Welcome to the worldwide "Spread the Psalms" effort. It's thousands of years old but very new. In fact, every time you recite a psalm, you are spreading renewed holiness in the world.
The purpose of this website is to help you understand the meaning of psalms and to experience the timeless, miraculous healing of psalms in your life.
An explanation:
"Hashem" is the word referring to God's infinite name according to Jewish tradition.
It means "the name" in Hebrew.
"Tehillim" is the Hebrew word for Psalms - it means "Praises." In the English Bible, Tehillim is known as Psalms.
A Matter of Speaking
הַשָּׁמַיִם, מְסַפְּרִים כְּבוֹד-אֵל; וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדָיו, מַגִּיד הָרָקִיעַ.
"The heavens declare the honor of God and His handiwork is proclaimed by the firmament.
Day following day utters speech and night following night conveys knowledge.
There is no speech and there are no words.
Unheard is their sound.
But throughout the earth goes forth their precision and to the end of the inhabited world, their words reach."
Speech is considered a uniquely human attribute. Only man has the complex muscles and nerves, the fine motor skills, necessary to articulate the variety of consonents and vowels that make up human speech. Only man has the mind capable of abstract thought of subjects such as philosophy and mathematics and the need to share ideas, aspirations and even humor.
Even at the time of creation, man was referred to as "dibear" which means "speaks"
While speech may be uniquely human through the instrument of lungs, larynx, tongue, teeth and lips - there is another language that speaks volumes: The heavens, the separation of the waters above and below, the day and the night, the precision of the universe and all that is in it - delare without sound but in the most articulate and clear way.
And when we listen carefully, the universe speaks directly to our soul of the wondrousness of Hashem.
When we think about our everyday life, we may look to the heavens for inspiration. For as the beauty and magnificence that is all around us speaks of the awesomeness of Hashem, we are reminded to be kind and loving in our speech as well. In so doing we may, in our unique, special way, emulate the timeless and infinite lovingkindness of Hashem's wondrous creation.
A MIRACLE IN
A BOOK
Story after story
is told of a soldier
who survives a
deadly military battle only to later find that a bullet or piece of shrapnel has miraculously lodged in the Tehillim
Psalm 106
הַלְלוּ-יָהּ:
הוֹדוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-טוֹב-- כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ.
"Give thanks to God
for His kindness is everlasting..."
Who says there are no miracles ??
We are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation, by all objects that have a temperature above absolute zero (-273 degrees)....(continue)
Psalm 61:5
אָגוּרָה בְאָהָלְךָ, עוֹלָמִים; אֶחֱסֶה בְסֵתֶר כְּנָפֶיךָ סֶּלָה.
"I will dwell in Your tent forever, I will take refuge in the shelter of Your wings..."
בּס״ד (with help
from above)
Psalm 89:3
עוֹלָם, חֶסֶד יִבָּנֶה; שָׁמַיִם, תָּכִן אֱמוּנָתְךָ בָהֶם.
"A world which manifests Your lovingkindness You did build..."
Psalm 67
"May God
favor us and bless us, may He cause His countenance to shine among us..."
Psalm 106
"Give thanks to Hashem
for His kindness is everlasting..."
Within the subatomic structure solid mass makes up less than 1 percent of an atom's size.
Psalm 31:4
כִּי-סַלְעִי וּמְצוּדָתִי אָתָּה
"For You are
my rock and my fortress, lead me and direct me for the sake of Your Name..."
Psalm 31:4
"For You are my rock and my fortress..."
"ki sali um tsudasi ata ulma-an shimcha tancheyni usnahaleyni"
During these uncertain times, we are reminded that Hashem is our rock and fortress.
What does it mean to be a rock and a fortress?
A rock does not change with the passing breeze like the wind or the water. It has been with us through the ages.
Yet stones placed together form a fortress. There is protection. There is more strength than each has alone.
If we apply this to our lives, being placed together doesn't mean we must be exactly the same as our neighbor and worship in exactly the same way - for rocks are each unique, but it is important not to struggle against eachother, we are asked to hold eachother up and respect eachother's strengths and weaknesses.
When we have faith in the unchanging lovingkindness of the One who created and sustains the world and when we support and hold eachother up, we come to experience that Hashem is indeed our rock and our fortress, timeless through the ages, sheilding us from the dangers of uncertain times.
Psalm 150:3
הַלְלוּהוּ, בְּתֵקַע שׁוֹפָר; הַלְלוּהוּ, בְּנֵבֶל וְכִנּוֹר
"Praise God! Praise Him
with blowing of the shofar. Praise Him
with lyre and harp. Praise Him with drumming and dancing...
Psalm 22:2
"Oh God, Oh God, Why have You forsaken me?
Why are You so far from saving me?.."
"Eli, Eli, lama azav tani?..."
It is told that King David wrote this Psalm in foreknowledge of the time of Esther.
One could imagine the time before the miracle. When an order from the king was made to kill every Jewish man, women and child in all 127 provinces of the Persian empire. The forces in the world of material existence were insurmountable. So the Jews reached beyond.They prayed - loudly and softly, in groups and solely, wearing sack cloths and fasting, people of all backgrounds and ages bounded together in their pureness of faith and prayed.
And when the edict was revoked, the holocaust averted, then one could see the miracle that had taken place over many years. Only if all the dots were connected could one see the miracle in everyday events and realize that just like Esther the seemingly ordinary events of our lives are not ordinary after all.
When looked at from a distance, over time, the events of our lives may have a purpose that often is not apparent to us while we are in the midst of hardship.
Psalm 81
"Sing joyously to
Hashem, our strength,
shout for joy to the
God of Jacob. Take
up the hymn, sound the drum, the pleasant harp and the lute. Blow the shofar ..."
Psalm 118:19
"Open for me the
gates of righteousness
I will enter them and give thanks to Hashem..."
"Pitchu li sha'are tzedek..."
Psalm 118:19
"Open for me the Gates of Righteousness!
I will enter and thank Hashem..."
"Pitchu Li Shaare Tzedek.."
"Pitchu Li..." "Open for me.." is not a command but a statement of fact. The Gates are open for me that I may walk through them. They are not fences, walls or bars. They are gates. Unlocked, ready, welcoming .. now it is up to me to walk through them.
How do I walk through them? By giving thanks to Hashem. Even when things are not going the way I would like. Even when it seems the world's forces are waged against me. The Psalmist reveals that the gates of tsedek, of righteousness, are open to me. "I will enter and thank Hashem" - for the blessings that I wished for and for those I would rather have avoided at the time. All are part of Hashem's beautiful and complex symphony of life.
Psalm 20:10
יְהוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה: הַמֶּלֶךְ, יַעֲנֵנוּ בְיוֹם-קָרְאֵנוּ
"May Hashem
answer you
on your day of distress..."
"May Hashem answer you on your day of distress.
May you be made impregnable by the name of the God of Jacob.
May He dispatch your help from the Sanctuary, and from Zion support you..."
In Hebrew the phrase "May Hashem answer you" can be translated as: "a'anancha" (You answer ) Hashem" - this reveals that it can be read as a statement of something that presently is. "You answer Hashem." For it is as if we have called, He has answered. He is just waiting for us to hear it. There is no waiting. He has already answered our prayers.
The Psalm states that the Sanctuary will be where the help will be dispatched from and Zion as the place from where the support will come.
The Sanctuary refers to the Holy of Holies inside the Temple in Jerusalem. (artscroll commentary) This is the special place where Hashem's divine presence (shechina) rests. Our help will be dispatched from the holiest place in the world.
If each of us can be likened to the Temple in Jerusalem, there too is a special place within us that Hashem's divine presence dwells, a spark of holiness. We can know that Hashem's answers to our prayers of help are not some far away abstract concept. They are close at hand and already here.
Psalm 22:2
"Oh God Oh God.
Why have You forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me?..."
It is told that King David wrote this Psalm in foreknowledge of the time of Esther...
Psalm 30
"A Psalm,a song for
the inauguration of
the Temple by David. I will exalt you Hashem for You have brought me up ..."
Psalm 1
אַשְׁרֵי הָאִישׁ-- אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָלַךְ, בַּעֲצַת רְשָׁעִים
"Happy is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of bad..."
Psalm 102:26
"In the beginning
You laid the foundations of the earth, and the work of Your hands are the heavens..."
Psalm 3
יְהוָה, מָה-רַבּוּ צָרָי; רַבִּים, קָמִים עָלָי.
"How numerous are my tormentors! The great rise up against me. "
Psalm 4
"...I will lie down and
sleep in peace and in harmony, for it is only You Hashem, who enables me to dwell securely."
Psalm 5:8
"And I, through
the abundance of Your kindness will I enter
Your house..."
He was called upon to curse... (continue)
Psalm 2
"Why do
nations throng and regimes talk in vain? Take their stands do the kings of the earth and princes conspire together?..."
Psalm 65
thoughts...
"To You, Silence is prayer, God, in Zion."
The most eloquent statements we can say are often without words. The heartfelt connection of a hug. The kindness of a gift. Although we are often full of words, the truest feelings are often expressed nonverbally.
Since God's attributes are infinite, any attempt to praise Him with words could imply that His attributes are finite and able to be understood, according to Rashi. Therefore, quiet contemplation is the most eloquent praise of God.
According to Lachmei Todah, the psalm could also be read correctly as: "Your silence is Your praise." referring to God's patience and quietude in his compassion for us.
When comforting someone, often the best way is not by saying brilliant words but rather being a good listener. Slowing down and patiently listening. Listening is often the best way to show we care.
With silence, our senses can convey the sights, sounds, scents - the windows to our world without which we would be disconnected. Our way of connecting with people, and connecting with Hashem is made so much clearer. When we truly listen we can reach a higher awareness of the wisdom of the universe. We can perceive the beautiful world we live in. And then it may be possible to convey the perceptions of the beautiful world we live in through loving thoughtful words that speak volumes.
Psalm 69:17
"Answer me, Hashem, for Your kindness is good; turn to me in accordance with Your great mercies. Do not hide Your Face from Your servant..."
Tehillim 119
Tav
תִּקְרַב רִנָּתִי לְפָנֶיךָ יְהוָה; כִּדְבָרְךָ הֲבִינֵנִי
"May my prayerful song approach before Your presence Hashem ..."
The final portion of Psalm 119 begins with a simple plea. The psalmist continues "In accordance with Your word You grant me understanding."
With prayerful songs of gratitude and understanding gleaned from the words of the Torah we approach the Creator of the universe..
(For complete text click here)
תְּהִלִּים מקוון
Psalm 20
א לַמְנַצֵּחַ, מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד.
1 For the Leader. A Psalm of David.
ב יַעַנְךָ יְהוָה, בְּיוֹם צָרָה; יְשַׂגֶּבְךָ, שֵׁם אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב. 2
2. May God answer you on the day of trouble; May you be fortified strongly by the Name of the God of Jacob.
ג יִשְׁלַח-עֶזְרְךָ מִקֹּדֶשׁ; וּמִצִּיּוֹן, יִסְעָדֶךָּ.
3. May He send help from the Sanctuary, and may He support you from Zion;
ד יִזְכֹּר כָּל-מִנְחֹתֶךָ; וְעוֹלָתְךָ יְדַשְּׁנֶה סֶלָה.
4. May He remember all your meal offerings and may He favorably accept your burnt sacrifices; Selah
ה יִתֶּן-לְךָ כִלְבָבֶךָ; וְכָל-עֲצָתְךָ יְמַלֵּא.
5. May He grant you your heart's desire and may He validate your advice.
ו נְרַנְּנָה, בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ-- וּבְשֵׁם-אֱלֹהֵינוּ נִדְגֹּל;
יְמַלֵּא יְהוָה, כָּל-מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֶיךָ.
6. May we sing for joy at Your salvation and raise our banner in the Name of our God. May God fulfill all your requests.
ז עַתָּה יָדַעְתִּי-- כִּי הוֹשִׁיעַ יְהוָה, מְשִׁיחוֹ:
יַעֲנֵהוּ, מִשְּׁמֵי קָדְשׁוֹ-- בִּגְבֻרוֹת, יֵשַׁע יְמִינוֹ.
7 Now know that God saved His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the mighty acts of His saving right hand.
ח אֵלֶּה בָרֶכֶב, וְאֵלֶּה בַסּוּסִים;
וַאֲנַחְנוּ, בְּשֵׁם-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ נַזְכִּיר.
8 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will call out the name of Hashem our God.
ט הֵמָּה, כָּרְעוּ וְנָפָלוּ; וַאֲנַחְנוּ קַּמְנוּ, וַנִּתְעוֹדָד.
9 They are bowed down and fallen; but we are risen, and stand upright.
י יְהוָה הוֹשִׁיעָה: הַמֶּלֶךְ, יַעֲנֵנוּ בְיוֹם-קָרְאֵנוּ.
10. God save us! May the King answer us on the day when we call.
Psalm 30:12
"You have transformed my sorrow into dancing!"
הָפַכְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי, לְמָחוֹל לִי:
Psalm 145:9
"God is good to all.
His compassion shelters all His creatures.\"
ARCHIVES - Insights have been compiled on the following Psalms thus far: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 19, 20, 22, 30,31, 34, 37, 52, 56, 61, 67,69, 81, 84, 89, 102, 106,118, 119 121, 150, scroll down for more info.
Psalm 72 thoughts ...
א לִשְׁלֹמֹה: אֱלֹהִים--מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ, לְמֶלֶךְ תֵּן; וְצִדְקָתְךָ לְבֶן-מֶלֶךְ.
1 For Solomon., Oh God, Give Your judgements to the king.
Give Your righteousness to the son of the king.
2 May he judge Your people with righteousness, and Your poor with justice.
3 May the mountains bear peace to the people, and the hills, through righteousness.
A Blessing of Wisdom
This is the last of the psalms by David. As he passes the yolk of leadership to his son, Solomon, he gives his son a blessing
that the wisdom to judge be guided by Hashem's great and infinite wisdom. He asks, please Hashem, give him Your judgments and Your righteousness, based on what is right.
With this, Solomon, whose name is derived from the same root as "peace," does reign. His kingship over Israel is notable for breaking all barriers. Great kindness toward the needy, and with that wealth beyond measure, the building of a Temple so beautiful, it was known far and wide. It's treasure, when conquered was used to build the Colloseum in Rome, the jewel of Rome. It's marble and gold were later used to build the Vatican.
For King David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel, through whom the timeless praises of Hashem flowed - the most beautiful blessing he could give his son was the blessing of wisdom. And with the blessing of wisdom, all the many blessings of the time of Solomon's reign flowed.
Yet, wisdom is something that we are able to attain. The eternal wisdom of Hashem is accessable to each us when we pray or sing or read with an open attitude of allowing Hashem's wisdom to guide us. And so the last psalm of David ends thus:
18 Blessed be Hashem, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things;
19 And blessed be His glorious name for ever;
and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.
20 The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.
Psalm 57:3 -
Please Pray for
Little Girl Missing
Devorah Leah bas Feiga Rochel
Please pray for her return home quickly and safely
