(1) Give thanks to Hashem
for He is good! For [although at times hidden] His steadfast love is constant
and endures forever!
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(א) הֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה כִּי טוֹב כִּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ:
1962=18
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(2)
Proclaim [this], O those whom Hashem has redeemed, whom He has redeemed from the hand of
the oppressor.
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(ב) יֹאמְרוּ גְּאוּלֵי יְהֹוָה אֲשֶׁר גְּאָלָם מִיַּד צָר:
1252=17=8
1812+7 words=19=10=1
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(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!
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(ג) וּמֵאֲרָצוֹת קִבְּצָם מִמִּזְרָח וּמִמַּעֲרָב מִצָּפוֹן
וּמִיָּם:
1990=19=10=1
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1.
Saved from wandering in the wilderness
(spiritual
wilderness, pathless wasteland, spiritually empty and meaningless life,
nihilism)
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(4)
[Proclaim this] those who wandered in the
desert, in a pathless
wasteland, and found no city of habitation.
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(ד) תָּעוּ בַמִּדְבָּר בִּישִׁימוֹן דָּרֶךְ עִיר מוֹשָׁב לֹא
מָצָאוּ:
2162+8 words=2170=10=1
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(5)
[First] they became hungry and then parched, until their soul fainted within
them.
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(ה) רְעֵבִים גַּם צְמֵאִים נַפְשָׁם 1016=8
בָּהֶם
תִּתְעַטָּף:
1006+2 words=1008
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(6)
But they cried out to Hashem in their distress to rescue them from their
constricted straits.
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(ו) וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצוּקוֹתֵיהֶם
יַצִּילֵם:
3033=1+8 (final letters)
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(7)
So He guided them on a straight path to go to and establish a city of
habitation.
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(ז) וַיַּדְרִיכֵם בְּדֶרֶךְ יְשָׁרָה לָלֶכֶת אֶל עִיר מוֹשָׁב:
2170=10=1 or + 7 words=17=8
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(8)
O thank Hashem for His lovingkindness and [proclaim] His wondrous
miracles to the children of man!
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(ח) יוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה חַסְדּוֹ 160+3 words=1+8
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו
לִבְנֵי אָדָם:726+3 words=18
(final letters) 1286=17=8
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(9)
For He satiated the soul of those who were parched, and replenished the soul
of the hungry with goodness.
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(ט) כִּי הִשְׂבִּיעַ נֶפֶשׁ שֹׁקֵקָה וְנֶפֶשׁ רְעֵבָה מִלֵּא
טוֹב:
2153+8 words=2161=10=1
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2.
Saved from prison (spiritual prisoners of our habits; spiritual servitude to
ideas and appetites and lusts)
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(10)
[Proclaim this] those who sat imprisoned in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in
affliction and iron.
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(י) יֹשְׁבֵי חֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת אֲסִירֵי עֳנִי וּבַרְזֶל:
2358=17=8 (final
letters)
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(11)
Because they rebelled against the words of El (God) and scorned the counsel of the Most High.
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(יא) כִּי הִמְרוּ אִמְרֵי אֵל וַעֲצַת עֶלְיוֹן נָאָצוּ:
1442+7 words=18
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(12)
He therefore humbled their heart with travail: He made them stumble [in order
to realize that] there was no help [other than His].
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(יב) וַיַּכְנַע בֶּעָמָל לִבָּם כָּשְׁלוּ וְאֵין עֹזֵר:
1070=8
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(13)
Only then did they cry to Hashem in their distress to deliver them from their straits.
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(יג) וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצֻקוֹתֵיהֶם
יוֹשִׁיעֵם:
1790=17=8
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(14)
To bring them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and loosen their
bonds.
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(יד) יוֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּמוֹסְרוֹתֵיהֶם יְנַתֵּק:
2430=1+8 or + 5 words=14=8
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(15)
O thank Hashem for His lovingkindness and proclaim His wondrous
miracles to the children of man!
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(טו) יוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה חַסְדּוֹ 160+3 words=1+8
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו
לִבְנֵי אָדָם:726+3 words=18
(final letters) 1286=17=8
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(16)
For He broke the prison gates of brass and smashed their bars of iron.
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(טז) כִּי שִׁבַּר דַּלְתוֹת נְחֹשֶׁת וּבְרִיחֵי בַרְזֶל גִּדֵּעַ:
2682=18
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3.
Saved from physical sickness and corresponding spiritual maladies
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(17)
[Proclaim this] those fools who, because of the way they rebelliously
transgressed and because of their sins, brought suffering
[and sickness] upon themselves.
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(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)
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(18)
Their soul abhorred all food and they approached the gates of death.
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(יח) כָּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם וַיַּגִּיעוּ עַד שַׁעֲרֵי
מָוֶת:
2648+8 words=2656=19=10=1
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(19)
But they cried to Hashem in their distress to deliver them from their straits.
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(יט) וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצֻקוֹתֵיהֶם
יוֹשִׁיעֵם:
1790=17=8
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(20)
To send His word and heal them, and rescue them from their extinction.
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(כ) יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵם וִימַלֵּט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָם:
2196=18
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(21)
Let them thank Hashem for His lovingkindness and proclaim His wondrous
miracles to the children of man!
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(כא) יוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה חַסְדּוֹ 160+3 words=1+8
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו
לִבְנֵי אָדָם:726+3 words=18
(final letters) 1286=17=8
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(22)
And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and proclaim His deeds with
joyous song!
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(כב) וְיִזְבְּחוּ זִבְחֵי תוֹדָה וִיסַפְּרוּ מַעֲשָׂיו בְּרִנָּה:
1526=14=8
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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)
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(23)
[Proclaim this] those who go down to the
sea in ships, who
skillfully perform their tasks in mighty waters.
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(כג) יוֹרְדֵי הַיָּם בָּאֳנִיּוֹת עֹשֵׂי מְלָאכָה בְּמַיִם
רַבִּים:
1574=17=8
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(24)
They have seen the works of Hashem’s [hands] and His wonders in the deep.
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(כד) הֵמָּה רָאוּ מַעֲשֵׂי יְהֹוָה
703=10=1
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו
בִּמְצוּלָה:
762+2 words=17=8
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(25)
For He spoke and raised a storm-wind, which lifted up His waves.
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(כה) וַיֹּאמֶר וַיַּעֲמֵד רוּחַ סְעָרָה וַתְּרוֹמֵם גַּלָּיו:
1677+6 words=1683=18
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(26)
They ascended to the heavens and sank down to the depths; their soul melted
away in [the face of such] trouble.
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(כו) יַעֲלוּ שָׁמַיִם יֵרְדוּ תְהוֹמוֹת נַפְשָׁם בְּרָעָה
תִתְמוֹגָג:
3182=14=8 or 4302=1+8 (final letters)
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(27)
They reeled and staggered like a drunkard, and all their skillful wisdom was
useless.
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(כז) יָחוֹגּוּ וְיָנוּעוּ כַּשִּׁכּוֹר וְכָל חָכְמָתָם
תִּתְבַּלָּע:
2753=17=8
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(28)
Until they cried out to Hashem in their distress to bring them out of their straits.
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(כח) וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֶל יְהֹוָה בַּצַּר לָהֶם וּמִמְּצוּקֹתֵיהֶם
יוֹצִיאֵם:
1600+7 words=14=8
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(29)
He reduced the stormy seas to calm; their waves were stilled.
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(כט) יָקֵם סְעָרָה לִדְמָמָה וַיֶּחֱשׁוּ גַּלֵּיהֶם:
1022+5 words=10=1
2142=1+8 or + 5 words=14=8 (final letters)
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(30)
They rejoiced because [the waves] subsided, and He led them to their desired
haven.
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(ל) וַיִּשְׂמְחוּ כִי יִשְׁתֹּקוּ וַיַּנְחֵם אֶל מְחוֹז חֶפְצָם:
1640+7 words=18
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(31)
O thank Hashem for His lovingkindness and [proclaim] His wondrous
miracles to the children of man!
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(לא) יוֹדוּ לַיהֹוָה חַסְדּוֹ 160+3 words=1+8
וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו
לִבְנֵי אָדָם:726+3 words=18
(final letters) 1286=17=8
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(32)
Let them exalt Him among His assembled people, and praise Him where the
elders are seated.
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(לב) וִירוֹמְמוּהוּ בִּקְהַל עָם וּבְמוֹשַׁב זְקֵנִים
יְהַלְלוּהוּ:
2341=10=1 (final letters)
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5.
Reversals of fortune as educational
(do
we learn from our lessons—or do we forget and have to be reminded again and
again?)
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(33)
[But the same God who delivers those who call upon Him will also] turn rivers
into wilderness, and water-springs into arid wasteland.
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(לג) יָשֵׂם נְהָרוֹת לְמִדְבָּר וּמֹצָאֵי מַיִם לְצִמָּאוֹן:
1741+6 words=19=10=1
3511=10=1 (final
letters)
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(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].
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(לד) אֶרֶץ פְּרִי לִמְלֵחָה מֵרָעַת יוֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ:
1739+6 words=1745=17=8
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(35)
[He may also test men by] turning wilderness into a pool of water and arid
wasteland into springs of water.
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(לה) יָשֵׂם מִדְבָּר לַאֲגַם מַיִם וְאֶרֶץ צִיָּה לְמֹצָאֵי
מָיִם:
1423=10=1
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(36)
He will cause those who are hungry to settle there until they establish a
city of habitation.
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(לו) וַיּוֹשֶׁב שָׁם רְעֵבִים וַיְכוֹנְנוּ עִיר מוֹשָׁב:
2882+6 words=26=8 (final letters)
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(37)
They will sow fields and plant vineyards which will yield fruit for harvest.
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(לז) וַיִּזְרְעוּ שָׂדוֹת וַיִּטְּעוּ כְרָמִים וַיַּעֲשׂוּ
פְּרִי תְבוּאָה:
2516=14=8
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(38)
And He will bless them until they are greatly multiplied; He will not
diminish their livestock.
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(לח) וַיְבָרְכֵם וַיִּרְבּוּ מְאֹד וּבְהֶמְתָּם לֹא יַמְעִיט:
1210+6 words=10=1
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(39)
[But if their morals] diminish and they sink down [with the increase of their
wealth], dominion will be turned into trouble and sorrow.
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(לט) וַיִּמְעֲטוּ וַיָּשֹׁחוּ מֵעֹצֶר רָעָה וְיָגוֹן:
1871=17=8 (final letters)
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(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].
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(מ) שֹׁפֵךְ בּוּז עַל נְדִיבִים וַיַּתְעֵם בְּתֹהוּ לֹא דָרֶךְ:
3905=17=8 (final letters)
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(41)
But He will raise the needy from affliction and establish their families like
flocks of sheep.
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(מא) וַיְשַׂגֵּב אֶבְיוֹן מֵעוֹנִי וַיָּשֶׂם כַּצֹּאן
מִשְׁפָּחוֹת:
1917=18
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(42)
Let those who are upright see this and rejoice, while the mouth of all [who
perpetrate] injustice will be closed.
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(מב) יִרְאוּ יְשָׁרִים וְיִשְׂמָחוּ וְכָל עַוְלָה קָפְצָה פִּיהָ:
1684=19=10=1
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(43)
Let he who is wise observe these things, and contemplate deeply Hashem’s
loving-kindnesses.
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(מג) מִי חָכָם וְיִשְׁמָר אֵלֶּה וְיִתְבּוֹנְנוּ חַסְדֵי יְהֹוָה:
1908=18 (final letters)
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