Machzor Rosh Hashanah Ashkenaz Linear, The Morning Prayers, Hodu

The Metsudah Machzor. Metsudah Publications, New York -- en

The Morning Prayers, Hodu

The first 28 verses of this section are taken from 1 Chronicles 16:8-36, and the first 15 are almost identical with the first fifteen verses of Psalms 105. These prayers are mentioned in Maseches Soferim.

הוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה קִרְאוּ בִּשְׁמוֹ Give thanks to Adonoy, proclaim His Name;

הוֹדִֽיעוּ בָעַמִּים עֲלִילֹתָיו: make His deeds¹⁰Make His Divine attributes (mercy, kindness, etc.) known to the world.—Siach Yitzchak known among the nations.

שִֽׁירוּ לוֹ זַמְּרוּ־לוֹ Sing to Him, compose songs to Him,

שִֽׂיחוּ בְּכָל־נִפְלְאוֹתָיו: speak of all His wonders.

הִתְהַלְּלוּ בְּשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ Take pride¹¹The Jew should be proud at being found worthy to utter Hashem’s Name.—Siddur HaGra in [uttering] His Holy Name,

יִשְׂמַח לֵב let the heart rejoice

מְבַקְשֵׁי יְהֹוָה: of those who seek¹²Seeking Hashem is an end in itself and provides joy to those who earnestly seek Him.—Siach Yitzchak Adonoy.

דִּרְשׁוּ יְהֹוָה וְעֻזּוֹ Search for Adonoy and His might,

בַּקְּשׁוּ פָנָיו תָּמִיד: seek His presence continually.

זִכְרוּ נִפְלְאֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה Remember the wonders He has performed,

מֹפְתָיו וּמִשְׁפְּטֵי־פִֽיהוּ: His miracles,¹³His “miracles” were witnessed by Jew and Egyptian alike in Egypt. His “laws” are the Torah He gave us at Mt. Sinai.—Iyun Tefillah and the laws from His mouth.

זֶֽרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדּוֹ [You,] the seed of Yisrael¹⁴The entire section—the previous verses as well as the following verses—are addressed to the Jewish People, who are the seed of Yisrael, the chosen of Hashem, who are asked to remember His wonders, miracles and laws.—Tzelosa d’Avraham His servant,

בְּנֵי יַעֲקֹב בְּחִירָיו: children of Yaakov, His chosen ones.

הוּא יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ He is Adonoy our God;

בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ מִשְׁפָּטָיו: the entire earth is governed by His laws.

זִכְרוּ לְעוֹלָם בְּרִיתוֹ Remember His covenant forever—

דָּבָר צִוָּה the word He commanded

לְאֶֽלֶף דּוֹר: to a thousand generations—

אֲשֶׁר כָּרַת אֶת־אַבְרָהָם which He made as a treaty with Avraham,

וּשְׁבוּעָתוֹ לְיִצְחָק: and [which was] His oath to Yitzchak.

וַיַּעֲמִידֶֽהָ לְיַעֲקֹב לְחֹק He established it for Yaakov as a statute,

לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרִית עוֹלָם: for Yisrael as an everlasting covenant.¹⁵This verse in following the preceding verse indicates that the original covenant which Hashem made with Avraham was later confirmed to Yitzchak in an oath and then established for Yaakov as a statute. After Yaakov was given the name Yisrael, it became an everlasting covenant.—Tzelosa d’Avraham

לֵאמֹר Saying,

לְךָ אֶתֵּן אֶֽרֶץ־כְּנָעַן “To you I will give the Land of Canaan,

חֶֽבֶל נַחֲלַתְכֶם: the portion of your inheritance.”

בִּהְיוֹתְכֶם מְתֵי מִסְפָּר When you were only few in number—

כִּמְעַט וְגָרִים בָּהּ: very few, and strangers in it.

וַיִּתְהַלְּכוּ מִגּוֹי אֶל־גּוֹי They wandered from nation to nation,

וּמִמַּמְלָכָה אֶל־עַם אַחֵר: and from one kingdom to another people.

לֹא־הִנִּֽיחַ לְאִישׁ לְעָשְׁקָם He permitted no one to oppress them,

וַיּֽוֹכַח עֲלֵיהֶם מְלָכִים: and admonished kings¹⁶Both Pharaoh and Avimelech were admonished for Avraham’s sake (Bereishis 13:17; 20:3,7). for their sake.

אַל־תִּגְּעוּ בִּמְשִׁיחָי “Do not touch My anointed ones,¹⁷The Hebrew word מְשִׁיחָי can also be translated as “My great ones” and as such refers to the Patriarchs. “My prophets” refers to the Matriarchs, who were known to be prophets. Both were afforded extraordinary Divine protection.—Etz Yosef

וּבִנְבִיאַי אַל־תָּרֵֽעוּ: and do not harm My prophets.”

שִֽׁירוּ לַיהֹוָה כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ Sing to Adonoy all the earth,¹⁸Siach Yitzchak maintains that this verse directs Jewry to sing to Hashem in all the lands in which they are dispersed during their exile. Tzelosa d’Avraham understands the verse to direct all the nations of the earth to sing to Hashem.

בַּשְּׂרוּ מִיּוֹם־אֶל־יוֹם יְשׁוּעָתוֹ: proclaim His deliverance from day to day.¹⁹a) We are to proclaim our deliverance by Hashem every day; b) We are to proclaim that our deliverance by Hashem is a daily experience.—Tzelosa d’Avraham

סַפְּרוּ בַגּוֹיִם אֶת־כְּבוֹדוֹ Recount His glory among the nations,

בְּכָל־הָעַמִּים נִפְלְאֹתָיו: His wonders among all the peoples.

חזן: כִּי גָדוֹל יְהֹוָה וּמְהֻלָּל מְאֹד For Adonoy is great and most extolled;

וְנוֹרָא הוּא עַל־כָּל־אֱלֹהִים: Awesome is He above all gods.

כִּי כָּל־אֱלֹהֵי הָעַמִּים אֱלִילִים For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

וַיהֹוָה שָׁמַֽיִם עָשָׂה: whereas Adonoy made the heavens.

הוֹד וְהָדָר לְפָנָיו Beauty and splendor are before Him,²⁰The word הוד (beauty) indicates that which is itself beautiful, while הָדָר (splendor) is the reflection of beauty. For example: the sun’s light is “beauty” itself while the moon’s light is splendor—a reflection of the sun. (This definition applies only to the Hebrew terms.)—Siddur HaGra

עֹז וְחֶדְוָה בִּמְקֹמוֹ: strength and joy are in His presence.

הָבוּ לַיהֹוָה מִשְׁפְּחוֹת עַמִּים Give to Adonoy families of peoples—

הָבוּ לַיהֹוָה כָּבוֹד וָעֹז: give to Adonoy glory and might.

הָבוּ לַיהֹוָה כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ Give to Adonoy the glory due His Name,

שְׂאוּ מִנְחָה וּבֹֽאוּ לְפָנָיו bring an offering and come before Him,

הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַיהֹוָה prostrate yourselves before Adonoy

בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ: in the splendor of holiness.²¹Etz Yosef understands this as the “holy splendor” of Hashem’s Sanctuary. Tzelosa d’Avraham sees it as the splendor and joy of worship before Hashem, as contrasted with secular, frivolous manifestations of beauty and splendor.

חִֽילוּ מִלְּפָנָיו כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ Tremble before Him all [peoples of] the earth,

אַף־תִּכּוֹן תֵּבֵל for He established the inhabited world

בַּל־תִּמּוֹט: so that it cannot be moved.

יִשְׂמְחוּ הַשָּׁמַֽיִם The heavens will rejoice,

וְתָגֵל הָאָֽרֶץ the earth will exult,²²Simcha (rejoicing) describes one’s feelings at a new experience of happiness, whereas gila (exultation) describes the feeling one experiences over an ongoing situation of joy. Since there is nothing new on the earth וְאֵין כָּל־חָדָשׁ תַּחַת הַשָּׁמֶשׁ (Koheles 1:9), it is said the earth will exult (gila); but the heavens will rejoice (simcha) because there is חִידוּשׁ in the heavens.—Gaon of Vilna

וְיֹאמְרוּ בַגּוֹיִם and they will proclaim among the nations:

יְהֹוָה מָלָךְ: “Adonoy has begun His reign.”

יִרְעַם הַיָּם וּמְלוֹאוֹ The sea and its fullness will roar;

יַעֲלֹץ הַשָּׂדֶה וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ: the field and all that is in it will jubilate.

אָז יְרַנְּנוּ עֲצֵי הַיָּעַר Then the trees of the forest will sing with joy,

מִלִּפְנֵי יְהֹוָה [receding] before Adonoy

כִּי־בָא לִשְׁפּוֹט אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ: when He comes to judge the earth.

הוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה כִּי טוֹב Give thanks to Adonoy, for He is good,

כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: for His kindness is everlasting.

וְאִמְרוּ הוֹשִׁיעֵֽנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ And say, “Deliver us, God of our deliverance;

וְקַבְּצֵֽנוּ וְהַצִּילֵֽנוּ מִן־הַגּוֹיִם gather us and save us from the nations,

לְהוֹדוֹת לְשֵׁם קָדְשֶֽׁךָ to give thanks to Your Holy Name,

לְהִשְׁתַּבֵּֽחַ בִּתְהִלָּתֶֽךָ: to be extolled in Your praise.”²³The fact that we are privileged to sing Your praises and cling to You will make us praiseworthy.—Etz Yosef

בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל Blessed is Adonoy, the God of Yisrael

מִן־הָעוֹלָם וְעַד הָעֹלָם for all eternity,

וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָל־הָעָם אָמֵן and all the people said: “Amein”

וְהַלֵּל לַיהֹוָה: and [they] praised Adonoy.”

רוֹמְמוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Exalt Adonoy, our God,

וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ and prostrate yourselves

לַהֲדֹם רַגְלָיו at His footstool.²⁴The Holy Temple.

קָדוֹשׁ הוּא: Holy is He!²⁵Or Holy is it—i.e., the Temple.

חזן: רוֹמְמוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ Exalt Adonoy, our God,

וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ and prostrate yourselves

לְהַר קָדְשׁוֹ at His holy mountain,²⁶Mount Moriah upon which the Holy Temple was built is holy itself even when the Temple is destroyed. The previous verse refers to the time of the Temple, the second verse refers to the period of its destruction.—Etz Yosef

כִּי קָדוֹשׁ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ: for Adonoy our God is holy.

וְהוּא רַחוּם And He, the Merciful One,

יְכַפֵּר עָו‍ֹן וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִית atones iniquity and does not destroy;

וְהִרְבָּה לְהָשִׁיב אַפּוֹ He frequently withdraws His anger

וְלֹא־יָעִיר כָּל־חֲמָתוֹ: and does not arouse all His rage.

אַתָּה יְהֹוָה You, Adonoy,

לֹא־תִכְלָא רַחֲמֶֽיךָ מִמֶּֽנִּי withhold not Your mercy from me;

חַסְדְּךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ may Your kindness and Your truth²⁷חֶסֶד (kindness) is the good Hashem bestows without a promise, whereas אֱמֶת (truth) is the fulfillment of His promise.—Siach Yitzchak

תָּמִיד יִצְּרֽוּנִי: always protect me.

זְכֹר רַחֲמֶֽיךָ יְהֹוָה Remember Your mercies Adonoy

וַחֲסָדֶֽיךָ and kindnesses,

כִּי for

מֵעוֹלָם הֵֽמָּה: they are from the beginning of the world.²⁸Hashem’s mercies to mankind started from the very day that Adam was created. Hashem created the world in order to fill it with kindness as it is said: “A world of kindness was built” (Tehillim 89:3).—Rashi

תְּנוּ עֹז לֵאלֹהִים Give might to God,²⁹Attribute your victories to Hashem’s might rather than to your own.—Siach Yitzchak. Rashbam and others hold that since Hashem’s actions are a reflection of Yisrael’s deeds, the latter are, in a sense, the source of His might. Thus when Yisrael follows the wishes of Hashem, they give might to Him.

עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל גַּאֲוָתוֹ His pride (majesty) hovers over Yisrael,

וְעֻזּוֹ בַּשְּׁחָקִים: and His might is in the clouds.

נוֹרָא אֱלֹהִים You are awesome, God,

מִמִּקְדָּשֶֽׁיךָ from Your Sanctuaries,³⁰There is a spiritual Temple in the heavens which corresponds to the Temple on earth.—Radak. The Talmud (Maseches Zevachim 115b) notes that the word מִמִּקְדָּשֶׁיךָ may also be read מִמְקוּדָשֶׁיךָ, from Your holy people, indicating that Hashem is especially demanding of the most adherent to the Torah. When this occurs, the world is filled with awe and fear of Hashem.

אֵל יִשְׂרָאֵל Almighty of Yisrael—

הוּא נֹתֵן עֹז וְתַעֲצֻמוֹת לָעָם He grants might and power to the people;

בָּרוּךְ אֱלֹהִים: blessed is God.

אֵל־נְקָמוֹת יְהֹוָה Almighty of vengeance, Adonoy,

אֵל נְקָמוֹת הוֹפִֽיעַ: Almighty of vengeance, reveal Yourself.³¹These two verses (94:1-2) are an appeal to Hashem during a time fraught with the sufferings of exile, when it seems as if Hashem has forsaken His people. He is urged to reveal Himself as the Mighty champion of justice—S.R. Hirsch

הִנָּשֵׂא שֹׁפֵט הָאָֽרֶץ Arise, Judge of the earth!

הָשֵׁב גְּמוּל עַל־גֵּאִים: Repay the arrogant their just reward.

לַיהֹוָה הַיְשׁוּעָה Deliverance is Adonoy’s.³²Only Hashem knows what is true deliverance for a person. Prayer is not always answered, because Hashem in His infinite wisdom knows that granting the request is not always for our benefit. We must therefore bless and offer thanks to Hashem regardless of whether our petition has been granted.—Siach Yitzchak

עַל־עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה: Upon Your people is Your blessing. Selah.

יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ Adonoy of Hosts is with us,

מִשְׂגָּב לָֽנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה: a stronghold for us is the God of Yaakov. Selah.

חזן: יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת Adonoy of Hosts!

אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּךְ: Fortunate is the man who trusts in You.

יְהֹוָה הוֹשִֽׁיעָה Adonoy, deliver [us].

הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם־קָרְאֵֽנוּ: The King will answer us on the day we call.

הוֹשִֽׁיעָה אֶת־עַמֶּֽךָ Deliver Your people

וּבָרֵךְ אֶת־נַחֲלָתֶֽךָ and bless Your inheritance,

וּרְעֵם וְנַשְּׂאֵם עַד־הָעוֹלָם: tend them and uplift them forever.³³Radak understands Dovid to be asking Hashem to raise the People of Yisrael above their enemies. Ibn Ezra says that Hashem is being asked to act like a shepherd who brings his flock to high ground to save them from beasts of prey.

נַפְשֵֽׁנוּ חִכְּתָה לַיהֹוָה Our soul yearned for Adonoy,

עֶזְרֵֽנוּ וּמָגִנֵּֽנוּ הוּא: our help and our shield is He.

כִּי־בוֹ יִשְׂמַח לִבֵּֽנוּ For in Him our hearts will rejoice,

כִּי בְשֵׁם קָדְשׁוֹ בָטָֽחְנוּ: for in His Holy Name we trusted.

יְהִי־חַסְדְּךָ יְהֹוָה עָלֵֽינוּ May Your kindness, Adonoy, be upon us,

כַּאֲשֶׁר יִחַֽלְנוּ לָךְ: as we have waited for You.

הַרְאֵֽנוּ יְהֹוָה חַסְדֶּֽךָ Show us Your kindness, Adonoy,

וְיֶשְׁעֲךָ תִּֽתֶּן־לָֽנוּ: and grant³⁴We hope to earn redemption through our deeds, but if we are found wanting, then “show us Your kindness”—overlook our deficiencies and “grant” us salvation.—Radak us Your deliverance.

קֽוּמָה עֶזְרָֽתָה לָּנוּ Arise—come to our aid,

וּפְדֵֽנוּ לְמַֽעַן חַסְדֶּֽךָ: and redeem us for the sake of Your kindness.

אָנֹכִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ I am Adonoy, Your God,

הַמַּעַלְךָ Who brought you up

מֵאֶֽרֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם from the land of Mitzrayim;

הַרְחֶב־פִּֽיךָ וַאֲמַלְאֵֽהוּ: open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.³⁵Request all that you desire and I will fulfill every request.—Ibn Ezra. The Yerushalayim Talmud (Maseches Taanis 3:6) indicates that the more one requests Hashem’s providence—the “wider he opens his mouth”—the more he shows his belief in Hashem’s ability to provide all of man’s needs.

חזן: אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם שֶׁכָּֽכָה לּוֹ Fortunate is the people whose lot is thus,

אַשְׁרֵי הָעָם fortunate is the people

שֶׁיְהֹוָה אֱלֹהָיו: for whom Adonoy is their God.

וַאֲנִי בְּחַסְדְּךָ בָטַֽחְתִּי In Your loving kindness I trust,

יָגֵל לִבִּי בִּישׁוּעָתֶֽךָ My heart will exult in Your deliverance;

אָשִֽׁירָה לַיהֹוָה I will sing to Adonoy,

כִּי גָמַל עָלָי: for He dealt kindly with me.³⁶The foremost level of man’s trust in Hashem is manifested in three situations: a)when he is confronted with trouble, b)when he seeks help, and c)after he has been helped. The Psalmist says: In my time of trouble, I trust in Your kindliness; I seek only Your help, for my heart exults in Your salvation; and I will sing to You afterwards for You have dealt kindly with me.—Siddur HaGra

In this psalm, (19) Dovid sings the praises of the Torah. The Kuzari notes that even though the skies “proclaim God’s glory” and the Psalmist describes the sun so glowingly, Dovid nevertheless concludes that in comparison to the Torah they are insignificant.

לַמְנַצֵּֽחַ To the Chief Musician,

מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד: a Psalm of Dovid.

הַשָּׁמַֽיִם מְסַפְּרִים כְּבוֹד־אֵל The skies recount the glory of the Almighty,

וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו and His handiwork

מַגִּיד הָרָקִֽיעַ: is related by the firmament.³⁷שָׁמַיִם, skies, refers to the heavenly regions beyond earth’s atmosphere, where the stars and planets orbit. רָקִיעַ, firmament, refers to the earth’s atmosphere where clouds form, and precipitation takes place. The verb לְסַפֵּר means to recount something which occurred in the past. Thus the stars and planets in the שָׁמַיִם recount the fact that long ago Hashem created a glorious universe. The רָקִיעַ, on the other hand, relates that Hashem’s handiwork is evidenced in the constant formation of clouds and in the precipitation of rain. The firmament enables man to recognize the constant renewal of Hashem’s providence.—Malbim

יוֹם לְיוֹם יַבִּֽיעַ אֹֽמֶר Day to day makes speech flow,³⁸Daily renewal of the activities of creation, beginning with sunrise, stir mankind to proclaim Hashem’s praises.—Rashi

וְלַֽיְלָה לְלַֽיְלָה יְחַוֶּה־דָּֽעַת: and night to night expresses wisdom.³⁹Night after night the sun sets beneath the horizon only to rise and set again the following day. This unchanging pattern is evidence of the Divine wisdom implanted in Hashem’s creation.—Rashi

אֵין־אֹֽמֶר וְאֵין דְּבָרִים There is no speech, and there are no words;

בְּלִי נִשְׁמָע קוֹלָם: their voice is never heard.⁴⁰Though the heavens have no means of verbal communication, the soul of man, with its sensitivity and perception, can understand their message clearly.—Ibn Ezra

בְּכָל־הָאָֽרֶץ יָצָא קַוָּם Throughout the earth, their line extends,

וּבִקְצֵה תֵבֵל and to the edge of the inhabited world

מִלֵּיהֶם their words,

לַשֶּֽׁמֶשׁ שָׂם־אֹֽהֶל בָּהֶם: He has set a tent in their midst for the sun.⁴¹Hashem provided the sun a permanent residence in the heavens. Dovid describes this point to which the sun returns daily as its ‘tent’—its residence in the sky.—Metsudas Yehoshua

וְהוּא כְּחָתָן And it [the sun] is like a groom

יֹצֵא מֵחֻפָּתוֹ departing his bridal chamber,⁴²When the groom steps out of the bridal chamber, everyone rushes to greet him with great joy. Analogously, when the sun rises each day, all of creation rejoices.—Radak

יָשִׂישׂ כְּגִבּוֹר לָרוּץ אֹֽרַח: happy as a warrior to run on course.⁴³A warrior is happy for the opportunity to go into battle because he has confidence in his skill and strength. Similarly, the sun rejoices knowing it will serve its Creator’s goals by running its course.—Metsudas Dovid.

מִקְצֵה הַשָּׁמַֽיִם מוֹצָאוֹ From one end of the skies is its rising

וּתְקוּפָתוֹ עַל־קְצוֹתָם and its circuit is to their [other] end;

וְאֵין נִסְתָּר מֵחַמָּֽתוֹ: there is no escaping its heat.

תּוֹרַת יְהֹוָה תְּמִימָה The Torah of Adonoy, is perfect,

מְשִֽׁיבַת נָֽפֶשׁ restoring the soul;

עֵדוּת יְהֹוָה נֶאֱמָנָה the testimony of Adonoy, is trustworthy,

מַחְכִּֽימַת פֶּֽתִי: making wise the simple [man].

פִּקּוּדֵי יְהֹוָה יְשָׁרִים The precepts of Adonoy, are upright,

מְשַׂמְּחֵי־לֵב rejoicing the heart;

מִצְוַת יְהֹוָה בָּרָה the commandment of Adonoy, is lucid,

מְאִירַת עֵינָֽיִם: enlightening the eyes.⁴⁴Every command of Hashem is flawless, lighting the way for those who walk in His way. Those who ignore His commands stumble in darkness.—Radak

יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה טְהוֹרָה The fear of Adonoy, is pure,

עוֹמֶֽדֶת לָעַד it endures forever;

מִשְׁפְּטֵי־יְהֹוָה אֱמֶת the judgments of Adonoy, are true,

צָדְקוּ יַחְדָּו: they are righteous in unison.⁴⁵They are all in total harmony. There is no contradiction between them.—Ibn Ezra

הַנֶּחֱמָדִים מִזָּהָב More desirable than gold,

וּמִפָּז רָב even more than quantities of fine gold;⁴⁶פָּז is the purest form of refined gold.

וּמְתוּקִים מִדְּבַשׁ and sweeter than honey,

וְנֹֽפֶת צוּפִים: or the drippings of honeycombs.

גַּם־עַבְדְּךָ נִזְהָר בָּהֶם Even Your servant is careful of them,

בְּשָׁמְרָם עֵֽקֶב רָב: since they guard⁴⁷Because the Divine reward is contingent on fulfilling Hashem’s commands, they are ‘guardians’ of that reward.—Metsudas Yehoshua great reward.

שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין Errors—who can comprehend?

מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּֽנִי: From hidden [faults], cleanse me.

גַּם מִזֵּדִים Also from willful [sins]

חֲשׂךְ עַבְדֶּֽךָ spare Your servant,

אַל־יִמְשְׁלוּ־בִי let them not rule me,⁴⁸Dovid’s request is paraphrased in the concluding blessing of the בִּרְכוֹת הַשַּׁחַר, where we say וְאַל יִשְׁלֹט בָּנוּ יֵצֶר הָרַע, “Let us not be ruled by the Evil Inclination.” Dovid knows full well that Hashem does not interfere with man’s free choise; he only asks for Divine help to keep him from becoming a prisoner of evil.—Gaon of Vilna

אָז אֵיתָם then I will be strong

וְנִקֵּֽיתִי מִפֶּֽשַׁע רָב: and will be cleansed of gross transgression.

חזן: יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי May the words of my mouth be acceptable

וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶֽיךָ and the thoughts of my heart — before You

יְהֹוָה צוּרִי וְגוֹאֲלִי: Adonoy, my Rock and my Redeemer.

This psalm (34) is based entirely on an event that took place in Dovid’s personal life as related in 1 Shmuel 21:11-16. Forced to flee from Saul, he took refuge among the Philistines, where he was recognized as the slayer of Goliath. In order to escape death at the hands of his foes, Dovid pretended to be an imbecile, and was sent away unharmed by King Avimelech.

לְדָוִד Of Dovid,

בְּשַׁנּוֹתוֹ אֶת־טַעְמוֹ When he acted insane

לִפְנֵי אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ in the presence of Avimelech

וַיְגָרְשֵֽׁהוּ and he [Avimelech] drove him away,

וַיֵּלַךְ: and he [Dovid] left.

אֲבָרְכָה אֶת־יְהֹוָה בְּכָל־עֵת I will bless Adonoy at all times

תָּמִיד תְּהִלָּתוֹ בְּפִי: constantly is His praise in my mouth.

בַּיהֹוָה תִּתְהַלֵּל נַפְשִׁי In Adonoy does my soul take pride,⁴⁹Dovid is proud that he is worthy of uttering Hashem’s Name.

יִשְׁמְעוּ עֲנָוִים וְיִשְׂמָֽחוּ: the humble will hear [this] and rejoice.

גַּדְּלוּ לַיהֹוָה אִתִּי Declare the greatness of Adonoy with me,

וּנְרוֹמְמָה שְׁמוֹ יַחְדָּו: and let us exalt His Name together.

דָּרַֽשְׁתִּי אֶת־יְהֹוָה וְעָנָֽנִי I sought Adonoy and He responded to me;

וּמִכָּל־מְגוּרוֹתַי הִצִּילָֽנִי: and from all my fears He saved me.

הִבִּֽיטוּ אֵלָיו וְנָהָֽרוּ [Those who] look to Him are enlightened

וּפְנֵיהֶם and their faces

אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ: are never darkened [humiliated].

זֶה עָנִי קָרָא וַיהֹוָה שָׁמֵֽעַ This poor man⁵⁰Dovid describes himself as a helpless indigent waiting for Hashem’s compassion.—Radak called and Adonoy heard;

וּמִכָּל־צָרוֹתָיו הוֹשִׁיעוֹ: and from all his troubles, He delivered him.

חֹנֶה מַלְאַךְ־יְהֹוָה The angel of Adonoy encamps

סָבִיב לִירֵאָיו around those who fear Him

וַיְחַלְּצֵם: and sets them free.

טַעֲמוּ וּרְאוּ כִּי־טוֹב יְהֹוָה Taste and see that Adonoy is good;⁵¹Seporno says that taste refers to the senses whereas “see” refers to the intellect.

אַשְׁרֵי הַגֶּֽבֶר fortunate is the man

יֶֽחֱסֶה־בּוֹ: who takes refuge in Him.

יְראוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה קְדֹשָׁיו Fear Adonoy, [you] His holy ones,

כִּי־אֵין מַחְסוֹר for there is no deprivation

לִירֵאָיו: for those who fear Him.

כְּפִירִים רָשׁוּ וְרָעֵֽבוּ Young lions feel want and hunger,

וְדֹרְשֵׁי יְהֹוָה but those who seek Adonoy

לֹא־יַחְסְרוּ כָל־טוֹב: will not lack any good thing.

לְכוּ־בָנִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִי Come children, listen to me,

יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה אֲלַמֶּדְכֶם: fear of Adonoy will I teach you.

מִי־הָאִישׁ הֶחָפֵץ חַיִּים Who is the man who desires life,⁵²Dovid does not say הֶחָפֵץ בַּחַיִּים ‘he who takes pleasure in life’ but הֶחָפֵץ חַיִּים, ‘he who desires life,’ whose only goal is life; that is, he desires to attain such a level of existence as can truly be called life.—S.R. Hirsch

אֹהֵב יָמִים לִרְאוֹת טוֹב: and loves days that he may see good?

נְצֹר לְשׁוֹנְךָ מֵרָע Guard your tongue from evil,

וּשְׂפָתֶֽיךָ מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה: and your lips from speaking deceitfully.

סוּר מֵרָע וַעֲשֵׂה־טוֹב Turn from evil and do good,

בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵֽהוּ: seek peace and pursue it.

עֵינֵי יְהֹוָה אֶל־צַדִּיקִים The eyes of Adonoy are toward the righteous,

וְאָזְנָיו אֶל־שַׁוְעָתָם: and His ears [are open] to their cry.

פְּנֵי יְהֹוָה בְּעֹֽשֵׂי רָע The face⁵³The expression פְּנֵי ה', Face of Hashem, describes Divine anger. See Vayikra 20:5, וְשַׂמְתִּי אֲנִי אֶת פָּנַי בָּאִישׁ הַהוּא, “And I will set My Face against that man.” of Adonoy is set against evildoers

לְהַכְרִית מֵאֶֽרֶץ זִכְרָם: to excise from earth, their memory.

צָעֲקוּ וַיהֹוָה שָׁמֵֽעַ They⁵⁴They refers to the righteous ones (Rashi) and to the repentant sinners (Ibn Ezra). cry out and Adonoy hears

וּמִכָּל־צָרוֹתָם הִצִּילָם: and from all their troubles, He saves them.

קָרוֹב יְהֹוָה לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי־לֵב Adonoy is close to the broken-hearted

וְאֶת־דַכְּאֵי־רֽוּחַ יוֹשִֽׁיעַ: and those crushed in spirit, He delivers.

רַבּוֹת רָעוֹת צַדִּיק Many evils befall a righteous man,

וּמִכֻּלָּם יַצִּילֶֽנּוּ יְהֹוָה: and from all of them, Adonoy saves him.

שֹׁמֵר כָּל־עַצְמֹתָיו He preserves all his bones,

אַחַת מֵהֵֽנָּה לֹא נִשְׁבָּֽרָה: not one of them is broken.

תְּמוֹתֵת רָשָע רָעָה The cause of death of the wicked is evil;

וְשׂנְאֵי צַדִּיק יֶאְשָֽׁמוּ: and the haters of the righteous are doomed.

חזן: פּוֹדֶה יְהֹוָה נֶֽפֶשׁ עֲבָדָיו Adonoy liberates the soul of His servants,

וְלֹא יֶאְשְׁמוּ and none are doomed

כָּל־הַחֹסִים בּוֹ: who take refuge in Him.

According to our Sages, Psalms 90 through 101, were said by Moshe. According to Radak, Dovid actually found this psalm in its written form and knowing it to be the prayer of Moshe, included it in his book of psalms. It speaks of the frailty of man and the brevity of his life and asks for God’s compassion and favor despite his wrongdoings.

תְּפִלָּה לְמשֶׁה אִישׁ־הָאֱלֹהִים A prayer of Moshe, the man of God:

אֲדֹנָי My Master

מָעוֹן אַתָּה הָיִֽיתָ לָּֽנוּ a dwelling[-place] have You been for us

בְּדֹר וָדֹר: in every generation.

בְּטֶֽרֶם הָרִים יֻלָּֽדוּ Before the mountains were born,

וַתְּחוֹלֵל אֶֽרֶץ and You brought forth the earth

וְתֵבֵל and the inhabited world;

וּמֵעוֹלָם עַד־עוֹלָם from world to world⁵⁵From before this world to the next world You are Almighty.

אַתָּה אֵל: You are Almighty.

תָּשֵׁב אֱנוֹשׁ You push man down

עַד־דַּכָּא until the crushing point⁵⁶You permit the sinner to return in penitence even till the very last moment of his life.—Iyun Tefiloh

וַתֹּֽאמֶר and You say,

שֽׁוּבוּ בְנֵי־אָדָם: “Return, children of man!”⁵⁷You constantly call the sinner to return, reminding him of the brevity of his life.—Iyun Tefiloh

כִּי אֶֽלֶף שָׁנִים בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ For a thousand years are in Your eyes

כְּיוֹם אֶתְמוֹל כִּי יַעֲבֹר like the yesterday that has just passed,

וְאַשְׁמוּרָה בַלָּֽיְלָה: and like a night watch.

זְרַמְתָּם שֵׁנָה יִהְיוּ The stream of their life is [but] slumber,

בַּבֹּֽקֶר in the morning

כֶּחָצִיר יַחֲלֹף: they are as grass, freshly grown.

בַּבֹּֽקֶר יָצִיץ [If] in the morning it blossoms,

וְחָלָף and grows afresh

לָעֶֽרֶב יְמוֹלֵל וְיָבֵשׁ: by evening it is cut off and shriveled.

כִּי־כָלִֽינוּ בְאַפֶּֽךָ So are we consumed by Your anger

וּבַחֲמָתְךָ נִבְהָֽלְנוּ: and by Your rage are we terrified.

שַׁתָּה עֲו‍ֹנֹתֵֽינוּ לְנֶגְדֶּֽךָ You have set our iniquities before You,

עֲלֻמֵֽנוּ the sins of our youth⁵⁸Others translate ‘our hidden sins [are exposed]’ see Metsudas Dovid

לִמְאוֹר פָּנֶֽיךָ: before the light of Your countenance.

כִּי כָל־יָמֵֽינוּ For all our days

פָּנוּ בְעֶבְרָתֶֽךָ vanish in Your wrath;

כִּלִּֽינוּ שָׁנֵֽינוּ we terminate our years

כְמוֹ־הֶֽגֶה: like an unspoken word.

יְמֵי־שְׁנוֹתֵֽינוּ בָהֶם The days of our years in them⁵⁹‘In them’ refers to the iniquities and the youth mentioned in the two preceding verses. —Rashi

שִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה [total] seventy years,

וְאִם בִּגְבוּרֹת שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה and with strength, eighty years,

וְרָהְבָּם עָמָל וָאָֽוֶן and their pride is frustration and falsehood;

כִּי־גָז חִישׁ וַנָּעֻֽפָה: for, cut off quickly, we fly away.⁶⁰Not only is the span of our lives brief, but our few allotted years fly by swiftly.—Iyun Tefiloh

מִי־יוֹדֵֽעַ Who can [get to] know

עֹז אַפֶּֽךָ the force of Your anger?

וּכְיִרְאָתְךָ עֶבְרָתֶֽךָ: And like the fear of You so is Your wrath.⁶¹Just as Hashem is feared, so too is His wrath harsh when He punishes sinners.—Rashi

לִמְנוֹת יָמֵֽינוּ כֵּן הוֹדַע To count our days, teach us

וְנָבִא לְבַב חָכְמָה: and we will acquire a heart of wisdom.

שׁוּבָה יְהֹוָה עַד־מָתָי Turn Adonoy—how long?⁶²Turn away from Your wrath! How much longer will You make us suffer?—Targum

וְהִנָּחֵם עַל־עֲבָדֶֽיךָ: And change Your mind about Your servants.

שַׂבְּעֵֽנוּ בַבֹּֽקֶר Satisfy us in the morning⁶³The Sages say that the morning refers to the time of our redemption after the long, black nights of exile.

חַסְדֶּךָ with Your kindliness,

וּנְרַנְּנָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה and we will sing and rejoice

בְּכָל־יָמֵֽינוּ: throughout our days.⁶⁴If You show us kindliness in the morning of our youth, showing us the way of righteousness; we will rejoice and sing in our old age.

שַׂמְּחֵֽנוּ Make us rejoice⁶⁵Make us rejoice in the era of the Moshiach for as long as we suffered in exile.

כִּימוֹת עִנִּיתָֽנוּ like the days You afflicted us,

שְׁנוֹת רָאִֽינוּ רָעָה: the years [when] we saw evil.

יֵרָאֶה אֶל־עֲבָדֶֽיךָ Let be revealed to Your servants,

פָעָלֶֽךָ Your deeds

וַהֲדָרְךָ עַל־בְּנֵיהֶם: and Your splendor be upon their children.

חזן: וִיהִי נֹֽעַם אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ May the pleasantness of my Master our God

עָלֵֽינוּ be upon us,⁶⁶In this closing verse, Moshe prays that the Divine Presence rest on the Jewish nation exclusively.

וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵֽינוּ כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵֽינוּ and the work of our hands established for us,

וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵֽינוּ כּוֹנְנֵֽהוּ: and the work of our hands—establish it.

This Psalm, (91) composed by Moshe on the day the Tabernacle was completed, is a source of inspiration to all who seek the Almighty as their refuge and fortress.

ישֵׁב He who dwells

בְּסֵֽתֶר עֶלְיוֹן in the shelter of the Supreme One,

בְּצֵל שַׁדַּי יִתְלוֹנָן: under the protection of Shadai he will abide.

אֹמַר לַיהֹוָה I say of Adonoy,

מַחְסִי וּמְצוּדָתִי [He is] my refuge and my stronghold,

אֱלֹהַי אֶבְטַח־בּוֹ: my God in Whom I trust.

כִּי הוּא יַצִּילְךָ מִפַּח יָקוּשׁ For He will save you from the snare-trap,

מִדֶּֽבֶר הַוּוֹת: from destructive pestilence.

בְּאֶבְרָתוֹ יָֽסֶךְ לָךְ With His wings He will cover you

וְתַֽחַת־כְּנָפָיו תֶּחְסֶה and beneath His wings, you will find refuge;

צִנָּה וְסֹחֵרָה אֲמִתּוֹ: His truth is a shield, a full shield.

לֹא־תִירָא מִפַּֽחַד לָֽיְלָה You will not fear the terror of night,

מֵחֵץ יָעוּף יוֹמָם: nor the arrow that flies by day.

מִדֶּֽבֶר בָּאֹֽפֶל יַהֲלֹךְ The pestilence that prowls in darkness,

מִקֶּֽטֶב יָשׁוּד צָהֳרָֽיִם: nor the deadly plague that ravages at noon.

יִפֹּל מִצִּדְּךָ אֶֽלֶף A thousand will fall at your [left] side,

וּרְבָבָה מִימִינֶֽךָ and ten thousand at your [right] side

אֵלֶֽיךָ לֹא יִגָּשׁ: but it⁶⁷‘It’ refers to ‘arrow,’ pestilence,’ and ‘plague’ mentioned in the preceding two verse. shall not come near you.

רַק בְּעֵינֶֽיךָ תַבִּיט Only⁶⁸You will only see the destruction but you will not be harmed by it. with your eyes will you behold

וְשִׁלֻּמַת רְשָׁעִים תִּרְאֶה: and see the punishment of the wicked.

כִּי־אַתָּה For you [have proclaimed]:

יְהֹוָה מַחְסִי “Adonoy is my refuge,”

עֶלְיוֹן the Supreme One

שַֽׂמְתָּ מְעוֹנֶֽךָ: you have made your dwelling.

לֹא־תְאֻנֶּה אֵלֶֽיךָ רָעָה No evil shall befall you,

וְנֶֽגַע לֹא־יִקְרַב בְּאָהֳלֶֽךָ: and no plague shall come near your tent.

כִּי מַלְאָכָיו For His angels

יְצַוֶּה־לָּךְ He will command on your behalf—

לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶֽיךָ: to guard you in all your ways.

עַל־כַּפַּֽיִם יִשָּׂאֽוּנְךָ They will carry you upon their hands,

פֶּן־תִּגֹּף בָּאֶֽבֶן רַגְלֶֽךָ: lest you hurt your foot on a rock.

עַל־שַֽׁחַל וָפֶֽתֶן תִּדְרֹךְ You will tread upon lion and snake,

תִּרְמֹס כְּפִיר וְתַנִּין: you will trample young lion and serpent.

כִּי בִי חָשַׁק Because he clings to Me with desire,

וַאֲפַלְּטֵֽהוּ I will save him;

אֲשַׂגְּבֵֽהוּ I will strengthen him,

כִּי־יָדַע שְׁמִי: for he knows My Name.

יִקְרָאֵֽנִי וְאֶעֱנֵֽהוּ When he calls upon Me, I will answer him;

עִמּוֹ־אָנֹכִי בְצָרָה I am with him in distress,

אֲחַלְּצֵֽהוּ וַאֲכַבְּדֵֽהוּ: I will free him and honor him.

חזן: אֹֽרֶךְ יָמִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵֽהוּ I will satiate him with longevity,

וְאַרְאֵֽהוּ בִּישׁוּעָתִי: and will let him see My deliverance.

אֹֽרֶךְ יָמִים אַשְׂבִּיעֵֽהוּ I will satiate him with longevity,

וְאַרְאֵֽהוּ בִּישׁוּעָתִי: and will let him see My deliverance.

In this psalm, (135) Dovid praises God for choosing the people of Israel as His treasured people. He also speaks of those who will ultimately be worthy of serving Him, in the rebuilt House of God, in the Messianic era.

הַלְלוּיָהּ Praise God,

הַלְלוּ אֶת־שֵׁם יְהֹוָה Praise the Name of Adonoy,

הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵי יְהֹוָה: Praise [Him], servants of Adonoy.

שֶׁעֹמְדִים בְּבֵית יְהֹוָה [You] who stand in the House of Adonoy,

בְּחַצְרוֹת בֵּית אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ: in the courtyards of the House of our God.

הַלְלוּיָהּ כִּי־טוֹב יְהֹוָה Praise God, for Adonoy is good,

זַמְּרוּ לִשְׁמוֹ כִּי נָעִים: sing to His Name which is pleasant.

כִּי־יַעֲקֹב בָּחַר לוֹ יָהּ For God chose Yaakov to be His,

יִשְׂרָאֵל לִסְגֻלָּתוֹ: Yisrael for His treasure.

כִּי אֲנִי יָדַֽעְתִּי For I know

כִּי־גָדוֹל יְהֹוָה that Adonoy is great,

וַאֲדֹנֵֽינוּ מִכָּל־אֱלֹהִים: our Master [is greater] than all gods.

כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־חָפֵץ יְהֹוָה All that was desired by Adonoy,

עָשָׂה בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם וּבָאָֽרֶץ He has done in heaven and on earth,

בַּיַּמִּים וְכָל־תְּהֹמוֹת: in the seas and all the depths.

מַעֲלֶה נְשִׂאִים He causes clouds to rise

מִקְצֵה הָאָֽרֶץ from the ends of the earth;

בְּרָקִים לַמָּטָר עָשָׂה lightning for the rain He makes;

מֽוֹצֵא־רֽוּחַ מֵאוֹצְרוֹתָיו: He brings forth winds from His vaults.

שֶׁהִכָּה בְּכוֹרֵי מִצְרָֽיִם He struck down the firstborn of Mitzrayim

מֵאָדָם עַד־בְּהֵמָה: both man and beast.

שָׁלַח אוֹתֹת וּמֹפְתִים He sent signs and wonders

בְּתוֹכֵֽכִי מִצְרָֽיִם into the midst of Mitzrayim,

בְּפַרְעֹה וּבְכָל־עֲבָדָיו: upon Pharaoh and upon all his servants.

שֶׁהִכָּה גּוֹיִם רַבִּים For He smote many nations,

וְהָרַג מְלָכִים עֲצוּמִים: and slew mighty kings:

לְסִיחוֹן מֶֽלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִי Sichon, King of the Amorites,

וּלְעוֹג מֶֽלֶךְ הַבָּשָׁן and Og, King of the Bashan,

וּלְכֹל מַמְלְכוֹת כְּנָֽעַן: and all the kingdoms of Canaan.

וְנָתַן אַרְצָם נַחֲלָה And He gave their lands as an inheritance,

נַחֲלָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל עַמּוֹ: an inheritance to Yisrael, His people.

יְהֹוָה שִׁמְךָ לְעוֹלָם Adonoy is Your Name forever,

יְהֹוָה זִכְרְךָ לְדֹר־וָדֹר: Adonoy is Your mention for generations.

כִּי־יָדִין יְהֹוָה עַמּוֹ For Adonoy judges His people,⁶⁹According to Seporno, the verse is translated, ‘When Adonoy judges on behalf of His people,’ referring to the judgement of all who oppressed the Jewish people.

וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם: and upon His servants will He relent.

עֲצַבֵּי הַגּוֹיִם The idols⁷⁰עֲצַבֵּי is related to עֶצֶב which means ‘sadness’ or ‘grief.’ Idols bring only grief to those who depend on them.—Radak of the nations,

כֶּֽסֶף וְזָהָב are of silver and gold,

מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם: products of human hands:

פֶּה־לָהֶם וְלֹא יְדַבֵּֽרוּ They have a mouth but do not speak;

עֵינַֽיִם לָהֶם וְלֹא יִרְאוּ: they have eyes but do not see.

אָזְנַֽיִם לָהֶם וְלֹא יַאֲזִֽינוּ They have ears but do not listen;

אַף אֵין־יֶשׁ־רֽוּחַ בְּפִיהֶם: nor is there any breath in their mouth.

כְּמוֹהֶם יִהְיוּ עֹשֵׂיהֶם Like them let their makers be—

כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּהֶם: all who trust in them.

חזן: בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל בָּרְכוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה House of Yisrael, bless Adonoy!⁷¹The entire house of Yisrael is urged to bless Hashem Who set us apart from the other nations and made us His people. Yisrael is told to bless Hashem for its own unique position and manner of serving Him.— Ibn Ezra

בֵּית אַהֲרֹן בָּרְכוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה: House of Aharon, bless Adonoy!

בֵּית הַלֵּוִי בָּרְכוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה House of Levi, bless Adonoy!

יִרְאֵי יְהֹוָה בָּרְכוּ אֶת־יְהֹוָה: [You] who fear Adonoy,⁷²This refers to those among the nations who converted to Judaism because of their fear and recognition of Hashem. bless Adonoy!

בָּרוּךְ יְהֹוָה מִצִּיּוֹן Blessed is Adonoy from Tziyon,

שֹׁכֵן יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ He Who dwells in Yerushalayim.

הַלְלוּיָהּ: Praise God.

The Talmud (Pesachim 118a) calls this psalm (136) הַלֵל הַגָדוֹל, the great praise, because it describes how God, enthroned on high, sustains every living creature. The first twenty-four verses call on us to thank God, the Master of the Universe, Who created it, redeemed us from Mitzrayim, caused us to inherit the lands of Sichon and Og, and delivered us from our enemies. The twenty-fifth verse, נוֹתֵן לֶחֶם לְכָל בָּשָׂר, He gives food to all flesh, is viewed as the climax of the entire psalm. Feeding every creature, day in and day out, is the greatest manifestation of God’s provident kindliness. Though He rules in supreme splendor, God is close to the needs of every creature.

הוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה כִּי־טוֹב Thank Adonoy for He is good,

כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ: for His kindliness endures forever.⁷³This refrain is repeated in all twenty-six verses of the Psalm. We thereby declare that each act of kindliness for which we thank Hashem is not of a temporary nature, lasting merely a day or a year. The effect of His kindliness endures forever, and we continually reap the benefits of every act of Divine kindliness.—Sfas Emes

הוֹדוּ לֵאלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים Thank the God of gods,