אשרי

(א) תְּהִלָּ֗ה לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אֲרוֹמִמְךָ֣ אֱלוֹקַ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַאֲבָרֲכָ֥ה שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ (ב) בְּכָל־י֥וֹם אֲבָרֲכֶ֑ךָּ וַאֲהַלְלָ֥ה שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ (ג) גָּ֘ד֤וֹל ה' וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד וְ֝לִגְדֻלָּת֗וֹ אֵ֣ין חֵֽקֶר׃ (ד) דּ֣וֹר לְ֭דוֹר יְשַׁבַּ֣ח מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וּגְב֖וּרֹתֶ֣יךָ יַגִּֽידוּ׃ (ה) הֲ֭דַר כְּב֣וֹד הוֹדֶ֑ךָ וְדִבְרֵ֖י נִפְלְאוֹתֶ֣יךָ אָשִֽׂיחָה׃ (ו) וֶעֱז֣וּז נוֹרְאֹתֶ֣יךָ יֹאמֵ֑רוּ וגדולתיך [וּגְדוּלָּתְךָ֥] אֲסַפְּרֶֽנָּה׃ (ז) זֵ֣כֶר רַב־טוּבְךָ֣ יַבִּ֑יעוּ וְצִדְקָתְךָ֥ יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃ (ח) חַנּ֣וּן וְרַח֣וּם ה' אֶ֥רֶךְ אַ֝פַּ֗יִם וּגְדָל־חָֽסֶד׃ (ט) טוֹב־ה' לַכֹּ֑ל וְ֝רַחֲמָ֗יו עַל־כָּל־מַעֲשָֽׂיו׃ (י) יוֹד֣וּךָ ה' כָּל־מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וַ֝חֲסִידֶ֗יךָ יְבָרֲכֽוּכָה׃ (יא) כְּב֣וֹד מַלְכוּתְךָ֣ יֹאמֵ֑רוּ וּגְבוּרָתְךָ֥ יְדַבֵּֽרוּ׃ (יב) לְהוֹדִ֤יעַ ׀ לִבְנֵ֣י הָ֭אָדָם גְּבוּרֹתָ֑יו וּ֝כְב֗וֹד הֲדַ֣ר מַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃ (יג) מַֽלְכוּתְךָ֗ מַלְכ֥וּת כָּל־עֹֽלָמִ֑ים וּ֝מֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּךָ֗ בְּכָל־דּ֥וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃ (יד) סוֹמֵ֣ךְ ה' לְכָל־הַנֹּפְלִ֑ים וְ֝זוֹקֵ֗ף לְכָל־הַכְּפוּפִֽים׃ (טו) עֵֽינֵי־כֹ֭ל אֵלֶ֣יךָ יְשַׂבֵּ֑רוּ וְאַתָּ֤ה נֽוֹתֵן־לָהֶ֖ם אֶת־אָכְלָ֣ם בְּעִתּֽוֹ׃ (טז) פּוֹתֵ֥חַ אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ וּמַשְׂבִּ֖יעַ לְכָל־חַ֣י רָצֽוֹן׃ (יז) צַדִּ֣יק ה' בְּכָל־דְּרָכָ֑יו וְ֝חָסִ֗יד בְּכָל־מַעֲשָֽׂיו׃ (יח) קָר֣וֹב ה' לְכָל־קֹרְאָ֑יו לְכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִקְרָאֻ֣הוּ בֶאֱמֶֽת׃ (יט) רְצוֹן־יְרֵאָ֥יו יַעֲשֶׂ֑ה וְֽאֶת־שַׁוְעָתָ֥ם יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע וְיוֹשִׁיעֵֽם׃ (כ) שׁוֹמֵ֣ר ה' אֶת־כָּל־אֹהֲבָ֑יו וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־הָרְשָׁעִ֣ים יַשְׁמִֽיד׃ (כא) תְּהִלַּ֥ת ה' יְֽדַבֶּ֫ר־פִּ֥י וִיבָרֵ֣ךְ כָּל־בָּ֭שָׂר שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשׁ֗וֹ לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃

Psalms 145

(1) A song of praise. Of David. I will extol You, my God and king, and bless Your name forever and ever. (2) Every day will I bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. (3) Great is the LORD and much acclaimed; His greatness cannot be fathomed. (4) One generation shall laud Your works to another and declare Your mighty acts. (5) The glorious majesty of Your splendor and Your wondrous acts will I recite. (6) Men shall talk of the might of Your awesome deeds, and I will recount Your greatness. (7) They shall celebrate Your abundant goodness, and sing joyously of Your beneficence. (8) The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. (9) The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is upon all His works. (10) All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, and Your faithful ones shall bless You. (11) They shall talk of the majesty of Your kingship, and speak of Your might, to make His mighty acts known among men and the majestic glory of His (12)kingship. (13) Your kingship is an eternal kingship; Your dominion is for all generations. The LORD supports all who (14)stumble, and makes all who are bent stand straight. (15) The eyes of all look to You expectantly, and You give them their food when it is due. (16) You give it openhandedly, feeding every creature to its heart’s content. (17) The LORD is beneficent in all His ways and faithful in all His works. (18) The LORD is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him with sincerity. (19) He fulfills the wishes of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and delivers them. (20) The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. (21) My mouth shall utter the praise of the LORD, and all creatures shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

ברכות ד׳ ב:ט״ז-כ״ב

אמר רבי אלעזר אמר רבי אבינא כל האומר תהלה לדוד בכל יום שלש פעמים מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא מאי טעמא אילימא משום דאתיא באלף בית נימא אשרי תמימי דרך דאתיא בתמניא אפין אלא משום דאית ביה פותח את ידך נימא הלל הגדול דכתיב ביה נתן לחם לכל בשר אלא משום דאית ביה תרתי אמר רבי יוחנן מפני מה לא נאמר נון באשרי מפני שיש בה מפלתן של שונאי ישראל דכתיב 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 סומך ה׳ לכל הנפלים:

Berakhot 4b:16-22

Tangential to Rabbi Yoḥanan’s statement that one who juxtaposes redemption and prayer is assured of a place in the World-to-Come, a similar statement is cited. Rabbi Elazar said that Rabbi Avina said: Anyone who recites: “A Psalm of David” (Psalms 145) three times every day is assured of a place in the World-to-Come. This statement extolling the significance of this particular chapter of Psalms, usually referred to as ashrei because its recitation is preceded by recitation of the verse, “Happy [ashrei] are those who dwell in Your House, they praise You Selah” (Psalms 84:5), raises the question: What is the reason that such significance is ascribed to this particular chapter? If you say that it is because it is arranged alphabetically, then let us say: “Happy are they who are upright in the way” (Psalms 119) where the alphabetical arrangement appears eight times. Rather, if you suggest that this particular chapter is recited because it contains praise for God’s provision of sustenance to all of creation: “You open Your hand and satisfy every living thing with favor” (Psalms 145:16), then let him recite the great hallel (Psalms 136), in which numerous praises are written, including: “Who provides food to all flesh, Whose kindness endures forever” (Psalms 136:25). Rather, the reason why tehilla leDavid is accorded preference is because it contains both an alphabetic acrostic as well as mention of God’s provision of sustenance to all creation. Additionally, with regard to this psalm, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Why is there no verse beginning with the letter nun in ashrei? Because it contains an allusion to the downfall of the enemies of Israel, a euphemism for Israel itself. As it is written: “The virgin of Israel has fallen and she will rise no more; abandoned in her land, none will raise her up” (Amos 5:2), which begins with the letter nun. Due to this verse, ashrei does not include a verse beginning with the letter nun. In order to ease the harsh meaning of this verse, in the West, in Eretz Yisrael, they interpreted it with a slight adjustment: “She has fallen but she shall fall no more; rise, virgin of Israel.” Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak adds: Even so, David went and provided support, through divine inspiration. Although King David did not include a verse beginning with the letter nun alluding to Israel’s downfall, he foresaw the verse that would be written by Amos through divine inspiration; and the very next verse, which begins with the letter samekh, reads: “The Lord upholds the fallen and raises up those who are bowed down” (Psalms 145:14). Therefore, through divine inspiration, David offered hope and encouragement; although the virgin of Israel may have fallen, the Lord upholds the fallen.

תהילים פ״ד:ה׳

(ה) אַ֭שְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י בֵיתֶ֑ךָ ע֝֗וֹד יְֽהַלְל֥וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃

Psalms 84:5

(5) Happy are those who dwell in Your house; they forever praise You.Selah.

תהילים קמ״ד:ט״ו

(טו) אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם שֶׁכָּ֣כָה לּ֑וֹ אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הָ֝עָ֗ם שֶׁה' אֱלֹקָֽיו׃

Psalms 144:15

(15) Happy the people who have it so; happy the people whose God is the LORD.

תהילים קט״ו:י״ח

(יח) וַאֲנַ֤חְנוּ ׀ נְבָ֘רֵ֤ךְ קהּ מֵֽעַתָּ֥ה וְעַד־עוֹלָ֗ם הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽהּ׃

Psalms 115:18

(18) But we will bless the LORD now and forever. Hallelujah.

Poem Structure

Section 1: Historical Praise (1-7)

שופטים ה׳:א׳-ג׳

(א) וַתָּ֣שַׁר דְּבוֹרָ֔ה וּבָרָ֖ק בֶּן־אֲבִינֹ֑עַם בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לֵאמֹֽר׃

(ג) שִׁמְע֣וּ מְלָכִ֔ים הַאֲזִ֖ינוּ רֹֽזְנִ֑ים אָֽנֹכִ֗י לַֽה' אָנֹכִ֣י אָשִׁ֔ירָה אֲזַמֵּ֕ר לַֽה' אֱלֹקֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Judges 5:1-3

(1) On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang:

(3) Hear, O kings! Give ear, O potentates! I will sing, will sing to the LORD, Will hymn the LORD, the God of Israel.

אַקְדָּמוּת מִלִּין א׳:א׳-ד׳

(א) אַקְדָּמוּת מִלִּין וְשָׁרָיוּת שׁוּתָא

(ב) אַוְלָא שָׁקֵלְנָא הַרְמָן וּרְשׁוּתָא

(ג) בְּבָבֵי תְּרֵי וּתְלַת דְאֶפְתַּח בְּנַקְשׁוּתָא

(ד) בְּבָרֵי דְבָרֵי וְטָרֵי עֲדֵי לְקַשִּׁישׁוּתָא

Akdamut Milin 1:1-4

(1) Before reciting the Ten Commandments,

(2) I first ask permission and approval

(3) To start with two or three stanzas in fear

(4) Of God who creates and ever sustains.

תהילים נ״א:י״ז

(יז) ה שְׂפָתַ֣י תִּפְתָּ֑ח וּ֝פִ֗י יַגִּ֥יד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃

Psalms 51:17

(17) O Lord, open my lips, and let my mouth declare Your praise.

The Odyssey, Homer

Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns

driven time and again off course, once he had plundered

the hallowed heights of Troy

Section 2: God's Attributes (8-15)

שמות ל״ד:ו׳-ז׳

(ו) וַיַּעֲבֹ֨ר ה' ׀ עַל־פָּנָיו֮ וַיִּקְרָא֒ ה' ׀ ה' אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת ׀ (ז) נֹצֵ֥ר חֶ֙סֶד֙ לָאֲלָפִ֔ים נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֣ד ׀ עֲוֺ֣ן אָב֗וֹת עַל־בָּנִים֙ וְעַל־בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃

Exodus 34:6-7

(6) The LORD passed before him and proclaimed: “The LORD! the LORD! a God compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, (7) extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; yet He does not remit all punishment, but visits the iniquity of parents upon children and children’s children, upon the third and fourth generations.”

Section 3: God's Relation to Creation (16-22)

Sentence Structure

תהילים קמ״ה

(ב) בְּכָל־י֥וֹם אֲבָרֲכֶ֑ךָּ /

וַאֲהַלְלָ֥ה שִׁ֝מְךָ֗ לְעוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃

(יג) מַֽלְכוּתְךָ֗ מַלְכ֥וּת כָּל־עֹֽלָמִ֑ים /

וּ֝מֶֽמְשֶׁלְתְּךָ֗ בְּכָל־דּ֥וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃

Psalms 145

(1) A song of praise. Of David. I will extol You, my God and king, and bless Your name forever and ever. (2) Every day will I bless You and praise Your name forever and ever. (3) Great is the LORD and much acclaimed; His greatness cannot be fathomed. (4) One generation shall laud Your works to another and declare Your mighty acts. (5) The glorious majesty of Your splendor and Your wondrous acts will I recite. (6) Men shall talk of the might of Your awesome deeds, and I will recount Your greatness. (7) They shall celebrate Your abundant goodness, and sing joyously of Your beneficence. (8) The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. (9) The LORD is good to all, and His mercy is upon all His works. (10) All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, and Your faithful ones shall bless You. (11) They shall talk of the majesty of Your kingship, and speak of Your might, (12) to make His mighty acts known among men and the majestic glory of His kingship. (13) Your kingship is an eternal kingship; Your dominion is for all generations. (14) The LORD supports all who stumble, and makes all who are bent stand straight. (15) The eyes of all look to You expectantly, and You give them their food when it is due. (16) You give it openhandedly, feeding every creature to its heart’s content. (17) The LORD is beneficent in all His ways and faithful in all His works. (18) The LORD is near to all who call Him, to all who call Him with sincerity. (19) He fulfills the wishes of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and delivers them. (20) The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. (21) My mouth shall utter the praise of the LORD, and all creatures shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

תהילים קמ״ה:ה׳

(ה) הֲ֭דַר כְּב֣וֹד הוֹדֶ֑ךָ וְדִבְרֵ֖י נִפְלְאוֹתֶ֣יךָ אָשִֽׂיחָה׃

Psalms 145:5

(5) The glorious majesty of Your splendor and Your wondrous acts will I recite.

Artscroll

The splendorous glory of your power, and your wondrous deeds I shall relate

Rabbi Munk

On the majestic glory of thy splendor, and on thy marvelous deeds, will I meditate

Koren

On the glorious splendor (Hadar) of your majesty I will meditate, and on the acts of your wonders.

The West Wing, "20 Hours in America":

On Sunday’s episode, former White House Communications Director Toby Ziegler, in talking to Chief of Staff C.J. Cregg, claims to have discovered a typo in the Constitution in the Takings Clause – specifically a missing comma. He says the National Archives can’t explain whether it is a comma or a smudge.

תהילים קמ״ה:ט״ז

(טז) פּוֹתֵ֥חַ אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ וּמַשְׂבִּ֖יעַ לְכָל־חַ֣י רָצֽוֹן׃

Psalms 145:16

(16) You open your hand and satisfy every living thing with your favor (Koren translation)

אורח חיים נ״א:ז׳

(ז) צריך לכוין בפ' פותח את ידיך ואם לא כוון צריך לחזור ולאומרו פעם אחרת:

Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 51:7

(7) One should focus one's heart during the verse "God opens up God's hand," and if he does not focus then he must return and say the verse again.

מגן אברהם נ״א:ו׳

(ו) צריך לחזור. ואף על גב דהאידנא אין חוזרים בשביל חסרון כוונ' כמ"ש סי' ק"א הכא דאינו אלא פ"א חוזר דיכול לכוון ע' סי' ס"ג ס"ד:

Magen Avraham 51:6

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משנה ברורה נ״א:ט״ז

(טז) פעם אחרת - עיין בח"א שהביא בשם הלבוש שצריך לומר מפסוק פותח עד סוף המזמור כסדר. ואם לא נזכר עד שכבר אמר מזמורים אחרים ואין לו שהות לחזור מ"מ יאמר אחר התפלה מפסוק פותח עד סוף המזמור:

Mishnah Berurah 51:16

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