from their God.

תהלים פרק קמה תְּהִלָּה לְדָוִד אֲרוֹמִמְ אֱלוֹהַי הַמֶּלֶ וַאֲבָרֲ כָה שִׁמְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד : : 1. A praise of David. I shall exalt You, my God the King, and I shall bless Your name forever and ever.

אבן עזרא תהלים פרק קמה פסוק א תהלה לדוד ארוממך úàæä äìäúä ìë ãåñé åäæå úîàá êìîä àåä éë êìîä øéëæäå áìä úðåîàáå ' åáãá:

Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra (Tudela, Islamic Spain 1089 - London c. 1164) A PRAISE OF DAVID. I SHALL EXALT YOU – through speech and faithfulness of the heart and mention of the King in truth, and this is the foundation of this Psalm.

בס״ד Famous Psalms and their meaning

בְּכָל יוֹם אֲבָרֲ כֶךָּ וַאֲהַלְלָה שִׁמְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד : : 2. Every day I shall bless You, and I shall praise Your name forever and ever.

רד" ק תהלים פרק קמה פסוק ב בכל יום אברכך , äæä íìåòá . ואהללה שמך לעולם ועד , åéúåëøá ïé ÅòÅî åì ïú íåéå íåé ìëá :( ,à î íù ì) "æø åøîàå . àáä íìåòì . :äæì êîñ àåä ÷åñôä äæ íâå . íå é íåé ' ä êåøá :( ,ë çñ øåîæî ) ÷åñôì äæ åëîñå

Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi (Narbonne, France 1160 – 1235) EVERY DAY I SHALL BLESS YOU in this world. AND I SHALL PRAISE YOUR NAME FOREVER AND EVER in the world to come. And our sages say [Babylonian Talmud Brachot 40a] every day we should give Him the blessing appropriate and they find a source for this in the verse [Psalms 68:20] Bless God every day. So too this verse (above) is a source for this.

גָּדוֹל יְקֹוָק וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד וְלִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵקֶר : : 3. The Lord is great and very much praised, and His greatness cannot be searched.

מלבי" ם על תהילים פרק קמה פסוק ג חלק באור הענין גדול ה ' הגדולה אצל ה ' מורה שהוא ראשית כל הסבות ואחרית כל המסובבים שהכל מאתו ועי כ" הוא מהולל מאד ובכ ז" לגדולתו אין חקר לא תספיק שום חקי רה להכיר גדולתו מצד עצמו , וכל שאנו מוסיפים לחקור בגדולתו , נדע שלא נדע ד"ע, שאמרו החוקרים שהתוארים והמהללים הם שוללות לא מחייבות , ורק . .

Malbim, Rabbi Meïr Leibush ben Yehiel Michel Weiser (Volochysk, Ukraine 1809 – Kiev, Ukraine 1879) THE LORD IS GREAT Greatness with regard to God teaches that He is the beginning of every cause and end of every result as everything is from Him and from this He is VERY MUCH PRAISED. Consequently, HIS GREATNESS CANNOT BE SEARCHED [meaning that] any investigation by itself to understand His greatness is never enough, and with everything that we add to examine His greatness, we must know that we will never know, according to the opinion that we have said those who [attempt to] describe [Him through] examination, and glorify Him are unnecessary plunderers and spit.

דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂי וּגְבוּרֹתֶי יַגִּידוּ : : 4. Generation to generation will praise Your works, and they will recite Your mighty deeds.

רד" ק תהלים פרק קמה פסוק ד דור לדור . úåùòì íäì ùé äî àìà , íéøö÷ íäù ïëù ìë , íäéîé ìëá âéùäì åìëåé àì , íéëå øà íãà éðá ééç åéäé íà åìéôà íéàøåðä íéùòîä , àáä øçà øåãì åúëì íøè êìåäù øåãä äæ øôñé , ,ã( à úìä÷ ) àá øåãå êìåä øåã éë , íäéîé øöå÷ éôì åàøù äî ìòå , íäì ãâåäù àìà åàø àìù , øáòù äî ìò àáä øåãä åäåçáùéù éôì , íäééçá åàøù úåøåáâäå , íäéîéá åàøù :íäéîéá

Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi (Narbonne, France 1160 – 1235) GENERATION TO GENERATION Even if there would be a person who lived for a very long time, in all their years they would not be able to understand [YOUR WORKS and YOUR MIGHTY DEEDS]. All the more so for someone who has a short life. Rather, what should a person do that their life is short, as it says [Ecclesiastes 1:4] ‘a generation goes and a generation comes’ the generation going should relate before their going, the wondrous stories and the might [of God] that they saw in their lifetime to the generation after [that is] to come in order that they should benefit the next generation on what has passed, for they can only see what is related to them and what they saw in their lifetime.

הֲדַר כְּבוֹד הוֹדֶ וְדִבְרֵ י נִפְלְאוֹתֶי אָשִׂיחָה : : 5. Of the majesty of the glory of Your splendor and the words of Your wonders I shall speak.

בס״ד Famous Psalms and their meaning

וֶעֱזוּז נוֹרְ אֹתֶי יֹאמֵרוּ < וגדולתיך > וּגְדוּלָּתְ אֲסַפְּרֶ נָּה : : 6. And the strength of Your awesome deeds they will tell, and I will sing Your greatness.

רש" י תהלים פרק קמה פסוק ו ועזוז נוראותיך יאמרו äðøôñà êúìåãâ éðà íâå: Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki (France 1040 – 1105) AND THE STRENGTH OF YOUR AWESOME DEEDS THEY WILL TELL and also I will SING YOUR GREATNESS.

זֵכֶר רַ ב טוּבְ יַבִּיעוּ וְצִדְקָתְ יְרַ נֵּנוּ : : 7. Of the remembrance of Your abundant goodness they will speak, and of Your righteousness they will sing.

חַנּוּן וְרַ חוּם יְקֹוָק אֶרֶ אַפַּיִם וּגְדָל חָסֶד : : 8. The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and of growing kindness.

רד" ק תהלים פרק קמה פסוק ח חנון ורחום . àåä éë . åððøéå åòéáé , åúàî ä÷ãöå áåè íäù úåãîä äìà חנון , íëøåö íäì ïúåðå , úåéøáä ïðåçù. ורחום , íçøîù íìåòä éòâôîå íé÷æðä ïî íúåà øîåùå , íäéìò ìîåçå. ארך אפים , ãéî íùðòé àìå íéòùøì åôà êéøàîù. וגדָל חסד , ú "ìãä :ìá÷ì íééåàø íäù äîî øúåé íãà éðá ìò åãñç ìéãâîù , ãñç ìãâ àåäù øîà . óèç õ "î÷á úàø÷ð

Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi (Narbonne, France 1160 – 1235) THE LORD IS GRACIOUS AND COMPASSIONATE These are His good and just characteristics that they will speak and sing [from the previous verse]. For He is GRACIOUS for He shows grace to His creations and provides for their needs. And He is COMMPASIONATE for He has mercy and spares them and guards them from harm and from the defects of the world. SLOW TO ANGER that He delays His anger towards the wicked and does not punish them immediately. AND OF GREAT KINDNESS The dalet is read with a chataf patach [meaning that it is in the present participle – growing, as opposed to great] to teach that His kindness grows more than mankind is fitting to receive.

טוֹב יְקֹוָק לַכֹּל וְרַ חֲמָיו עַל כָּל מַעֲשָׂיו : : 9. The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are on all His works.

רד" ק תהלים פרק קמה פסוק ט טוב ה ל' כל . íãàì åì ïéàå äìà åéëøãá úëìì íãàì éåàø ïëå . íçøîå áåè àåä úåôåòäå úåîäáäå úåéçä éðéîì åìéôà óåñàì àìù åúçôù øéäæä ùåã÷ä åðéáø éë ( ,à äô î )á" åðàöî ïëå . íäé÷æðî øîùäì åà , êøåöì íà éë , íééçä úéçùäì äì øîà . úéáä éø÷éòá íéøã úåéäì íçéðú àìà úéáä ïîåã íò úåðè÷ä úåãìåçä: ורחמיו על כל מעשיו áéúë:

Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi (Narbonne, France 1160 – 1235) THE LORD IS GOOD TO ALL He bestows goodness and mercy even to beasts, animals and birds. And so it is fitting for mankind to follow in His ways. Mankind does not [have the right] to destroy animals unless it is for a purpose or to guard from danger. And so we find in the Gemara (Babylonian Talmud tractate Bava Metzia 85a) that Rabbeinu HaKodosh warned his maidservant not to sweep up small chuldas with a palm. Rather [he instructed her] to place them so that they could dwell in the corners of the house. He said to her it is written AND HIS MERCIES ARE ON ALL HIS WORKS.

בס״ד Famous Psalms and their meaning יוֹדוּ יְקֹוָק כָּל מַעֲשֶׂי וַחֲסִידֶי יְבָרֲ כוּכָה : : 10. All Your works will thank You, O Lord, and Your pious ones will bless You.

מצודת דוד תהלים פרק קמה פסוק י כל מעשיך "çáùå äàãåä åì àá ' ä äùòî ìëî ì ø:

Metzudas Dovid, Rabbi Dovid and his son Hillel (Prague in Galicia between 17 th and 18 th centuries) ALL YOUR WORKS meaning praise and commendation will come from all your works.

רד" ק תהלים פרק קמה פסוק י יודוך . íúåðåæî úðëäå , íäá êúøéöé ïå÷éúî , úòã íäá ïéàù íééçä éðéî óà יודוך , åìéàë íä éøäå , íäá ïéáîä íãàä êåãåé. וחסידיך יברכוכה , íäå êéùòîá ãéîú íéððåáúî íäù íéãéñçä ? íéãåîä íä éîå : øîà . äçðä à "ää úáéúëá יברכוכה çîåöáå éçá , íäá øùà ïå÷éúäå , íéøåöéá ãéîú íéùãçúîä íéùåãéçä íúåàø úò ìëá éë . ãéîú, יברכוכה . ì "æø åð÷éú ïëå øîàå . êë êøáî êëå êë äàåøä :( ,à ãð úåëøá ) åøîàù åîë , åðééðò éôë øáã ìëì äëøá וחסידיך , ïåøúé àåä ãñç ïåùì ìë éë éàä :( ,à ì ÷ ì)á" "æø åøîàå . íéãéñçä íä , íððåáúä úò ìëá ãéîú åäåëøáéå , êøáúé ìàä éùòîá ãéîú íéððåáúîäå , øáãä :úåëøáã éìéî íéé÷ì àãéñç éåäîì éòáã ïàî Radak, Rabbi David Kimchi (Narbonne, France 1160 – 1235) WILL THANK YOU Even creatures that do not have intelligence, from the rectification of your creation in them and the preparation of their sustenance WE WILL THANK YOU [meaning] man who understands them [the creatures will thank You] and it is as if [the creatures themselves] will thank You. AND YOUR PIOUS ONES WILL BLESS YOU It is written with the resting hey to teach: Who are those who will thank you? The pious ones who constantly reflect on your works and they WILL BLESS YOU always for their ongoing display of newness and renewal in their creation, and the improvement in them in their life and growth WE WILL BLESS YOU and so our sages fixed blessings for all things according to their matter as it says (Babylonian Talmud tractate Brachos 54a) someone who sees such and such a thing should bless as such. And it says AND YOUR PIOUS ONES for any mention of the language of pious elevates the matter, and those who constantly reflect on the acts of God, may He be blessed and always bless at the times of their contemplation are pious. And our sages say (Babylonian Talmud tractate Bava Kamma 30a) He who wishes to be pious must [in the first instance particularly] fulfil the laws of blessings.

כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתְ יֹאמֵרוּ וּגְבוּרָ תְ יְדַבֵּרוּ : : 11. They will tell the glory of Your kingdom, and they will speak of Your might.

לְהוֹדִיעַ לִבְנֵי הָאָדָם גְּבוּרֹתָיו וּכְבוֹד הֲדַר מַלְכוּתוֹ : : 12. To make known to the children of men His mighty deeds and the glory of the majesty of His kingdom.

מַלְכוּתְ מַלְכוּת כָּל עֹלָמִים וּמֶמְשַׁלְתְּ בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר : : 13. Your kingdom is a kingdom for eternity, and Your ruling is in every generation.

אבן עזרא תהלים פרק קמה פסוק יג מלכותך çöðì úãîåò íùä úåëìîå ÷ñôú úåëì î ìë:

Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra (Tudela, Islamic Spain 1089 - London c. 1164) YOUR KINGDOM all kingdoms stops [at some point, but] the Kingdom of God continues forever.

מצודת דוד תהלים פרק קמה פסוק יג כל עולמים úåøåãä éîé ìëá úãîåò êúìùîî øåãå øåã ìëá úåîìåòä ìë ìò:

Metzudas Dovid, Rabbi Dovid and his son Hillel (Prague in Galicia between 17 th and 18 th centuries) FOR ETERNITY for all eternity for all generations your dominion stands for all the days of the generations.

ס וֹמֵ יְקֹוָק לְכָל הַנֹּפְלִים וְזוֹקֵף לְכָל הַכְּפוּפִים : : 14. The Lord supports all those who fall and straightens all who are bent down. 4

בס״ד Famous Psalms and their meaning

עֵינֵי כֹל אֵלֶי יְשַׂבֵּרוּ וְאַתָּה נוֹתֵן לָהֶם אֶת אָכְלָם בְּעִתּוֹ : : 15. Everyone's eyes look to You with hope, and You give them their food in its time.

פּוֹתֵחַ אֶת יָדֶ וּמַשְׂבִּיעַ לְכָל חַי רָ צוֹן : : 16. You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing [with] its desire.

רש" י תהלים פרק קמה פסוק טז ומשביע לכל חי רצון åúëøá úàå åðåöø úàå åáåè úà òéáùî à åä åúñðøô éãë : רצון æòìá è "ðîééôà : :

Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki (France 1040 – 1105) AND SATISFY EVERY LIVING THING [WITH] ITS DESIRE With a sufficiency to sustain him, He satisfies his goodness, his will, and his blessing. DESIRE: Apayement in Old French, propitiation.

צַדִּיק יְקֹוָק בְּכָל דְּרָ כָיו וְחָסִיד בְּכָל מַעֲשָׂיו : : 17. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.

אבן עזרא תהלים פרק קמה פסוק יז צדיק òãéå íàøá àåä éë íäì áåèä òãåé àåä éë äáåùúä ä ðäå íéøåòù ãçàå äèç ãçà ìéëàé äîì ïòåè ïòè íà åéìò áåéç åððéà éë àåä ãñç êøãá ïúéù äî ìë íùä éë ãåòå åì áåè àåäù äî íãà ìë ìëàéù äåöîä àôåøä åîë íúãìåú ïë ìò וחסיד : : Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra (Tudela, Islamic Spain 1089 - London c. 1164) RIGHTEOUS If someone makes the claim, why does this one eat wheat and this one eats barley? Behold the answer is that He knows that which is good for them for He created them and knew their offspring like a doctor who instructs that everyone should eat that which is good for him. And furthermore, everything that God gives is through lovingkindness for He has no obligation to us therefore [He is] KIND [IN ALL HIS DEEDS].

קָר וֹב יְקֹוָק לְכָל קֹרְ אָיו לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר יִ קְרָ אֻהוּ בֶאֱמֶת : : 18. The Lord is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him with sincerity.

אבן עזרא תהלים פרק קמה פסוק יח קרוב אם המלך יהיה רחוק לא יכול להושיע קוראיו והשם לעולם קרוב הוא רק לאשר יקראוהו באמת ולא לנסו ת ואשר איננו ראוי להושיעו : : Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra (Tudela, Islamic Spain 1089 - London c. 1164) NEAR If the king is far he will not be able to save those who call him, and God is always close only to those who demonstrate that they call him in truth and not to those who try [but fail] and prove that they are not fitting to receive His salvation. מ צודת דוד תהלים פרק קמה פסוק יח באמת רוצה לומר בלב שיהיה פיו ולבו שווים ולא יכחיש הלב מאמר פיו : :

Metzudas Dovid, Rabbi Dovid and his son Hillel (Prague in Galicia between 17 th and 18 th centuries) IN TRUTH meaning to say with a heart that will be his mouth and his heart [and mouth] will be the same and he will not contradict what is in his heart with what he says with his mouth.

רְ צוֹן יְרֵ אָיו יַעֲשֶׂה וְאֶת שַׁוְעָתָם יִשְׁמַע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵם : : 19. He does the will of those who fear Him, and He hears their cry and saves them.

אבן עזרא תהלים פרק קמה פסוק יט רצון הירא מהמלך יספיק שלא יעשה לו רע והשם יעשה רצון יראיו : :

Ibn Ezra, Rabbi Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra (Tudela, Islamic Spain 1089 - London c. 1164) WILL – The fear of Kingship will be enough that He will not act badly towards him and God will do the will of those who fear Him. 5

בס״ד Famous Psalms and their meaning

שׁוֹמֵר יְק ֹוָק אֶת כָּל אֹהֲבָיו וְאֵת כָּל הָרְ שָׁעִים יַשְׁמִיד : : 20. The Lord guards all who love Him, and He destroys all the wicked.

תְּהִלַּת יְקֹוָק יְדַבֶּר פִּי וִיבָרֵ כָּל בָּשָׂר שֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד : : 21. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

רד" ק תהלים פרק קמה פסוק כא תהלת ה ' . ואז תהל ת ה ' ידבר פי , כי אחיה עם המתים שיחיו , ואז יברך כל בשר שם קדשו , רוצה לומר כל בני אדם לבדם , כי כל בני אדם יעבדוהו שכם אחד . וכן אמר ( ישעיה סו , כג ): יבוא כל בשר להשתחוות לפני . וכל בשר רוצה לומר בני אדם לבדם , ולא שאר החיים התחתונים . וכן ( בראשית ג כ, ): כי היא הי תה אֵם כל חי , רוצה לומר , כל חי מְדַבֵּר : :

תהלים פרק קטו פסוק יח וַאֲנַחְנוּ נְבָרֵ יָהּ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם הַלְלוּיָהּ : : 18. But we shall bless God from now until everlasting, Hallelujah!

The source of reciting Ashrei in our daily liturgy

תל מוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף ד עמוד ב אמר רבי אלעזר אמר רבי אבינא : כל האומר ( תהלים קמ ה" ) תהלה לדוד בכל יום שלש פעמים מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא . מאי טעמא ? אילימא משום דאתיא באל" ף בי" ת נימא ( תהלים קי ט" ) אשרי תמימי דרך דאתיא בתמניא אפין ! אלא משום דאית ביה ( תה לים קמ ה" ) פותח את ידך נימא הלל הגדול דכתיב ביה : ( תהלים קל ו" ) נתן לחם לכל בשר ! אלא : משום דאית ביה תרתי . .

Babylonian Talmud Tractate Brachos 4b R. Eleazar in the name of Rebbi Avina says: Whoever recites [the psalm] Praise of David [Psalm 145] three times a day, is sure to inherit the world to come. What is the reason? Shall I say it is because it has an alphabetical arrangement? Then let him recite, Happy are they that are upright in the way, [Psalm 119] which has an eightfold alphabetical arrangement. Again, is it because it contains [Psalms 145:16], ‘You open Your hand [and satisfy every living thing with favour]? Then let him recite the great Hallel, where it is written [Psalms 136:25] ‘Who gives food to all flesh!’ Rather, [the reason is] because it contains both [the alphabetical arrangement and the sixteenth verse, dealing with God's merciful provision for all living things].

תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף ד עמוד ב אמר רבי יוחנן : מפני מה לא נאמר נו" ן באשרי ? מפני שיש בה מפלתן של שונאי ישראל , דכתיב : ( עמוס ה') נפלה לא תוסיף קום בתולת ישראל . במערבא מתרצי לה הכי : נפלה ולא תוסיף לנפול עוד , קום בתולת ישראל . אמר רב נחמן בר יצחק : אפילו הכי חזר דוד וסמכן ברוח הקדש , שנאמר ( תהלים קמ ה" ) סומך ה ' לכל הנפלים . .

Babylonian Talmud Tractate Brachos 4b Rebbi Yochanan says: Why is there no nun in Ashrei? Because the fall of Israel's enemies begins with it. For it is written [Amos 5:2]: Fallen is the virgin of Israel, she shall no more rise. In the West [meaning in Israel] this verse is interpreted as: She is fallen, but she shall no more fall. Rise, O virgin of Israel. Rebbi Nachman ben Yitzchak says: Even so, David refers to [Israel’s downfall] by Ruach HaKodesh and promises them an uplifting. For it is written [Psalms 145:14]: The Lord upholds all that fall.