Portrait of Hacham Shimon Agassi

Portrait of Hacham Shimon Agassi
Portrait of Hacham Agassi painted by Mrs Ruth Gila, Beit Meir , Israel

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Psalm 107

 תהילים 107

 (1) Give thanks to Hashem for He is good! For [although at times hidden] His steadfast love is constant and endures forever![1]
(א) הֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:

1962=18                              
(2) Proclaim [this], O those whom Hashem has redeemed, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the oppressor.
(ב) יֹאמְרוּ גְּאוּלֵי יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר גְּאָלָם מִיַּד צָר:
1252=17=8                        
1812+7 words=19=10=1              
(3) [Proclaim this] those whom He has gathered from [many] lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the southern sea!
(ג) וּמֵאֲרָצוֹת קִבְּצָם מִמִּזְרָח וּמִמַּעֲרָב מִצָּפוֹן וּמִיָּם:

1990=19=10=1                         
1. Saved from wandering in the wilderness
(spiritual wilderness, pathless wasteland, spiritually empty and meaningless life, nihilism)
(4) [Proclaim this] those who wandered in the desert, in a pathless wasteland, and found no city of habitation.
(ד) תָּעוּ בַמִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימוֹן דָּרֶךְ עִיר מוֹשָׁב לֹא מָצָאוּ:

2162+8 words=2170=10=1             
(5) [First] they became hungry and then parched, until their soul fainted within them.
(ה) רְעֵבִים גַּם צְמֵאִים נַפְשָׁם    1016=8
 בָּהֶם תִּתְעַטָּף:          1006+2 words=1008
(6) But they cried out to Hashem in their distress to rescue them from their constricted straits.
(ו) וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצוּקוֹתֵיהֶם יַצִּילֵם:
 3033=1+8 (final letters)                      
(7) So He guided them on a straight path to go to and establish a city of habitation.
(ז) וַיַּדְרִיכֵם בְּדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה לָלֶכֶת אֶל עִיר מוֹשָׁב:
 2170=10=1 or + 7 words=17=8       
(8) O thank Hashem for His lovingkindness and [proclaim] His wondrous miracles to the children of man!
) יוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה חַסְדּוֹ   160+3 words=1+8
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם:726+3 words=18  
                  (final letters) 1286=17=8
(9) For He satiated the soul of those who were parched, and replenished the soul of the hungry with goodness.
(ט) כִּי הִשְׂבִּיעַ נֶפֶשׁ שֹׁקֵקָה וְנֶפֶשׁ רְעֵבָה מִלֵּא טוֹב:  

 2153+8 words=2161=10=1                   
2. Saved from prison (spiritual prisoners of our habits; spiritual servitude to ideas and appetites and lusts)
(10) [Proclaim this] those who sat imprisoned in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron.
(י) יֹשְׁבֵי חֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת אֲסִירֵי עֳנִי וּבַרְזֶל:

2358=17=8 (final letters)                        
(11) Because they rebelled against the words of El (God) and scorned the counsel of the Most High.
(יא) כִּי הִמְרוּ אִמְרֵי אֵל וַעֲצַת עֶלְיוֹן נָאָצוּ:
1442+7 words=18                
(12) He therefore humbled their heart with travail: He made them stumble [in order to realize that] there was no help [other than His].
(יב) וַיַּכְנַע בֶּעָמָל לִבָּם כָּשְׁלוּ וְאֵין עֹזֵר:
 1070=8                           
(13) Only then did they cry to Hashem in their distress to deliver them from their straits.
(יג) וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצֻקוֹתֵיהֶם יוֹשִׁיעֵם:
 1790=17=8                                
(14) To bring them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and loosen their bonds.
(יד) יוֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּמוֹסְרוֹתֵיהֶם יְנַתֵּק:
 2430=1+8 or + 5 words=14=8        
(15) O thank Hashem for His lovingkindness and proclaim His wondrous miracles to the children of man!
(טו) יוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה חַסְדּוֹ   160+3 words=1+8
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם:726+3 words=18  
                  (final letters) 1286=17=8
(16) For He broke the prison gates of brass and smashed their bars of iron.
(טז) כִּי שִׁבַּר דַּלְתוֹת נְחֹשֶׁת וּבְרִיחֵי בַרְזֶל גִּדֵּעַ:
 2682=18                                   
3. Saved from physical sickness and corresponding spiritual maladies
(17) [Proclaim this] those fools who, because of the way they rebelliously transgressed and because of their sins, brought suffering [and sickness] upon themselves.
(יז) אֱוִלִים מִדֶּרֶךְ 
 351=1+8 or 1391=14=8 (final letters)     
      פִּשְׁעָם וּמֵעֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶם יִתְעַנּוּ:
1653+3 words=18 or 2773=19=10=1 (final)      
(18) Their soul abhorred all food and they approached the gates of death.
(יח) כָּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם וַיַּגִּיעוּ עַד שַׁעֲרֵי מָוֶת:
 2648+8 words=2656=19=10=1         
(19) But they cried to Hashem in their distress to deliver them from their straits.
(יט) וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצֻקוֹתֵיהֶם יוֹשִׁיעֵם:
1790=17=8                        
(20) To send His word and heal them, and rescue them from their extinction.
(כ) יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵם וִימַלֵּט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָם:
2196=18                          
(21) Let them thank Hashem for His lovingkindness and proclaim His wondrous miracles to the children of man!
(כא) יוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה חַסְדּוֹ   160+3 words=1+8
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם:726+3 words=18  
                  (final letters) 1286=17=8
(22) And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and proclaim His deeds with joyous song!
(כב) וְיִזְבְּחוּ זִבְחֵי תוֹדָה וִיסַפְּרוּ מַעֲשָׂיו בְּרִנָּה:
 1526=14=8                        
4. Saved from the stormy sea
 (this-world is likened to a sea—we need direction to reach the dry land of the world-to-come)
(23) [Proclaim this] those who go down to the sea in ships, who skillfully perform their tasks in mighty waters.
(כג) יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם בָּאֳנִיּוֹת עֹשֵׂי מְלָאכָה בְּמַיִם רַבִּים:

 1574=17=8                           
(24) They have seen the works of Hashem’s [hands] and His wonders in the deep.
(כד) הֵמָּה רָאוּ מַעֲשֵׂי יְהֹוָה
 703=10=1                    
      וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו בִּמְצוּלָה: 
  762+2 words=17=8                   
(25) For He spoke and raised a storm-wind, which lifted up His waves.
(כה) וַיֹּאמֶר וַיַּעֲמֵד רוּחַ סְעָרָה וַתְּרוֹמֵם גַּלָּיו:
 1677+6 words=1683=18                
(26) They ascended to the heavens and sank down to the depths; their soul melted away in [the face of such] trouble.
(כו) יַעֲלוּ שָׁמַיִם יֵרְדוּ תְהוֹמוֹת נַפְשָׁם בְּרָעָה תִתְמוֹגָג:

3182=14=8 or 4302=1+8 (final letters)     
(27) They reeled and staggered like a drunkard, and all their skillful wisdom was useless.
(כז) יָחוֹגּוּ וְיָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר וְכָל חָכְמָתָם תִּתְבַּלָּע:
 2753=17=8                     
(28) Until they cried out to Hashem in their distress to bring them out of their straits.
(כח) וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם וּמִמְּצוּקֹתֵיהֶם יוֹצִיאֵם:
1600+7 words=14=8                  
(29) He reduced the stormy seas to calm; their waves were stilled.
(כט) יָקֵם סְעָרָה לִדְמָמָה וַיֶּחֱשׁוּ גַּלֵּיהֶם:
1022+5 words=10=1                  
2142=1+8 or + 5 words=14=8 (final letters)   
(30) They rejoiced because [the waves] subsided, and He led them to their desired haven.
(ל) וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ כִי יִשְׁתֹּקוּ וַיַּנְחֵם אֶל מְחוֹז חֶפְצָם:
 1640+7 words=18                     
(31) O thank Hashem for His lovingkindness and [proclaim] His wondrous miracles to the children of man!
(לא) יוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה חַסְדּוֹ   160+3 words=1+8
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם:726+3 words=18  
                  (final letters) 1286=17=8
(32) Let them exalt Him among His assembled people, and praise Him where the elders are seated.
(לב) וִירוֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל עָם וּבְמוֹשַׁב זְקֵנִים יְהַלְלוּהוּ:
 2341=10=1  (final letters)                 


5. Reversals of fortune as educational
(do we learn from our lessons—or do we forget and have to be reminded again and again?)
(33) [But the same God who delivers those who call upon Him will also] turn rivers into wilderness, and water-springs into arid wasteland.
(לג) יָשֵׂם נְהָרוֹת לְמִדְבָּר וּמֹצָאֵי מַיִם לְצִמָּאוֹן:
 1741+6 words=19=10=1               
 3511=10=1  (final letters)            
(34) He will turn fruitful land into a salty waste if the wickedness of its inhabitants [has caused them to become unworthy of His mercy].
(לד) אֶרֶץ פְּרִי לִמְלֵחָה מֵרָעַת יוֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ:

 1739+6 words=1745=17=8            
(35) [He may also test men by] turning wilderness into a pool of water and arid wasteland into springs of water.
(לה) יָשֵׂם מִדְבָּר לַאֲגַם מַיִם וְאֶרֶץ צִיָּה לְמֹצָאֵי מָיִם:

1423=10=1                              
(36) He will cause those who are hungry to settle there until they establish a city of habitation.
(לו) וַיּוֹשֶׁב שָׁם רְעֵבִים וַיְכוֹנְנוּ עִיר מוֹשָׁב:
 2882+6 words=26=8  (final letters)       
(37) They will sow fields and plant vineyards which will yield fruit for harvest.
(לז) וַיִּזְרְעוּ שָׂדוֹת וַיִּטְּעוּ כְרָמִים וַיַּעֲשׂוּ פְּרִי תְבוּאָה:
2516=14=8                          
(38) And He will bless them until they are greatly multiplied; He will not diminish their livestock.
(לח) וַיְבָרְכֵם וַיִּרְבּוּ מְאֹד וּבְהֶמְתָּם לֹא יַמְעִיט:
1210+6 words=10=1                     
(39) [But if their morals] diminish and they sink down [with the increase of their wealth], dominion will be turned into trouble and sorrow.
(לט) וַיִּמְעֲטוּ וַיָּשֹׁחוּ מֵעֹצֶר רָעָה וְיָגוֹן:

1871=17=8 (final letters)         
(40) When wealthy princes [abuse their power], He will shower them with contempt and cause them to wander in a pathless wasteland [the same wasteland with which this psalm began].
(מ) שֹׁפֵךְ בּוּז עַל נְדִיבִים וַיַּתְעֵם בְּתֹהוּ לֹא דָרֶךְ:

 3905=17=8  (final letters)     
(41) But He will raise the needy from affliction and establish their families like flocks of sheep.
(מא) וַיְשַׂגֵּב אֶבְיוֹן מֵעוֹנִי וַיָּשֶׂם כַּצֹּאן מִשְׁפָּחוֹת:
 1917=18                              
(42) Let those who are upright see this and rejoice, while the mouth of all [who perpetrate] injustice will be closed.
(מב) יִרְאוּ יְשָׁרִים וְיִשְׂמָחוּ וְכָל עַוְלָה קָפְצָה פִּיהָ:

1684=19=10=1                          
(43) Let he who is wise observe these things, and contemplate deeply Hashem’s loving-kindnesses.
(מג) מִי חָכָם וְיִשְׁמָר אֵלֶּה וְיִתְבּוֹנְנוּ חַסְדֵי יְהֹוָה:
 1908=18  (final letters)          





[1] The world le’olam is usually translated “forever,” but its secondary meaning is “hidden” or “concealed.” 

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