(1) Hallelujah. O servants of the LORD, give praise; praise the name of the LORD. (2) Let the name of the LORD be blessed now and forever. (3) From east to west the name of the LORD is praised. (4) The LORD is exalted above all nations; His glory is above the heavens. (5) Who is like the LORD our God, who, enthroned on high, (6) sees what is below, in heaven and on earth? (7) He raises the poor from the dust, lifts up the needy from the refuse heap (8) to set them with the great, with the great men of His people. (9) He sets the childless woman among her household as a happy mother of children. Hallelujah.

(1) A prayer of the lowly man when he is faint and pours forth his plea before the LORD. (2) O LORD, hear my prayer; let my cry come before You. (3) Do not hide Your face from me in my time of trouble; turn Your ear to me; when I cry, answer me speedily. (4) For my days have vanished like smoke and my bones are charred like a hearth. (5) My body is stricken and withered like grass; too wasted to eat my food; (6) on account of my vehement groaning my bones show through my skin. (7) I am like a great owl in the wilderness, an owl among the ruins. (8) I lie awake; I am like a lone bird upon a roof. (9) All day long my enemies revile me; my deriders use my name to curse. (10) For I have eaten ashes like bread and mixed my drink with tears, (11) because of Your wrath and Your fury; for You have cast me far away. (12) My days are like a lengthening shadow; I wither like grass. (13) But You, O LORD, are enthroned forever; Your fame endures throughout the ages. (14) You will surely arise and take pity on Zion, for it is time to be gracious to her; the appointed time has come. (15) Your servants take delight in its stones, and cherish its dust. (16) The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth, Your glory. (17) For the LORD has built Zion; He has appeared in all His glory. (18) He has turned to the prayer of the destitute and has not spurned their prayer. (19) May this be written down for a coming generation, that people yet to be created may praise the LORD. (20) For He looks down from His holy height; the LORD beholds the earth from heaven (21) to hear the groans of the prisoner, to release those condemned to death; (22) that the fame of the LORD may be recounted in Zion, His praises in Jerusalem, (23) when the nations gather together, the kingdoms, to serve the LORD. (24) He drained my strength in mid-course, He shortened my days. (25) I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days, You whose years go on for generations on end. (26) Of old You established the earth; the heavens are the work of Your hands. (27) They shall perish, but You shall endure; they shall all wear out like a garment; You change them like clothing and they pass away. (28) But You are the same, and Your years never end. (29) May the children of Your servants dwell securely and their offspring endure in Your presence.”

(1) Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, all my being, His holy name. (2) Bless the LORD, O my soul and do not forget all His bounties. (3) He forgives all your sins, heals all your diseases. (4) He redeems your life from the Pit, surrounds you with steadfast love and mercy. (5) He satisfies you with good things in the prime of life, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (6) The LORD executes righteous acts and judgments for all who are wronged. (7) He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the children of Israel. (8) The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. (9) He will not contend forever, or nurse His anger for all time. (10) He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor has He requited us according to our iniquities. (11) For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him. (12) As east is far from west, so far has He removed our sins from us. (13) As a father has compassion for his children, so the LORD has compassion for those who fear Him. (14) For He knows how we are formed; He is mindful that we are dust. (15) Man, his days are like those of grass; he blooms like a flower of the field; (16) a wind passes by and it is no more, its own place no longer knows it. (17) But the LORD’s steadfast love is for all eternity toward those who fear Him, and His beneficence is for the children’s children (18) of those who keep His covenant and remember to observe His precepts. (19) The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His sovereign rule is over all. (20) Bless the LORD, O His angels, mighty creatures who do His bidding, ever obedient to His bidding; (21) bless the LORD, all His hosts, His servants who do His will; (22) bless the LORD, all His works, through the length and breadth of His realm; bless the LORD, O my soul.

(1) Of David. O LORD, I set my hope on You; (2) my God, in You I trust; may I not be disappointed, may my enemies not exult over me. (3) O let none who look to You be disappointed; let the faithless be disappointed, empty-handed. (4) Let me know Your paths, O LORD; teach me Your ways; (5) guide me in Your true way and teach me, for You are God, my deliverer; it is You I look to at all times. (6) O LORD, be mindful of Your compassion and Your faithfulness; they are old as time. (7) Be not mindful of my youthful sins and transgressions; in keeping with Your faithfulness consider what is in my favor, as befits Your goodness, O LORD. (8) Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He shows sinners the way. (9) He guides the lowly in the right path, and teaches the lowly His way. (10) All the LORD’s paths are steadfast love for those who keep the decrees of His covenant. (11) As befits Your name, O LORD, pardon my iniquity though it be great. (12) Whoever fears the LORD, he shall be shown what path to choose. (13) He shall live a happy life, and his children shall inherit the land. (14) The counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him; to them He makes known His covenant. (15) My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for He will loose my feet from the net. (16) Turn to me, have mercy on me, for I am alone and afflicted. (17) My deep distress increases; deliver me from my straits. (18) Look at my affliction and suffering, and forgive all my sins. (19) See how numerous my enemies are, and how unjustly they hate me! (20) Protect me and save me; let me not be disappointed, for I have sought refuge in You. (21) May integrity and uprightness watch over me, for I look to You. (22) O God, redeem Israel from all its distress.

(1) A song of ascents. When the LORD restores the fortunes of Zion —we see it as in a dream— (2) our mouths shall be filled with laughter, our tongues, with songs of joy. Then shall they say among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them!” (3) The LORD will do great things for us and we shall rejoice. (4) Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like watercourses in the Negeb. (5) They who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy. (6) Though he goes along weeping, carrying the seed-bag, he shall come back with songs of joy, carrying his sheaves.

(1) A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain on it; unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman keeps vigil in vain. (2) In vain do you rise early and stay up late, you who toil for the bread you eat; He provides as much for His loved ones while they sleep. (3) Sons are the provision of the LORD; the fruit of the womb, His reward. (4) Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are sons born to a man in his youth. (5) Happy is the man who fills his quiver with them; they shall not be put to shame when they contend with the enemy in the gate.

(1) A song of ascents. Happy are all who fear the LORD, who follow His ways. (2) You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors; you shall be happy and you shall prosper. (3) Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons, like olive saplings around your table. (4) So shall the man who fears the LORD be blessed. (5) May the LORD bless you from Zion; may you share the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life, (6) and live to see your children’s children. May all be well with Israel!

(1) Happy is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked, or taken the path of sinners, or joined the company of the insolent; (2) rather, the teaching of the LORD is his delight, and he studies that teaching day and night. (3) He is like a tree planted beside streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, whose foliage never fades, and whatever it produces thrives. (4) Not so the wicked; rather, they are like chaff that wind blows away. (5) Therefore the wicked will not survive judgment, nor will sinners, in the assembly of the righteous. (6) For the LORD cherishes the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked is doomed.

(1) Why do nations assemble, and peoples plot vain things; (2) kings of the earth take their stand, and regents intrigue together against the LORD and against His anointed? (3) “Let us break the cords of their yoke, shake off their ropes from us!” (4) He who is enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord mocks at them. (5) Then He speaks to them in anger, terrifying them in His rage, (6) “But I have installed My king on Zion, My holy mountain!” (7) Let me tell of the decree: the LORD said to me, “You are My son, I have fathered you this day. (8) Ask it of Me, and I will make the nations your domain; your estate, the limits of the earth. (9) You can smash them with an iron mace, shatter them like potter’s ware.” (10) So now, O kings, be prudent; accept discipline, you rulers of the earth! (11) Serve the LORD in awe; tremble with fright, (12) pay homage in good faith, lest He be angered, and your way be doomed in the mere flash of His anger. Happy are all who take refuge in Him.

(1) For the leader. Of David. A psalm. O LORD, You have examined me and know me. (2) When I sit down or stand up You know it; You discern my thoughts from afar. (3) You observe my walking and reclining, and are familiar with all my ways. (4) There is not a word on my tongue but that You, O LORD, know it well. (5) You hedge me before and behind; You lay Your hand upon me. (6) It is beyond my knowledge; it is a mystery; I cannot fathom it. (7) Where can I escape from Your spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? (8) If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I descend to Sheol, You are there too. (9) If I take wing with the dawn to come to rest on the western horizon, (10) even there Your hand will be guiding me, Your right hand will be holding me fast. (11) If I say, “Surely darkness will conceal me, night will provide me with cover,” (12) darkness is not dark for You; night is as light as day; darkness and light are the same. (13) It was You who created my conscience; You fashioned me in my mother’s womb. (14) I praise You, for I am awesomely, wondrously made; Your work is wonderful; I know it very well. (15) My frame was not concealed from You when I was shaped in a hidden place, knit together in the recesses of the earth. (16) Your eyes saw my unformed limbs; they were all recorded in Your book; in due time they were formed, to the very last one of them. (17) How weighty Your thoughts seem to me, O God, how great their number! (18) I count them—they exceed the grains of sand; I end—but am still with You. (19) O God, if You would only slay the wicked— you murderers, away from me!— (20) who invoke You for intrigue, Your enemies who swear by You falsely. (21) O LORD, You know I hate those who hate You, and loathe Your adversaries. (22) I feel a perfect hatred toward them; I count them my enemies. (23) Examine me, O God, and know my mind; probe me and know my thoughts. (24) See if I have vexatious ways, and guide me in ways everlasting.

The Sages taught: One who goes to measure the grain on his threshing floor recites: May it be Your will, O Lord, our God, that You send blessing upon the product of our hands. If one began to measure the grain he says: Blessed is He Who sends blessing upon this pile of grain. If one measured and afterward recited this blessing, this is a prayer made in vain, because blessing is found neither in a matter that is weighed, nor in a matter that is measured, nor in a matter that is counted. Rather, it is found in a matter concealed from the eye, as it is stated: “The Lord will command blessing with you in your storehouses.”